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or...
stop being so darned professional and take 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 is inspiration, humor, business, personal and just plain fun: aka the don't-take-yourself-so-seriously ezine.
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In case you've missed past issues of the ezine Click here to visit the archives. |
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Happy Birthday to me! July 4th, of course! Other than getting sick (from four time zones in 48 hours, perhaps?), it was an amazing experience-filled month.
I finished my June speeches at SRF Consulting Group, Inc.  (left, with VP Dave Montebello) in Minneapolis, and Harshaw Trane (below right with Lou Zacchone, VP) i n Louisville.
Then my BFF from Wales, Chris Leach came for a few days and we "enhanced the Chicago economy." 
Practicing what I preach on life balance, I shared fun time with my gal pals at III Forks Restaurant  .
I had a great speaker at my Vistage meeting, Mike Maddock (below) on innovation, and you can book him through my Outrageous Orators, an uncommon speakers bureau.
I took my first trip to Italy for nine days with (are you ready for this?) JUST an overnight bag. I know what you're thinking: "But what about your shoes?" Ah, sweet mystery of life.
Out of the thousands of photos I took in Florence, Rome and Capri, I chose this one of the extraordinary view from our hotel Punta Tragara in Capri.
 For the rest of Mikki and Michele's Marvelous Meanderings Through Italy, go to my blog where I documented the trip with photos and recaps.
There's no rest for the weary -I flew from Italy to JFK, three hour layover, caught a flight to Chicago, got home at 10 p.m., unpacked and then re-packed to leave for San Diego the next morning for my National Speakers Convention. Crazy!!!
Two of my coaching clients, my Reverend Mark Anthony Lord (below, left) and my personal trainer, John Godoy (below, left) went with me and we had a blast! 
And I had time to catch up with my buddy Harvey Mackay (below), famous author of Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and many others. 
My biggest thrill at the convention was having my photo taken with one of my dance idols, Ben Vereen (below)...woo hoo! You knew I was a former hoofer, right? (That's hoofer, with an 'F'),
I also did a podcast called Reality Check with four other speaking pros, which you can listen to if you CLICK HERE.
I got back to Chicago two hours before my annual birthday party at The Sofitel  (two of the party-goers at left: Michelle Goldsmith - yes, the Italy Michelle) - and interior designer extraordinaire Jim Malone).
All that flying, all those time zones...no surprise that I got sick, but I managed to have a great time at my party and then to do three speeches the next week for  IMMI in Indiana (at right with Larry Gray, CEO), Ideal in Chicago (below left with Yale Eisen, COO),
 and for my dear friend and Vistage Chair, Gary Arakelian's group here in Chicago (below). I  managed to squeeze in Sting's new musical, The Last Ship (really good), then finished off the week attending a brunch on Saturday, then hosting one on Sunday with gal pal, neighbor and Vistage member, Sheri Miller at Brunch in Chicago (below) as part of a fundraiser for Bodhi Spiritual Center.  Just another average month for 'The Mik.' I hope you had great fireworks on my birthday!!! Be Outrageous! |
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Enough.
John Bogle
The founding premise of this book was an actual conversation that occurred many years ago between famous authors Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller. They were talking at a party hosted by a billionaire hedge fund manager. Kurt says to Joseph, "You know, this billionaire makes more money in one day than you made in your whole lifetime from your novel Catch-22.
Joe responds, "Yes but I have something he will never have...enough."
That sounded like an interesting idea for a book, coming from a lifetime CEO of a company that manages well over a trillion dollars of the world's money invested in the stock market through his Vanguard Group. He is not the most exciting writer but a sampling of the book's chapter titles might intrigue...
Too much cost, not enough value
Too much complexity, not enough simplicity
Too much management, not enough leadership
Too much focus on things, not enough focus on commitment
Too much "success," not enough character
OK I didn't love this book but I loved the premise.
NOW GO GET IT!
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WONDERFUL WEBSITEings/AWESOME APPS
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 Paint FX (it's like Photoshop for your phone) Apply filters, effects, colors, enhancements, adjustments or edit your photos any way, anywhere you want selectively in specific areas with the swipe of a finger.
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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!
"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."
~Erma Bombeck
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Budweiser is the only beer on sale on
the World Cup grounds throughout the
entire tournament despite an 11-year
government ban on the sale of alcohol in Brazilian football stadiums.
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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 used to produce my monthly teleseminars.
What are the five most important words in a businessperson's vocabulary? Perhaps you answered, "The customer is always right."
I love my customers but I have a different answer: "What gets measured, gets done."
It's an incredibly powerful concept in business and in life. Show people the metrics, help them understand how to impact them, and watch the magic happen.
It's an idea so powerful that when then Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki attempted to eliminate a massive scheduling backlog by setting an objective that new patients be seen by a doctor within 14 days - apparently without adding more doctors - well, you know the rest of the story. Faced with an important measurement that was impossible to meet, staff members invented a sophisticated way to game the system (aka cheat).
How to set reasonable goals is a topic for another column. Today, I just want to talk about the power of measuring... important things like your web traffic.
Google provides a fabulous, free analytics system called (you guessed it) Google Analytics. If you're not already using it, have your Webmaster set it up ASAP.
So what to measure? Perhaps the most commonly tracked metrics are web visitors and page views. Together, these give you a rough picture of total web hits, an acronym that I've learned stands for "How Idiots Track Success.'
I have some much better suggestions:
* Direct visitors, those that type your website address (URL) directly into their browser address bar. Tracked over time, this metric will tell you how well your overall sales and marketing efforts are working.
* Organic search visitors, those that typed a word or phrase into Google or other search engine and then clicked on your result. Half of all Internet traffic starts with a search and slightly more than three-quarters of clicks are on the organic (free) results.
* Paid search visitors, those that clicked on one of your search ads (think: Google Adwords). While this represents less than one-quarter of search volume, if you make more money from paid search visitors than it costs you to attract them, keep it going. This can be especially effective for picking off prospects searching for your competitors' names.
* Referral visitors, those who came from your Facebook page, LinkedIn page, Twitter page, or any other external website. A "Follower" or a "Like" has no inherent value if you're not converting at least some of them to customers.
After you start tracking these metrics, you'll want to track the next 10, and then next 10...
If you're not measuring the effectiveness of your sales, marketing, and social media initiatives, then one of two tragedies is afflicting you. Either you're spending money in the wrong places and not getting a decent return on investment, or you're getting a fabulous return but should be investing far more. In reality, it's probably a mix of both.
It's time to measure it and find out.
You can find more formal details here:
wesocialize.biz
To contact Dave directly:
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LIFE LESSONS...FUNNY, FIT  OR FABULOUS
Submitted by John Godoy
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John Godoy is a healthy lifestyle expert. Through personal coaching, training and healthy lifestyle seminars, John guides clients in developing and sticking to the healthy habits necessary to tap their bodies enormous energy reserves - enriching their personal and
professional lives.
| Love your Freedom? Stay Fit! |
To get more information and great tips visit John's website: www.johngodoylifestyle.com
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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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 "People are disappointed by the World Cup match. I haven't seen this much disappointment since they announced Ben Affleck was playing Batman. Since Justin Bieber avoided jail. Since Honey Boo Boo's family went to a vegan restaurant. Since Whole Foods in L.A. ran out of kale." ~Craig Ferguson |
That was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on,  I know guys cook, too.
Coconut Barbecued Ribs 
4 pounds baby back pork ribs, cut into individual ribs
1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk (available at Southeast Asian markets)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/3 cup (packed) chopped shallots
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
2 stalks lemongrass, (available at Southeast Asian markets) chopped
1 teaspoon salt
Rinse ribs. Pat dry. Place steamer rack in heavy large Dutch oven; add water to just below rack and bring to simmer. Place ribs on rack, cover and steam until tender, about 20 minutes. Remove ribs from over water and cool.
Combine coconut milk, cilantro, brown sugar, shallots, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, lemongrass and salt in processor and process until almost smooth. Transfer marinade to 15 x 10 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Add ribs and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Remove ribs from marinade; reserve marinade. Grill or broil ribs until golden brown, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes. Transfer to platter. Tent with foil to keep warm.
Transfer marinade to heavy small saucepan. Boil marinade 1 minute.
Serve ribs with marinade.
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Be Outrageous...
It's The Only Place That Isn't Crowded!™
~Mikki Williams
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To book me or any of the other guest columnists like Dave Nelson, Brian Beaulieu, John Godoy, simply contact us. For any or all your presentation needs on any topic at any price point, be it keynote, training, seminar, emcee, facilitator, moderator, concurrents (I just don't do floors or windows) I know many great speakers from my years with the National Speakers Association and Vistage International.
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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.
Warrior Foundation Freedom Station 
At my National Speakers Association convention this month we donated to this group that has an inspiring mission, and being the July 4th baby that I am, my patriotism is outrageous!
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Sorry, July Speakers School is SOLD OUT!
There is space available in the next school on September 25-27, 2014.
Note: There will be a price increase in 2015 so take advantage of 2014 prices by registering now for September.
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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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Mikki Williams earned the dual designations of CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) and CPAE (Council of Peers Award for Excellence) Speaker Hall of Fame from The National Speakers Association, an achievement attained by fewer than 1% of all professional speakers. She 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
E ME: mikki@mikkiwilliams.com
SEE ME: www.mikkiwilliams.com
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Thanks for spending time with us!
Me and "the staff" at Mikki Williams Unltd., Samantha Hoffman, aka 'my Sam,' Director of Everything. When you have a director of everything, what else do you need?
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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 � 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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