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 or...
stop being so darned professional and tak a break today!
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Welcome! If you enjoyed last month you'll be craaaaazy about this month!
The purpose of this ezine continues is inspiration, humor, business, personal and just plain fun: aka the don't-take-yourself-so-seriously ezine.
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 Catalyst Ranch is an outrageous place! (So you know I love it!) It's a creative meeting and events space that delights your senses and sparks your imagination. You have to see it!
And here's the perfect opportunity: I'll be doing a series of three presentations there (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) beginning June 3rd, and then again in September and February. I hope you'll be able to come. Put it on your calendar now: June 3, 2013, September 9, 2013 and February 10, 2014.
Watch for upcoming emails with details.
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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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April!!! Did you know that April is National Stress Awareness Month? THAT alone is stressful!
Rather than spend my whole "musings" musing about stress, read my favorite Huffington Post post.
For me, it was eustress, that's the good kind (FYI distress is the bad boy). Building my third Vistage group is all-consuming and yet I'm meeting so many unique people.
Okay, let's whip through my jam-packed month. 
Had dinner at my favorite restaurant Bandera with long time pal Vicki Thomas, marketing director for Purple Heart Homes, pictured (left) and owners, John and Dale.
Off to St. Louis to another very cool company, Speartip, and CEO Jarrett Kolthoff  (right), and then spoke for a very hip young company XL.net because CEO Adam Radulovic (below) had heard me at his Vistage meeting.
Then off to Scottsdale to speak for Automotive Training Institute, pictured below with the lovely Karen Dee.
Back home in time to run my first Vistage marketing event for prospects for my new group at the luxurious Park Hyatt Hotel, pictured below with  My Sam, Elisa Primavera Bailey, and Sandy Marsico and Mark Partridge, my members who served as ambassadors for the event.
I introduced some "Goddesses" to each other (below) at The Tortoise Club: my bud Michele to my friend Lynn's bud Annie,  who is a captain for Southwest Airlines (right) - how cool is that?
Then it was time to fly to Vermont for fellow Vistage Chair and speaker Heather Anderson (below right) and then time for catch up over dinner with former member, Stephanie Cole (below left).
 
And if that wasn't enough, I flew back home and had a cupcakes and champagne party for some National Speakers Association members who were in town for a conference - pictured below with current president Ron Culbertson, 2014 president Ron Karr and 2015 president Shep Hyken. 
Finished up the month by doing the All-City Vistage event for over 300 Philly execs (pictured below with two attendees Steven McCaffrey, CEO and Bill Underkoffler of Metro Public Adjustment.)
WHEW!!!
Are you exhausted???
See you next month!
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NOW...not one, not two, but THREE divisions of
The Mikki Mouth Club!
CLICK HERE for more information
If you want Mikki's expertise at an affordable price on an ongoing basis The Mikki Mouth Club is for you.
Questions? We've got answers!!
Just call 312.664.8447 or send us an email
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 God Wears Lipstick
Kabbalah for Women
by Kabbalist Karen Berg
One of my 2013 goals was to add a joyful activity each month that I had been procrastinating about in previous years. So far I am on target with Kabbalah in January, Italian lessons in February, volunteering in March and dance lessons in April.
When I started exploring Kabbalah, which is spiritual wisdom, I was given this book by a friend who knew of my curiosity, It's an exploration of women's unique spiritual role on this planet. It has lessons that can alter relationships to children, husbands, friends and soulmates. Even if you don't embrace Kabbalah or spirituality it has real life impact.
Now, go get this book!
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 In the front yard of a Funeral Home: "Drive carefully. We'll wait." |
LastPass is a password manager that makes web browsing easier and more secure.
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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 book - some funny, some poignant, some professional, some just darn cute!
Women spend more time thinking about what men think than men actually spend thinking.
~Unknown  |
Bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers
were all invented by women.
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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.
Mobile Social
Most people didn't notice when it happened in the 4th quarter of 2010. Yes, it was almost two and a half years ago that smartphones and tablets surpassed desktop and notebook computer sales in unit volume. Since then the gap has widened dramatically. In another two and a half years these amazing mobile devices will outsell PCs 6-to-1, approaching an astounding 2 billion units per year. Which raises a question: How many processors do most people need? By the time the Apple iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy s6 launch, I think the answer is just one!
Which raises another question. What's the best way to connect with your employees, your business partners, and your customers?
Yesterday, the answer was "via the Internet." Today (and more so tomorrow), the answer is "by using Apps."
A great way to get started is with mobile social apps. If you've not yet purchased a smartphone, it's time to join the rest of us in the 21st century. That done, go to your favorite app store and find at least one mobile social app and add it to your phone.
The list of choices is long (and growing), including: Facebook, Foursquare, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, SnapChat, Twitter, and Yelp, to name just a few. If you have no experience with any of these, here's my recommendation on the first two to try:
1) LinkedIn - the professional's social network. LinkedIn now has more than 200 million members worldwide. Because it's tied to our professional careers, it's likely to be the one social network that will stand the test of time. You'll see that it unlocks the amazing network of people that your professional associates already know, an average of 275 times more people than you know directly.
2) Yelp - a foodie's nirvana. It's no longer about the Zagat Guide and professional reviews (although Google now owns Zagat, so look for their ratings on everything in the near future); it's about what they say, "they" being the regular customers of any given restaurant. I travel almost every week and never have a bad meal because I let the Yelpers guide me. They're fabulous.
As you experience these social apps on your smartphone, start thinking about how you might engage your target audiences, meaning your employees, your customers and the like. Perhaps you will do it using one or more of these mobile social apps. Or maybe you'll invent an app of your own.
In the past, we put a lot of thought into our Internet presence and search engine optimization (SEO). Now it's time to shift our thinking (and our resources) to the post-PC world.
You can find more formal details here:
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B rian 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!
Government Spending Margaret Thatcher passed away April 8th at age 87. Looking back, the U.K. economy had been limping along for years when she became Prime Minister in 1979. High inflation was problematic and she attacked it with high interest rates, deregulation, increased focus on services, and a free market emphasis. The Labour movement before her tried unsuccessfully to use stimulus spending to jump start the economy. Ultimately, her leadership and methods produced steady economic growth that benefited the nation. The same debate is going on in Europe and the U.S. today - should nations engage in stimulus spending or free market measures. Three economists, one from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Board, another from the University of California, and the third from the Bank of Canada, engaged in a study by examining historical evidence in the U.S. from 1890 to 2010. What they found is that when the U.S. government spends a dollar during periods of high unemployment, the multiplier effect of that dollar is less than one. The economic benefit of a dollar spent by the government ranged from $0.54 to $0.64. It was slightly better when unemployment was above 6.5% ($0.63 to $0.78). Thus, a dollar borrowed or taxed from the private sector loses power when filtered through the federal government. The conclusion is that the benefits are not generally commensurate with the cost. We are indebting our nation in the hopes of restoring the U.S. to sustainable growth. The example of the United Kingdom under Margaret Thatcher and the study referenced above on the multiplier effect suggest that the economy is growing because the free market system works, not because of an interventionist government. |
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. 
Strawberry Tiramisu Makes 8 servings Prepare this a day ahead so all of the elements can meld and the ladyfingers to soften fully.  1 1/4 cups strawberry preserves
1/3 cup plus 4 tablespoons Cointreau or other orange liqueur 1/3 cup orange juice 1 pound mascarpone cheese, room temperature 1 1/3 cups chilled whipping cream 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 52 (about) crisp ladyfingers (boudoirs or Savoiardi) 1-1/2 lbs. strawberries, divided Whisk preserves, 1/3 cup Cointreau, and orange juice in 2-cup measuring cup. Place mascarpone cheese and 2 tablespoons Cointreau in large bowl; fold just to blend. Using electric mixer, beat cream, sugar, vanilla, and remaining 2 tablespoons Cointreau in another large bowl to soft peaks. Stir 1/4 of whipped cream mixture into mascarpone mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining whipped cream. Hull and slice half of strawberries. Spread 1/2 cup preserve mixture over bottom of 3-quart oblong serving dish or a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange enough ladyfingers over strawberry mixture to cover bottom of dish. Spoon 3/4 cup preserve mixture over ladyfingers, then spread 2-1/2 cups mascarpone mixture over. Arrange 2 cups sliced strawberries over mascarpone mixture. Repeat layering with remaining lady fingers, preserve mixture, and mascarpone mixture. Cover with plastic and chill at least 8 hours or overnight. Slice remaining strawberries. Arrange over tiramas� and serve. |
Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
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Be Outrageous...it's The Only Place That Isn't Crowded.
~Mikki Williams
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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.
www.diningforwomen.org
Dining for Women's mission is to empower women and girls living in extreme poverty by funding programs that foster good health, education, and economic self-sufficiency and to cultivate educational giving circles that inspire individuals to make a positive difference through the power of collective giving.
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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
September 26-28, 2013 in Chicago
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
CALL NOW FOR MORE DETAILS: 312.664.8447
OR SEND AN EMAIL TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION.
Upcoming Speakers Schools:
February 2014
April 2014
September 2014
DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
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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, a monthly ezine: Hair She Is...! and a blog: Mikki Williams' Blah Blah...Blog. 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 with three distinct divisions...Speaker Source, Accountability Academy and Keynote Kamp. 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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