| |
or...
stop being so darned professional and take a break today!
|
|
| Issue No. 45 December 2011 |
| 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. |
|
|
|
|
Hola from Argentina!I just checked it off my "experience list" - two weeks of tango in Argentina with my BFF, Chris from Wales,  and what a time we had! (How do you like those small earrings?) Despite being diverted to Santiago, Chile, and Chris being diverted to Rio due to volcanic ash, and the airline losing my luggage for five days, it was the trip of a lifetime. I am in love with and frustrated by the Argentine Tango.  This dancer (that would be me) has not mastered it and will keep working at it. The Argentine Tango is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire...fluid, sexy, sensual, beautiful. If you'd like all the details of the trip, I wrote every day and you can read all about it on my It was indeed a month of unique experiences. I spoke for Something Fishy at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. My client/CEO and friend, Kurt Harrington (below),  arranged a special treat for me. I got to play with and pet the tongue of Juno, a 1600 lb. Beluga whale (can you believe I put my hand in  his mouth???). Then off to speak in Wilmington, Delaware, then to Palm Springs where I got to spend time with BFF, Kat Coleman, my first friend in Chicago who just moved to the west coast. Delighted to share in the wedding joy of gal pal and Vistage wonder woman, Mary Hoffman, at her nuptials at Gibson's  (right). Sam and I went to see Rock of Ages, the musical at Broadway in Chicago, but there are no pictures because we walked out! Spent last week in California speaking in four different cities: Irvine, Tustin, Santa Ana and L.A. In Santa Ana I was hosted at Merhab, Robinson and Jackson Law with Lorraine (below).  Got a chance to have dinner with Martha Oxley, training guru for Vistage, and new BFF  Patty Vogan, Vistage Chair and mutual dance lover ( right).
Also found time in LA to see best budTamilee Webb, Buns of Steel, and her friend, Rosi O'Hara who connected me with all my Argentine tango folks.
Then squeezed in time to reconnect with gal pal, Lavinia Errico, whose family founded the Equinox Fitness Clubs.  I wrapped up my holiday week with tea at The Drake Hotel, harpist and all, with my 6543WIT crowd (can you figure that out?).  From left: Mary, moi, Sandy and Michelle.Now I am finishing up the month in Chicago and the next time you hear from me I will be at my sunny Florida home while on a two month creativity sabbatical. Woo Hoo! Note from Sam: The day Mikki left for Argentina, Joey (my extraordinary assistant - see our picture at the end) and I were in the office. Mikki was running around like a crazy woman - clacking around on the tile floors in her 10" heels, finishing packing, phone ringing, people knocking on the door...you get the idea. FINALLY her car arrived and spirited her away. After several moments Joey looked up and said, "Wow, it's really quiet in here." It was. He said, "Does the whole country get a little quieter when she leaves?"
It does. Doesn't it?
|
|
|
|
I LOVE THIS BOOK!
| |
 Delivering Happiness
A Path to Passion, Profits and Purpose
by Tony Hseih
I can't believe I haven't written about my favorite book this year. Tony Hseih is the CEO of Zappos and he and I met last year when I was his 'opening act.' We have stayed in touch, I have toured the headquarters in Las Vegas and this book is a must read for every business interested in how core values develop a truly powerful culture. Sound crazy? It's all standard operating procedure at Zappos, the online retailer that's doing over $1 billion in gross merchandise sales annually. After debuting as the highest-ranking newcomer in Fortune magazine's annual "Best Companies to Work For" list in 2009, Zappos was acquired by Amazon in a deal valued at over $1.2 billion on the day of closing.
In this book Tony shares the different lessons he has learned in business and life, from starting a worm farm to running a pizza business; through LinkExchange (acquired by Microsoft for $265 million), Zappos, and more. Tony shows how a very different kind of corporate culture is a powerful model for achieving success - and how by concentrating on the happiness of those around you, you can dramatically increase your own. I love this book!! |
 | |
Join me and some of my fabulous friends for fun and informative tele-conversations!
The next tele-conversation is on
Wednesday, January 25th at 12:00 noon CST.
No cost, no obligation.
Just CLICK HERE to register.
TELE-CONVERSATION WITH
Dr. Bhavesh Patel THERE IS SUCH A THING AS HEALTHY AGING
FEBRUARY'S GUEST:
Todd Millar
Topic: From Boardroom to Basecamp
|
|
BIZ BYTES
|
 My first three years of professional speaking was mostly international work...by choice. A desire to "experience" the world was one of my primary motivators in pursuing this career. As a new feature I will share my fascinating journeys. Hope you will enjoy the recap with me.
STRESSED FOR SUCCESS
"In the old days, if a person missed the stage coach, s/he was content to wait a day or two for the next one. Nowadays, we feel frustrated if we miss one section of a revolving door." --Doris Dolphin, The Wall Street Journal
Stress - What is this buzzword that seems to stay on the forefront of people's minds no matter how many decades we live through? It's been around as long as time, but due to our ever-increasing health consciousness, it is talked about at seminars, doctor's offices and cocktail parties. Simply, stress is the body's natural reaction to a pleasant or unpleasant demand placed upon it. Although physical demands - such as fleeing from danger - are certainly a stressor, it is the psychological demands of deadlines, worry, embarrassment, etc. that are the primary stressors of modern times.
Fortunately, we don't have to face the problems of our prehistoric ancestors and deal with dangerous predators, starvation or extreme weather. However, our rapidly changing society has brought us from the "stone age" to the "stress age." Today we have to learn to cope with stress...our reactions to job pressures, relationship conflicts and uncertainties in our ever demanding lives. READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE.
|
|
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:
Losing our Cool (Air conditioning repair)
Poochini (Dog walking service)
***********************************************************
I hope you'll continue to send me ones you know of.
Please send to mikki@mikkiwilliams.com
|
|
SHOE-BE-DOO STORIES
| |
This month's shoe from The Mikki Collection at Atelier Shoes...
This month's shoe is named The Kristen for my "mini-me." It's a 3-1/2 inch stiletto in white leather with the trademark red stitching of a baseball. As women prep for the spring, it seems appropriate. It's fun, creative and sassy like my Kristen. I met Kristen DaRosa after her mom came to my Speakers School then sent Kristen to it. I was immediately captivated by this millennial's style and savvy. Wise beyond her years, we got to be very close. She is the daughter I never had. I see so much of myself in her in so many ways and she feels the same. She  has an unquenchable thirst for life and all its offerings. Her work, her passion revolves around travel and experiences (sound familiar?), and you have enjoyed her column this past year. Now she is off to conquer the world, starting with a meditation in India. She is a soul and sole sista'!
For pricing or ordering the shoes, go to www.ateliershoes.com/mikki or send an email to kate@ateliershoes.com. Mention you saw them here and get a 20% discount.
|
|
WONDERFUL WEBSITEings
| |
I come across so many and so many are shared with me that I thought I'd share with you.
This website provides a guide to giving unique holiday gifts for the upcoming holiday season to help you with gift giving.
|
|
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!
In the old days, it was not called the holiday season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'
--Dave Barry
Order the book today! |
|
MILLENNIAL INSIGHTS
| |
Kristen DaRosa is an adventure-seeking young consultant specializing in relationship management and marketing. Her Chicago-based consultancy is dedicated to helping her nationally-based clients do just about anything related to the art of 'talk'. DaRosa is an ambassador for a premier MBA school where she facilitates relationship management with global corporations. She will be sharing with us her perspective on what many call "the entitled generation."
Mining for Mine
Two weeks ago I finally got around to tackling my bathroom. In an effort to simplify, as Oprah's been suggesting for years, I've taken on my house, room by room, clearing out the superfluous. Clothes, kitchenware, and now a collection of jewels and half-used bottles of hair products, some dating back to high school. There's something about glittery, blue nail polish and cheap gold earrings from the college days that you don't want to let go of, and yet the look of newfound shelf space delivers a sense of resolution and satisfaction.
Ironically enough, I was recently chosen for a project that involves Africa's largest gold mining company. The project is unprecedented, convening up to 40 CEOs and direct reports from the mining industry. Every major player, every continent, together, to clear out their respective bathroom armoires.
It won't be easy. Historically the mining industry has shied from innovation and collaboration. The industry has super-cycled since 2006, leading to record profits - and yet, the question remains: How will they capture sustainable, long term value? Indeed, they've kept their sparkly nail polishes and tarnished gold earrings shelved, as if afraid to make space for more useful alternatives.
Come spring in Brazil 2012 they will spend two days, side-by-side, addressing matters so large and complex that the end result, and the reason for my hire, will be the announcement of a transformation of the industry's fundamental operating system.
And I thought tossing out eight year-old hair gel was tough!
With only six months left before turning 30, and less than 30 days until the new year, I'm noticing people looking to simplify, to make better use of the resources they have, and to ditch the ones that sit unused. To the future!
|
|
TITILLATING TRIVIA
| 
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers gotunruly, the bartender would yell at them, "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."
It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's."
|
|
HE WHO LAUGHS...LASTS!
| 
There are three stages of man: He believes in Santa Claus; he doesn't believe in Santa Claus; he is Santa Claus.
|
|
SOCIAL MEDIA GURU GUY
| |
Dave Nelsen
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.
December 2011: Somewhere or Everywhere?
Some businesses chase every new social media service, or at least get nervous about missing something as each new platform is introduced. They feel the need to be everywhere. The most common mistake I see consumer-focused companies (B2C) make is dissipating their limited resources and therefore under-investing in (or worse, ignoring) Facebook and Twitter. It's a huge missed opportunity.
Surprisingly, business-focused companies (B2B) make exactly the opposite mistake. They see the tremendous success of B2C businesses in Facebook and Twitter and rush right in. In fact, I see very few B2B initiatives that show apparent return on investment (ROI) in either platform. They're the wrong tools for most B2Bs.
I suggest that, instead, you answer the following questions first before selecting your tool(s):
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE
You can find more formal details here:
wesocialize.biz
To contact Dave directly:
dave@WeSocialize.biz
|
|
THE HAPPY COOKER
| |
Yes, that was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on, I know guys cook, too.
Cranberry Punch
Cranberries are a truly festive berry. If they're not in season where you live there's always frozen and juice.
 2 cans frozen cranberry juice
1 can frozen orange juice
2 16-fluid ounce bottles of ginger ale or lemon/lime pop
Fresh or frozen cranberries and orange slices for on top
Just mix all the liquids together and add cranberries and sliced oranges.
For an alcoholic version: add gin or vodka.
|
|
MIKKI'S MANTRA
|
Be outrageous...it's the only place that isn't crowded.
My quote was chosen again from over 5,000 submissions to be featured in The Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar for 2011. I'm on July 3rd (a coincidence since my birthday is July 4th) and the chosen quote was "Life gives you choices, not chances and it's those choices that determine the quality of your life."
For more information call 919.841.0401 or visit The Woman's Advantage
|
|
INSPIRATIONS
|
'Twas the month after Christmas and all through the house Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. When I got on the scale there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber). The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared, The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese, And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please." As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt And prepared once again to do battle with dirt--- I said to myself, as only I can, "You can't spend a winter disguised as a man! So--away with the last of the sour cream dip, Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip Every last bit of food that I like must be banished Till all the additional ounces have vanished. I won't have a cookie--not even a lick. I'll want to chew only on a long celery stick. I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry. I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore, But isn't that what January's for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot. Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!" |
|
VISIONARY VOLUNTEERISM
| |
Visionary - adjective (esp. of a person), thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom
 I speak of volunteerism is my speeches. I tell stories to inspire and challenge audiences to volunteer as individuals, as responsible business and community leaders. as parents/grandparents, and to get their children involved early. By the way, volunteerism is the number one way to raise self-esteem. What are you doing in this visionary effort? Each month I will give you a link to a site where you can volunteer. Please send me a link to your favorite volunteer opportunity to post.
I met CEO, Margaret Bayston, who was in one of my audiences in California. and was so taken by the work they are doing. I encourage you to volunteer if you can, or donate - which is another form of volunteerism.
Laura's House is about changing social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.
|
|
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 |
 | |
The next Speakers School is in session on
February 23-25, 2012 in Chicago
 |
Why Should You Come to Speakers School? |
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: Getting Booked
Speakers School is for people at all levels; novices, wannabes, CEOs, professionals or anyone who needs to improve their communication skills.
And who doesn't?
REGISTER NOW!
OR...BRING SPEAKERS SCHOOL TO YOUR COMPANY.
IT'S A GREAT VALUE.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS THE CORNERSTONE TO SUCCESS.
Help your employees improve their presentation skills, whether they're
speaking in front of a group or in a one-on-one situation.
Successful business people know it's important to have an edge these days, and Speakers School provides that with Mikki's how-to techniques you can use, not theories you'll forget. Excellent communication skills set you and your staff apart and help take your business to the next level.
CALL NOW FOR MORE DETAILS: 312.664.8447
OR SEND AN EMAIL TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION.
Upcoming Speakers Schools:
February 23-25, 2012
April 26-28, 2012
September 13-15, 2012
|
|
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 blog:
Would love for you to join my Facebook Fan page. Just click the icon below:
In case you've missed past issues of the ezine
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:
mikki@mikkiwilliams.com
SEE ME:
www.mikkiwilliams.com
|
|
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MIKKI WILLIAMS UNLTD.
Thanks for spending time with us!
|
|
|
|
*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.
|
|
|
|
|
