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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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What an outrageous month!!!
My CEO group went to Austin, Texas for our annual spousal retreat. We two-stepped, we drank, we dined, we schmoozed, we had a great speaker: Jay Rifenbary.
I got home from the retreat on Sunday morning and left that night for three weeks in Europe - an incredible time with friends, events experiences, and so much more.
With over 1000 photos it was challenging to pick a few of the highlights but here goes. I met my Wales BFF Chris in London and we flew to Barcelona for vacation. The highlights were the Gaudi buildings. Everyone should see his Sagrada Familia...it is breathtaking beyond words
I got my fill of fresh anchovies and sangria, yum! and left Barcelona a happy camper.
Off to Chris' home in Cardiff, Wales for the weekend where we went to a gastro-pub, shopped (our favorite pastime) and dined at The Clink, a prison where the inmates cook and serve.  Loved Cardiff Castle  and saw a fabulous play, Dance 'til Dawn.
On to London for home base. Chris and I always do tea at The Ritz, (of course we do).
Had dinner at OXO Tower with John Cremer, Vistage UK speaker who wow'd my KEY group last month. Now I got to spend time with him on his turf.
Vistage UK kept me busy with two big events in Birmingham and Belfast, and individual groups in Manchester, Coventry, Kent and other locales. Loved my time with all - love the Brits and their great sense of humor.
My Vistage member and friend Beth Fahey arrived on Chris's last day in London and we all went to Harrod's for their famous ice cream.
And here we are posing with the Paddington bears  . Had dinner at Sticks and Sushi at Covent Garden (note to self: see My Fair Lady again) with Chair and illustrious poet David Adams and friend Nicci Roscoe.
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Nicci Roscoe, David Adams, Beth and me
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Beth and I did tea at the famed Dorchester.  The Brits know how to do tea! But of course. The highlight of the trip was speaking at Titanic Hall in Belfast where the ship was built, and entering on a replica of the grand staircase of the ship  . I am so grateful and so blessed to meet extraordinary people, do work I love, and have incredible experiences...and come home to better weather.  |
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Our new column, MikkiLeaks, is written by my dear friend, fellow Vistage Chair, Phil Liebman from my home city of New York. Because I adore his writing style and his infinite wisdom I volun-told him to become my newest monthly columnist. Mark Twain wrote, "I didn't have time to write you a short note - so I wrote a long one instead."
Well, it seems Phil went to that same school! His books aren't exactly haiku. But rather than curtail his brilliance I will always provide a link to access the rest of the column.
Scroll down to read MikkiLeaks by Phil Liebman
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 Culture Trumps Everything
The unexpected truth about the ways environment changes biology, psychology, and behavior by Gustavo Grodnitzky, Ph.D
Gustavo is prolific speaker and a gifted writer...and a dear friend. His book is a must for all organizations and all leaders to truly look at their culture from the vantage points he shares. This is a unique book about culture because it envelops ideologies that most books do not when defining culture. The author shares insights into behavioral norms, habit patterns, connectedness, trust, language and time perspective. He uses several corporate models to illustrate his profound lessons and ultimately how to shift your culture from what it is to what it could be. As a result of reading this book, leaders will have the opportunity to shape their culture in ways that foster positive outcomes for all.
NOW GO GET THIS BOOK! |
 Custom candy store in Barcelona, Spain  |
Shoe shopping in Barcelona
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 Join 2 million others with the best 7 Minute Workout app. #1 fitness app in 127 countries 12 high intensity bodyweight exercises. 30 seconds per exercise 10 seconds rest between exercises
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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!
"A master in the art of living draws no sharp line of distinction between his work and his play; he simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both."
~Francois August Rene Chateaubriand
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MikkiLeaks
Classy-fide information
available on a need-to-know basis...
that YOU need to know!
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 by Phil Liebman
For years I wrote a weekly piece - Monday Morning CEO - Confessions of an Accidental Success. I had come to understand that many people who run companies were like me. They stumbled their way into success, if they were lucky enough to survive the fall to the top. They perhaps bootstrapped a worthy idea for a business, or may have even been a member of the lucky DNA club and taken over a family business, or even bought an existing one and were lucky enough to have purchased the right company at just the right time...but like me, had no clue what it would take to build a sustainable businesses going forward. (I was fortunate to get out alive when mine crashed and burned twenty years ago.)
We assume that what got us here will get us there. And then there's that terrifying reality that often lurks in our heads at around 3:30 AM suggesting, "What if that's not true?" So, I began to think: we need to expose the truth! But look what happened when Edward Snowden tried that. He's shivering in an old army blanket in a perfectly damp and chilly caviar and vodka crypt somewhere under the Kremlin. All Putin has to say is, "It's nice work if you can get it."
Phil Liebman is the CEO, Founder and Chief Leadership Catalyst at The BullFrog Group, where he has the privilege to work with heroic leaders to help create a world that is made better through the efforts of the men and women who lead and run successful businesses. He is also a freelance writer, speaker, Vistage Chair and a Fellow at the Thayer Institute for Leadership Virtuosity.
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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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Why do fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing?
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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.
Should Your Business Go the
Way of Google+?
On a single day in early March, two compatriots independently sent me different articles about Google+. The story from CNN Money was titled, "Google+ is about to be broken up." The piece from The Independent (a UK publication) was titled, "Google Plus might be dead, as 'Streams' and 'Photos' take its place."
As a devoted Apple fan I find it rather odd to be helping tout Google, Apple's archenemy in mobile. Google 'stole' countless ideas from Apple's iOS (aka iPhone operating system) for their Android operating system and today powers more than 6-times as many smartphones globally as Apple. Of course tablets (iPads, which also run iOS) are a different story, still favoring Apple.
For whatever reason - probably because everybody likes to see big successes (people or companies) stumble - these articles present the Google+ "evolution" as negative news. The Germans have a specific word for the secret delight that we all take in seeing another's misfortunes: Schadenfreude.
But is Google+ really failing?
Perhaps you're familiar with compete.com (aka an independent, third-party measurement service) that tracks unique monthly visitors to virtually all websites. According to compete.com between February 2014 and January 2015 (the most recent data available as I write) Google+ (plus.google.com) grew by almost 40% and now exceeds 65 million monthly users (about 20% of the US population).
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE
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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.
To get more information and great tips visit John's website: www.johngodoylifestyle.com
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That was the name of one of my businesses and oh, come on,  I know guys cook, too.In tribute to my fabulous trip to Barcelona, here is a traditional dish of the region Quick Paella Makes 4 servings  � pound cooked chorizo or lingui�a sausage, cut into chunks 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 1-pound bag saffron rice (such as Vigo) 1 9-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and drained 1 8-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained and sliced 2 cups chicken or fish broth, or wine 1 pound large shrimp, peeled 1 cup frozen peas, defrosted In a large skillet with a lid, brown the sausage in the oil until crispy, about 5 minutes. Add the rice, artichoke hearts, peppers, broth or wine, and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Stir in the shrimp and peas. Cover and continue cooking until the shrimp are opaque, 5 to 7 minutes. Pretend you're in Barcelona.
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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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Be Outrageous...
It's The Only Place That Isn't Crowded!™
~Mikki Williams
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Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
If someone betrays you once, it's their fault;
If they betray you twice, it's your fault.
Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.
God gives every bird it's food,
But does not throw it into it's nest.
One who loses a friend, loses more;
One who loses faith, loses all.
Beautiful young people are acts of nature,
But beautiful old people are works of art.
Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
The tongue weighs practically nothing.
But so few people can hold it.
Friends, you and me . . .
you brought another friend . . .
and then there were three . . .
we started our group . . .
Our circle of friends . . .
and like that circle . . .
there is not beginning or end . . .
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Shovel Snow For A Neighbor 
It's easy to get into the habit of not paying attention to those around you, especially if they are strangers. Starting with your neighbors, make an effort to pay more attention to others and try to anticipate their needs. Start with something simple, like shoveling show for your next-door-neighbor while you're out shoveling your own walk.
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The next Speakers School is April 30 - May 1, 2015
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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, CSP, CPAE
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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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