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or...
Stop being so darned "professional" and take a break today!

Did you know that Mikki Williams was named FAVORITE SPEAKER in
Meetings and Conventions Magazine?

along with Tony Robbins, Bill Gates, Rudy Giuliani,
Colin Powell, Lou Holtz, Zig Ziglar,
Mike Ditka, Jay Leno...

Issue No. 32    October 2010
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.

In This Issue
I Love This Book!
Mikki & Friends
Biz Bytes
Creative Captions
Shoe-Be-Doo Stories
Wonderful Website-ings
Mikki Mouth
Reader Reviews
Titillating Trivia
He Who Laughs...
Social Media Guru Guy
Fabulous Friends
Mikki's Mantra
Inspirations
Mikki on the Move
Speakers School
The Happy Cooker
Mikki Williams, CSP


MUSINGS FROM MIKKI
                                             

OMG, so many fabulous experiences this month, will try to be concise (yeah...right!)  Where do I begin? Speeches! I love when I get a job in Buffalo, NY because it takes me back to college days and my favorite Beef on Weck sandwich. A week later I was back in Buffalo driving across the border into Canada's famed wine country to Niagara-on-the-Lake Resort for Alan Weinstein's (below) Vistage groups. On the way back I mentioned I loved ice wine so my driver stopped at one of Canada's premier wineries,Inniskillin.  Ironically I'm holding my ice wine under "older vintages."

 







Deb DaRosaHad an awesome time with fellow hot-dogger, Deb DaRosa (left) at Kathy Ameche's Women Road Warrior Great Shoe Extravaganza (Kathy's the other hot-dogger!) and of course I wore fabulous shoes! 


Here I am with members of my Vistage KEY group (below). We were supporting member, Michelle Ernsdorf (on my left) at her fundraiser for Compass to Care at a gorgeous Chicago city mansion.

Come to the October 20th event where I will be speaking for the same cause (click on the invitation at right to RSVP. The event is free and open to the public).  

I finished off the month as I usually do at Skittles House (my home in Florida) enjoying dinner with my friend, Chris who was visiting from Wales, and my neighbor and friend, Debbie.  












Had another fantastic Speakers School, pictured here with attendees, Major General Vinny Boles from Alabama and Steve Friedman, Vinny Boles and Stephen FriedmanPresident of Pace University in NYC.


I love working with repeat clients who then become special friends, like Sue  Sue JohnsonJohnson,  St. James Hospital Wellness Center (left)  and Nancy Cueroni, Executive Director of OPEESA and NMDA (below) who bought a home in Phoenix, Nancy Cueroniso when she saw that I was speaking at the Four Seasons  she came over for a lovely dinner. 

 


And the highlight of the month, a return visit to the YO Ranch, "Africa in Texas." (left).Giraffe

 

 

READ MORE (you really must!)


I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Book-Feb.10
Me 2.0

Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success

By Dan Schawbel

I have often referred to myself as an "accidental brand." I was a brand before I even knew it. I just took what I heard and saw, and how people remembered me and then I exploited it. It became my USP (unique selling proposition). Now I teach others how to do it in my presentation, "Strike Up the Brand."

I read a lot of books on whatever subject I speak on and this book has been my favorite on this topic. In my experience we are so busy building corporate brands we have forgotten the importance of building our personal one. In this ultra-dynamic environment, the only true constant is your value and your reputation (which is clearly demonstrated by the development of your personal brand) even within the confines of your company. The author gives simple, effective methods of doing just that. As another famous brand said, "Just do it."
Mikki & Friends
Mikki will be teaming up with some of her fabulous friends and peers to create unique training days.

THE NEXT TELESEMINAR will be October 27, 2010 at Noon CSTVinny Boles

Conversation with Mikki and Vinny Boles  (Major General (Retired), U.S. Army
4-3-2-1 Leadership - 10 Tools to Begin Using Right Now!

Leaders today can't use  "help" that looks great when the Power Point chart is shown but fades when the heat and pressure of reality intrudes. They need tools that deliver when the stakes are high, tools that enable your required outcome to be accomplished, tools that make leaders better practitioners of their leadership craft. In short, tools that really work.


NO COST - NO OBLIGATION

JUST REGISTER HERE

 


Strike Up The Brand
Strike Up the Brand

 
As I mentioned in my "I Love This Book" column I refer to myself as an "accidental brand." Over the years,I noticed a pattern of requests for me to speak, train, coach or consult with individuals ond companies on how to create a brand. I've become the "expert."  BUT, my expertise has come from my own experiences and extensive research.

 

In my experience, creating your own personal brand or even a company brand goes back to my mantra (you know how I love to quote myself!): "Be outrageous, it's the only place that isn't crowded." I just finished working with a company in Texas that wanted me to help them find their uniqueness, not just their difference. Whether I'm delivering this speech or working with clients one-on-one to help them develop their brand or even a company, it's these elements we start to look at. Branding has many components, Here are just a few:

Differentiation and marketability

Uniqueness

Networking

Virtual visibility

Credibility

Authenticity

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:

Muttropolis (pet store - my friend Tamilee is part owner)
Comic-Kaze (comic book store)


***********************************************************
I hope you'll continue to send me ones you know of.
Please send to [email protected]

SHOE-BE-DOO STORIES
Shoes 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!"

Do you know how hard it is to find really fabulous red shoes? No, I mean really fabulous! These shoes just called to me from a Vegas store window (where else?). Had dinner with a friend at The Four Seasons in Phoenix and I had the opportunity to wear these dazzlers.  Now I must admit the heel heights are indeed getting out of control, especially for those of us over 21.Smiley FaceA gal could commit suicide by just falling off her platforms. Needless to say, the shoes were a hit. At least by the stares I got. Or were they just wondering how this "senior citizen" was managing to stay upright?


WONDERFUL WEBSITEings
I come across so many and so many are shared with me that I thought I'd share with you.

www.paperbackswap.com

We help avid readers swap,trade and exchange books for free.


MIKKI MOUTH:
QUOTATIONS I WISH I'D SAID AND SOME I DID SAY!
Mikki Mouth Enjoy a quote each month from my new book - some funny, some poignant, some professional, some just darn cute! 

"The Lord gave us two ends -- one to sit on and the other to think with. Success depends on which one we use the most."
                                    ----Ann Landers


READER REVIEWS

I am so happy to get your newsletter...I go right to the Shoe Feature.

Laura Berman Fortgang


TITILLATING TRIVIA
  Coca-Cola was originally a green drink.

HE WHO LAUGHS...LASTS!
Laughing baby
  If women ruled the world...
Red and blue cars

SOCIAL MEDIA GURU GUY
 Dave NelsenDave Nelsen
Entrepreneur and Social Media Guide
Dave's formal title is President, Dialog Consulting Group
From 2005 to 2009 he was CEO of TalkShoe, a social media company now serving more than one million monthly listeners...and the fabulous company I use to produce my monthly teleseminars.

Before you can sell your product or service, you must discover your prospective customer's "pain." And before a prospect will share that, you will have to establish rapport. Social media helps you do that in so many ways; just pick your favorite.


For example, before meeting with a new prospect review their LinkedIn profile to identify possible connection points (a shared college, hobby, sport, past employer, industry association, or professional acquaintance). Recently, a Baltimore-based CEO told me that his big break came when he discovered through LinkedIn that a tough prospect shared a background playing college lacrosse. That opened the door and, after lots more hard work, led to the ultimate sale.


When communicating more broadly, a current event or cultural touchstone can provide an equally effective connection point. Boeing cleverly riffed on the 20th anniversary of "Back to the Future" to explore the past and future of the airline industry. And in early September Microsoft did a humorous sendup of the YouTube video sensation, the Crazy Double Rainbow Guy, to promote its Windows Live Photo Gallery product. People loved it and told their friends.


So next time you venture into social media, try using this approach to get started.


You can find more formal details here: wesocialize.biz
FUN, FABULOUS, FEARLESS 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.

What thoughts come into your mind when you hear the words: "US Army Major General"? I have the honor to bring my friend, mentee and fellow speaker Major General Vincent E. Boles (aka "Vinny") to you where you can hear his insightful leadership lessons, gleaned from 33 years of service to the nation. He's well traveled, including tours in Desert Shield/Desert Storm; Operation Iraqi Freedom and support of our troops in Afghanistan. He's seriously humble (when I first met him and asked him his rank he simply said "I was an officer"). He is also a gifted speaker and storyteller, willingly sharing  the stories and leadership lessons that America's Sons and Daughters have shared with him and have shaped him as a man and a leader.


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.
 

'Twas Halloween Night

 

'Twas Halloween night as I leaped from my bed,

With thoughts of amusement going through my head.

Turned off my computer and thought as I may

Of vampires of old and vampires of today.


Of spooky old movies and Halloween parties,

Of course trick or treating (hope they don't hand out Smarties).

And witches and ghosts and gravediggers, I fear,

So that old haunted house, I will never go near.


When you see spooky places, just take my advice,

And don't go in rooms filled with ghosts, bats, and mice.

So don't risk your life going looking for spooks,

Just go to a party with some good friendly kooks.


Or gather your family, carve a pumpkin and think

What to have your kids do, and go pick up a drink.

Tell a joke to your friends, but be careful, you'll see

That a couple wrong moves might mean eternity.


Now put on that costume and dress yourself up.

You can be Ninja Nun or that RCA Pup.

But be very careful or else you might see

That ghosts and vampires aren't really PC.


So now you can think, as you turn out that light

That there's no such thing and that you are all right.

Look under your bed, though, and then you might see...

Nothing! We aren't afraid of ghosts now, are we?


MIKKI ON THE MOVE
Airplane 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 logo
Next Speakers School is February 3-5, 2011.

SIGN UP NOW!
 
Speakers School is now 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 3-5, 2011.
It's for people at all levels: novices, wannabes, CEOs, professionals or anyone who needs to improve their communication skills.
Upcoming Speakers Schools:

April 14-16, 2011
September 22-24, 2011

"Beneath Mikki Williams' wide smile and wonderful stories there is a bedrock of careful thought and analysis of every aspect of what makes a successful speaker. The Speakers School is an interactive classroom for dissecting verbal presentation skills, gestures and body movement and then teaching the participants how to reassemble them into a new way of communicating with groups. The intense learning experience is balanced by Mikki's light touch and sense of humor and the whole experience is great fun."

Stephen J. Friedman

President

Pace University, NYC



 THE HAPPY COOKER
Little girl chef
Yes, that was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on, I know guys cook too.

Fall Pear Crisp
Makes one serving 

1/2 of a ripe Bartlett pear

1 small lemon wedge

1 1/2 teaspoons dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon rolled oats

1/2 tablespoon chopped walnuts or pecans

1 teaspoon unsalted butter

2 Pinch of cinnamon

1 rounded tablespoon cottage cheese or plain whole milk yogurt, for serving

 

Preheat the oven to 400�F

                       

Halve the pear half and core; cut crosswise in slices and place in a 6-ounce coffee cup. Squeeze the lemon on top, add the sugar, oats, nuts, butter and then cinnamon and bake for 20 minutes, until bubbly and golden and pears are soft.  Let cool for 5 minutes and add a dollop of cottage cheese or yogurt.


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Blog

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Click here to visit the archives.

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: [email protected]        
SEE ME: www.mikkiwilliams.com
Thanks for spending
time with us!
Halloween Masks
(When we're finished Trick-or-Treating we're going to rob a couple of banks.)
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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.