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 or...
stop being so darned professional and tak a break today!
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Issue No. 58 December 2012
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| 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 justplain fun: aka the don't-take-yourself-so-seriously ezine.
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For years people have asked for more coaching on presentation skills which I offer through Speakers Schools, or in-person coaching (also via Skype and phone). And now, and now, and NOW...
This is a membership-based, subscription coaching club on presentation skills. Once a month you will call in for a 45 minute group coaching session on all the aspects of making great presentations. If you can't call in, it will be archived for members only. You will have time to ask questions regarding your specific issues. You will have an opportunity to request certain topics. You will be entitled to Speakers School discounts and other related events.
Who is this for? If you are breathing, with pulse, can eat without assistance...sign up now!!! Because everyone can benefit; salespeople, professional speakers, wannabe professional speakers, executives, homemakers, teachers...anyone who aspires to be a better story teller, a better presenter, a better communicator. THIS IS FOR ALL OF YOU!
Sign up now and get the introductory price of ONLY $47.00 per month.
The membership is a one-year commitment.
And for anyone who registers prior to Jan. 1st we'll waive the $50 initiation fee.
Questions? We've got answers!!
Just call 312.664.8447 or email me.
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CONNECT WITH US!
In case you've missed past issues of the ezine Click here to visit the archives. |
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All I want for Christmas!!!
November was, well...November! Profound, huh? Since we last "mused" together, I celebrated Thanksgiving at my Florida home. THE son flew in from New York and we had a Whole Foods Turkey Day. Normally I love to cook the whole deal but we were leaving the next day so all those leftovers would have gone to waste. 
I left the next day for vacation in Mexico with BFF Lynn La Palermo. Playa del Carmen, outside of Cancun is an awesome place that I've been to many times - it looks like a little European village with its shops and outdoor cafes.  We had breakfast on our balcony each morning and had a coatimundi begging below us for our morning entertainment. Do you know what a coatimundi is? Neither did I but there he is. 
No rest for the weary. I left the day after vacation for Risdall Marketing Group in Minneapolis, my favorite mutual client (I'm theirs, they're mine) to do a two day in-house Speakers School. Went to dinner that night at Axel's with the Chairman, CEO and management team, and had the biggest and best popovers with maple butter...outrageous!! Sara and I couldn't get over the size of the steak that Ted Risdall, the CEO had so we grabbed the last remnants for a little levity. (I think it was actually a tyrannosaurus rex.) 
And then...and then...OY!! After six hours of training, I spent another five being driven to Des Moines, Iowa. (My "no" meter needs calibrating!) Spoke for some Vistage groups and Scott Haugan of Howgan  (Yes, his name is spelled differently from the company.
Enjoyed our annual Tea at the Drake with my 6543 group: (l to r) Mary Hoffman, Michele Goldsmith and Sandy Rueve. I haven't done any shopping yet. Oh no! But I have one more intense week of travel, one gig in Chicago (yay!), one in Columbus, two in Cleveland then...2012 is DONE!!!
Next time I write this I will be happily ensconced in Florida home with the sun shining and savoring the solitude.
Have an outrageous holiday season and an even more outrageously Happy New Year!!
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BOMBSHELL
Explosive Secrets that will Redefine Aging
Suzanne Somers
Okay, okay, it's a light read but hey, I'm on a beach on vacation in Mexico.
Actually, I have read and love all of her books as I've always been into complementary medicine. She writes about what causes aging, and what the future looks like in terms of medical advances to slow the process so we can enjoy fuller lives longer. As in most of her books, she interviews prominent doctors in various fields of anti-aging medicine. This book is not for the faint of heart but for someone like me who has taken herbs and vitamins as a daily regimen for over 25 years I am captivated by the sciences, the regimens, the protocols that are constantly redefining the aging process. Viva healthy aging...I am in Mexico!
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Join me and some of my fabulous friends for fun and informative teleconversations!
The next teleconversation is on Tuesday, December 18th
at 12:00 noon CST.
No cost, no obligation.
Just CLICK HERE to register.
TELECONVERSATION WITH
Dr. Bhavesh Patel
Dr. Patel is back by popular demand. He's the only guest asked to return; he holds the record for the most people on the call and NO ONE dropped off during our teleconversation.
So DON'T MISS HIM!
THERE IS SUCH A THING AS HEALTHY AGING
Dr. Bhavesh Patel
Being healthy as you age is truly an option, as long as you give your body what it needs and take away what it doesn't. By combining effective exercise, nutrition and nutrient supplementation you can feel a whole lot better and be a whole lot younger.
Listen to Dr. Patel explain how to kick start your new year in the healthiest way.
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I thought I'd end my 25 for 25, celebration of my 25th year with 25 inspiring holiday thoughts. Enjoy!
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
25 WAYS WE'RE DIFFERENT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
1. Last season we were thinking about all the things we didn't have; this Christmas we are thinking about all the things we do have. 2. Last season we were placing wreaths on the doors of our homes; this Christmas we are placing wreaths on the graves of our heroes. 3. Last season we were letting our sons play with toy guns; this Christmas we are teaching them that guns are not toys. 4. Last season we were counting our money; this Christmas we are counting our blessings. 5. Last season we were lighting candles to decorate; this Christmas we are lighting candles to commemorate. 6. Last season we paid lip service to the real meaning of the holidays; this Christmas we are paying homage to it. 7. Last season we were digging deep into our bank accounts to find money to fly home for the holidays; this Christmas we are digging deep into our souls to find the courage to do so. 8. Last season we were trying not to let annoying relatives get the best of us; this Christmas we are trying to give the best of ourselves to them. 9. Last season we thought it was enough to celebrate the holidays; this Christmas we know we must also find ways to consecrate them. 10. Last season we thought a man who could rush down a football field was a hero; this Christmas we know a man who rushes into a burning building is the real one. 11. Last season we were thinking about the madness of the holidays; this Christmas we are thinking about the meaning of them. 12. Last season we were getting on one another's nerves; this Christmas we are getting on our knees. 13. Last season we were giving thanks for gifts from stores; this Christmas we are giving thanks for gifts from GOD. 14. Last season we were wondering how to give our children all the things that money can buy; this Christmas we are wondering how to give them all the things money can't (peace, security). 15. Last season we were thinking about all the pressure we are under at the office; this Christmas we are thinking about all the people who no longer have an office to go to. 16. Last season we were singing carols; this Christmas we are singing anthems. 17. Last season we were thinking how good it would feel to be affluent; this Christmas we are thinking how good it feels to be alive. 18. Last season we thought angels were in heaven; this Christmas we know they are right here on earth. 19. Last season we were contemplating all the changes we wanted to make in the new year; this Christmas we are contemplating all the changes we will have to make in this new reality. 20. Last season we believed in the power of the pocketbook; this Christmas we believe in the power of prayer. 21. Last season we were sharing / spreading / listening to gossip; this Christmas we are sharing / spreading and listening to the gospel. 22. Last season we were complaining about how much of our earnings went to taxes; this Christmas we comprehend that freedom isn't free. 23. Last season we valued things that were costly; this Christmas we value things that are holy. 24. Last season the people we idolized wore sports uniforms; this Christmas the people we idolize wear police, firefighter and military uniforms. 25. Last season peace on earth is something we prayed for on Sunday morning; now it's something we pray for every day.
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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:
Hair of the Dog (Dog grooming)
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I hope your holidays are as outrageous as my shoes!
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Get Pocket
Pocket is a great companion tool to save any articles, videos or images you like the look of, but don't have the time to read right now, whatever device you're using.
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MIKKI MOUTH Things I Wish I'd Said and Some I Did Say!
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Enjoy a quote each month from my new book - some funny, some poignant, some professional, some just darn cute!
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world weeps and you rejoice."
~Unknown
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Why do we decorate Christmas trees? 
Decorating Christmas trees is an age-old German tradition in which people hung trees known as paradise trees with religious symbols. The modern-day American practice of adorning a tree with multicolored decorations originated in Victorian England.
German settlers brought the custom to the United States and the practice continues to this day.
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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.
Pinterest: A More Interesting Pinboard
Have you heard of Pinterest? 18 months ago, almost no one had. Last month, 26.9 million people used the service, making it the 41st busiest website on the planet according to compete.com.
Who are these people? According to Alexa.com, they are heavily female, over-represented by the coveted 25 - 34 age demographic, more likely to be college educated and working. This audience is incredibly important to car dealers, realtors, home builders, dentists, jewelers, gift shops, health clubs, ... heck, it might be easier to list the types of businesses that don't value this demographic.
So what is it? Think of it as an online scrapbook or corkboard to which you can pin things of interest to you: Recipes, fashions, decorating ideas, crafts, photography, stuff related to your kids, and just about anything else that's visual.
As the company itself says: "Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests."
If you sell anything for women, get to know Pinterest. The stories of even small retailers finding monster audiences are legendary.
No doubt men will eventually discover Pinterest to share their interests too. You might have to search a bit but (not to be too stereotypical) you can already find pins for guns, sports, geek technology, and fitness.
The applications are endless. Just to get you thinking, in my home state of Pennsylvania, the Mercury newspaper based in Pottstown, has posted almost 100 photos of folks wanted by the local police (if it's visual and interesting, it probably works on Pinterest). These people are purported to have committed crimes ranging from fraud to theft to assault. Authorities receive almost daily tips, resulting in a better than 50% increase in warrants served. The police are thrilled that the public is getting involved in improving their community.
So how can Pinterest work for your business? Start by signing up and discovering what's of interest to you.
You can find more formal details here:
wesocialize.biz
To contact Dave directly:
dave@WeSocialize.biz
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Brian Beaulieu  is the "economist with a personality" (my title not his) .
He is one of the country's leading economists, MY Vistage member, a phenomenal speaker, brilliant businessman and a special friend. CEOs worldwide rely on his forecasting as they plan their business year. And for anyone trying to understand the economy, Brian speaks and writes in English not in that foreign language called economicspeak. Enjoy!
Making it in America
Alan Beaulieu of ITR Economics™ had the pleasure of having lunch with a dozen or so business leaders in WI in November. They are doing well and seemed to be thriving in the national and state economies. This struck him as interesting given that our Opportunity Index ranks Wisconsin as 45th out of 50 states for businesses. Lack of infrastructure and high taxes are two reasons why. The firms in the room were doing well despite local conditions. That is a testament to business leaders who do not stop growing, planning, hiring, changing, adapting just because of extant circumstances. We may not like all the changes in tax law, etc, coming out of Washington, but that does not mean we have an excuse for not going forward.
Additionally, one of the firms (who asked to remain unnamed) is doing something that Alan found interesting. The firm is making a technical product in the U.S. that is then sold in fifty-five countries around the world. Some of their products go to a U.K. manufacturer who uses the product as part of a larger composition that is sold into China and other countries. This firm receives no special tax incentives, utilizes Wisconsin labor at local labor rates, pays a stiff tax burden and can still compete globally. Alan was impressed and so am I. This is only one example, but it is an example of how U.S. manufacturing is succeeding.
Learn more about the future at www.itreconomics.com
or by sending an email today to Kim Clark: kim@itreconomics.com
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LIFE LESSONS...FUNNY, FIT  OR FABULOUS
Submitted by John Godoy
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That was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on,  I know guys cook, too.
Glittering Lemon Sandwich Cookies Makes 4 dozen sandwich cookies For Cookies 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup cornstarch � teaspoon salt 2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, softened � cup confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon vanilla White and colored sanding sugars For Filling 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons light corn syrup � stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened  Preheat oven to 350�F with rack in middle. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Beat together butter and confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, then beat in zest and vanilla. At low speed, mix in flour mixture just until a soft dough forms. Put sanding sugars in different bowls. Roll a scant teaspoon of dough into a ball and drop into sugar, turning to coat. Reshape if necessary and transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat, spacing balls 3/4 inch apart, until baking sheet is filled. Bake until tops are slightly cracked but still pale (bottoms will be pale golden), 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer cookies on parchment to a rack to cool completely. Form and bake more cookies on second baking sheet. Make Filling and Sandwich Cookies: Beat together all filling ingredients in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until combined well. Transfer to a heavy-duty sealable bag and snip off a corner. Turn over half of cookies and pipe about 1/2 teaspoon filling on flat side of each. Sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing gently. Recipe Notes: The sugared dough balls should be chilled for 30 minutes or frozen for 5 to 10 minutes to help preserve their round shape. Keep the sandwiched cookies chilled. The unsandwiched cookies keep, in a metal cookie tin, at a cool room temperature for up to 4 days.
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Be Outrageous...it's The Only Place That Isn't Crowded.
~Mikki Williams
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"The Optimist's Creed"
Promise yourself. . .
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
~Christian Larson
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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.
Volunteering in America
Information on volunteering and civic engagement
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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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The next Speakers School is in session on
February 7-9, 2013 in Chicago
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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:
April 11-13, 2013
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Mikki Williams, CSP (certified speaking professional, an honor bestowed on less than 600 speakers worldwide) specializes in business dynamics and human potential. She has been named one of the top speakers in the country by Meetings and Convention Magazine along with Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Colin Powell, Lou Holtz and Mike Ditka. Mikki is also one of the top tier speaker resources for Vistage International, the world's leading executive organization, and Group Chair of two of their peer advisory boards in Chicago.
Her company Mikki Williams Unltd. produces Speakers Schools in Chicago three times a year, a monthly ezine: Hair She Is...!, a blog: Mikki Williams' Blah Blah...Blog and a monthly tele-Conversations series: Mikki & Friends. She is sought-after for business, life and presentation skills coaching through her firm Coaching, etc... She also facilitates The Mikki Mouth Club, an annual subscription-based presentation skills coaching membership.
If you need other speakers she can book you the best through her Outrageous Orators...speakers who rock, an uncommon speakers bureau.
To hire Mikki or learn more about any of these services:
CALL ME: 312.664.8447
FAX ME: 312.664.8460
E ME: mikki@mikkiwilliams.com
SEE ME: www.mikkiwilliams.com
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Thanks for spending time with us!
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All contents � 2012 Mikki Williams, 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. If you are the owner of the rights of any of this content, please contact us so we may arrange for appropriate permission and give credit.
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