Recent Trip to Brazil

A few years ago, I was told that I needed both knees replaced.  The doctors wouldn’t do the surgery until I was older (after 50) and quite frankly, I am putting it off as long as possible.  In fact, I hope to avoid it.  I tend to be a workaholic, because I love what I do.  The problem I run into, is that I can put self care on the back burner and that’s probably part of the knee problem.

When I turned 50, I realize that unless I take action now, having lots of money and poor health is a terrible scenario.  Besides, my husband is five years younger than I am and when he retires, we have plans for lots of travel and golf.

Over the last two months, I have implented three new smart choices in my life and I’d like to share them with you.  My goal is to lose weight, feel more focused and calm today…and then ensure a more vibrant lifestyle later in my life with Mark.

• I joined a yoga class and am attending classes about three times a week.  I notice that I feel much calmer, more focused and feel lighter on my feet.
• I have created a bedtime ritual(inspired by Contributing Expert, Marci Shimoff’s 10:30 Angel Train) where I journal before bed to clear my mind, listen to music, read and stay away from the TV and computer after 9 pm at night.  I am sleeping so much better and waking up a lot earlier.
• I am drinking lots of filtered water with lemon during the day.  Here is the formula for how much water you should drink:  weight divided by two and add a zero.  TIP:  If you weigh 150#, then you want to drink 70 oz of water daily!  Many times when we feel hungry, it could just be dehydration.

When we get ready to retire some day, having all the money in the world won’t mean a thing if we don’t have our health, right?  By taking these three simple actions, I find I am more affective at work, and happier and more active at home with my family at night.  Plus the yoga class is amazing…my goal is to go five times week.

What steps are you taking today to live happy, wealthy and healthy?  I’d like to know!  Thanks!

“Powering Up! How America’s Women Achievers Become Leaders!”

Join us as we’ll discuss:

• The Skills High-Achieving Women Need to Master Next to Become Leaders.
• The three very different generations of ambitious, educated women in the workforce today. Anne calls them the: Pioneering Interlopers, Influential Insiders, I’ll-Do-It-My-Way Innovators.
• The biggest thing holding women back from moving into top leadership in big numbers.
• To learn more about Anne visit here!

• Who is your customer?
• Who is your media audience?
• What events, products or services do you want to promote?
• What crises are recent or ongoing? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you build your Press Kit in the following ways:
• You will be able to prioritize the kinds of facts, historical items, milestones and executive experience that will be most relevant
• You will be able to prioritize which types of Press Kit sheets to create first
• You will be better able to anticipate the kinds of routine questions reporters for your best media outlets may ask and the kind of facts that will be most useful A Word About Control Some companies fear that if they create a Press Kit that they will lose control of the media cycle.

This fear is compounded if they post the Press Kit online. The truth is, if you don’t have a Press Kit, you have already lost control of the story. Without a Press Kit to use for fact-checking and details, a reporter on deadline defaults to using whatever information he can find. That information may not be correct. Or, a reporter may leave something out completely—something beneficial to you—if he can’t verify details at the last minute. By creating your Press Kit and making it easily available, you retain control over the accuracy of the information. If the information is factual, don’t worry about who is downloading it. Everything in your Press Kit should be a matter of public record.

Read more here:
A Guide to Press Kit Strategy

Join us as we’ll discuss:

• The concept of becoming an Expert Celebrity in your niche.
• How social media can reinforce your brand.
• Three elements of a strong social media brand strategy.

To learn more about Ruth visit here!

I have reflected on this quite a bit over the past year as I have
made huge investments in my business.  I have also reflected on this
question, personally, as I have made major changes in my own life.
What is too good for me? Now? Nothing!

A few years ago, I would have answered this question differently.

Life is an interesting journey and I can tell you, quite
confidently, that I am happier at this particular stage in life than I
have ever been – both personally and with my business.  I am gearing up
to celebrate my 60th birthday next year and let me tell you, it’s going
to be quite the party!  I am planning on renting a villa in Portugal or
Spain for the whole month of August – and that’s just part of it.

What is too good for me – nothing!

As we go through life – in our 20’s, our 30’s, our 40’s and now, for me, the 50’s, it’s all about life lessons.  The key is to get the lesson!
I grew up in a French Canadian Catholic military home – a very humble
lifestyle.  It was a good life and a very happy life but there were no
entrepreneurs around my world.  Once I got out on my own and discovered the big world and all the opportunities that existed, there was no stopping me!
What did hold me back, however, were the core beliefs I had about job
opportunities and expectations about what was possible.  Only when I
began working with The Pacific Institute over 20 years ago did I
discover that the barriers
and the boundaries to what I dreamt was possible for me and my life were all inside of me.  How very exciting!  That meant I held the key – that I could change anything and invent my own life.

I do believe that I wasted a whole lot of time listening to others
though – paying too much attention to what people said, and what other
people thought of me, and ‘was I ok”?  I remember, as I was building my
speaking business, hearing people say “don’t get too big for your
britches’ or ‘who do you think you are’?

I had a fabulous mentor those days – her name is JoLove Beach – she
is still very much a part of my life – my inspiration, my cheerleader,
my support, my friend.  I remember working with her on a project one
time and we went to a business center to make photocopies.  We were on
a tight time frame and there was a long line up at the copier machine.
Any time someone came up behind us and expressed their sense of urgency
to get ahead in the line, I let them.  Finally, JoLove said to me: “Why
is it you believe that your time is any less valuable than their
time?”  That stopped me cold!  What?  Where did that come from?  I
thought I was just being ‘nice’.  She saw it differently – and she was
right.

I have never forgotten that experience and, to this day, I value my
time just as much as…….if not more than………..  What a powerful lesson!

What is too good for me? Nothing!

Flash forward in my life now – where I am growing my business, working with a phenomenal team, have the most incredible business mentors (I have 3 now!) and I continue to invest in ME.

When I was on my trip around the world, I had the most wonderful
experiences, in general.  Specifically though, it was quite the mindset
process as I wrapped my head around the fact that I was flying on a
private jet and staying in 5* hotels – and enjoying the best of the
best.  Wow! Me? Well, yes, ME! And why not me?

(These photos show the grounds of the fabulous resort in Africa and
then over to one of the breath-taking restaurants in Dubai.  If you
would like to join me on the next world tour in October, call my
friend, Ben, President of Travel Guild: 1.800.268.4284 for information
– and visit the website: www.privatejetadventures.com)

Here’s the lesson in all of this – when I work, I work hard.  When I
play, I play hard.  I want to work and play with the best of the best –
so that I can become my best and live my best life.
Have you ever heard it said that we are the average of the 5 people we
hang around?  Well, you can bet that I am very discerning now about the
people I spend time with – both for business and for pleasure.  (Note:
Some people are not good for you!)

So what? Who cares? What difference does any of this make?  The
point I want to make is if you are serious about your life and about
your business, then you need to make an investment in time, energy and
money to succeed.  Look around – find people who are living the life
you want – who are succeeding at business the way you want to succeed.
Then do what it takes to become like that – that’s how we grow!
What’s too good for you?  I welcome your comments…….

ASSIGNMENT:

1)    Take a good look at your career and/or your business? Are you happy with where it’s at?
2)    When was the last time you invested in growing you? In growing your business?
3)    Who is responsible for your success?  What are you going to do about it?

Do some of these exercises and I guarantee that you will start to live your best life. When you try new things, you are developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life you truly want to live.

But
this is only the tip of the iceberg – now that you’ve handled the
questions, how exactly do you live your life fully, 97-98% of the time?
I’ve outlined every secret in detail, and it’s all in my
“Steps2Happiness Home Study System”, so you can start using it all
right away to get meaningful results. In addition to the exact
techniques that have worked for me, the System includes everything you
need to know to prioritize what to work on first, clear the decks, and set up simple, solid systems to organize your life.
It’s all step-by-step, not a big mishmash of things. So, you do step
one of the system, and when you’re done with that, you move on to step
two, and so on. That’s why my clients have gotten such great results
from it. All the t
ools, scripts, templates, and examples are handed to you on a silver platter. So easy. You can get yours at www.confidenceandcourage.com

Read more here:
What’s Too Good For You?

This past weekend, I spoke at the Amazing Woman’s
Day event in Toronto – the Canadian launch of this international
initiative. Wow! Words cannot describe the experience. There’s something
very powerful when a room is filled with women, from all walks of life,
each with their own story – mothers – sisters – entrepreneurs – career
women – retirees – stepmoms – daughters – entertainers – authors –
visionaries and so on.

There was a very full agenda of inspirational
speakers, feminine leaders, entertainers, award winners and women who
were there to learn, to share, to support and to network. And then we
danced into the wee hours of the night…..such joy!

I was amazed! (to see my photo album of the event,
please visit my fan page at Facebook here, and be sure to
join as a Fan!

What makes a woman ‘amazing’? Marsh Engle shares
that there are “6 Essentials”:

• Envision: Be
  Willing To Grow Beyond The Defined.
• Empower: Find The
  Yes In All Things.
• Ignite: Ignite
  The Power of Possibilities.
• Explore: Play
  With Fresh Curiosity.
• Trust:
  Collaborate With Sheer Trust.
• Embrace: Bring
  Your Brilliance To Life.

As you read those words, what
comes to mind for your own life?

I’ve always had a big vision for my life;
however, I also grew up with some very powerful conditioning that, in
the early years, held me back. As I hold the dream of being an
international speaker, with a best-selling book, – I can still hear my
father’s words: ‘don’t get too big for your britches!” This was always
said with love and care, I know; however, as a young child we aren’t
able to discern in that way. As we grow and mature and have big dreams,
it is just those kinds of words that tend to come to mind and can, if we
choose, hold us back from becoming the best person we can be.

Many of the speakers, last weekend, were sharing
stories about how our conditioning and core beliefs hold us back
in life, and in business. Having worked in the field of
personal development for over 20 years, I am blessed to have mastered
the techniques of getting past those mental barriers, achieving more of
my potential and continuing to dream big constantly. One of my
strategies is to have great mentors (much like I discussed the need to
have heroes in last week’s issue). That’s what I saw happening this past
weekend – relationships were developing and connections were being made
with mentors.

Those are powerful words that Marsh shares: Envision,
Empower, Ignite, Explore, Trust and Embrace!

As women, we are more alike than different. I
really discovered that as I traveled around the world, twice, and made
it a point to have conversations with women in different countries.
These photos show you
how true that is – my friend Gail is ‘exploring’ by
trying a new dish in Cambodia: elephant ear fish (yum!) – to these
lovely young women in Viet Nam who ‘embrace” new
cultures, each and every day, as they greet travelers at the airport!

(If you would like to join me on the next world tour,
call my friend, Ben, President of Travel Guild: 1.800.268.4284 for
information.)

“Only in
relationship can you know yourself, not in abstraction, and certainly
not in isolation.” – Jiddu
Krishnamurti, 1895-1986

What is an amazing woman? Who is an amazing
woman? I say it is each and every one of us. Our responsibility, to
honor the women who have gone before us, is to ensure we live our best
life, each and every day.

Do you? If not, why not? If
not now, then when?

Assignment

1. What is one thing you can do, today, to live
   your best life? (As Tim McGraw sings: “live as though
   you’re dying!”)
2. Find a mentor – give
   yourself permission to grow, learn and develop to become the best
   person you can be.
3. Take time for you – find a
   retreat, or a conference, or a workshop where you can go and meet
   some amazing women! (gee….keep reading…..there’s one coming in
   May at the Elmhurst Inn!)

Do some of these exercises and I guarantee that you will start to
live your best life. When you try new things, you are developing the
confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life you truly
want to live.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg -
now that you’ve handled the question, how exactly do you live
your life fully, 97-98% of the time? I’ve outlined every secret
in detail, and it’s all in my “Steps2Happiness Home Study System”, so
you can start using it all right away to get meaningful results. In
addition to the exact techniques that have worked for me, the System
includes everything you need to know to prioritize what to work on
first, clear the decks, and set up simple, solid systems to
organize your life. It’s all step-by-step, not a big mishmash
of things. So, you do step one of the system, and when you’re done with
that, you move on to step two, and so on. That’s why my clients have
gotten such great results from it. All the tools, scripts, templates,
and examples are handed to you on a silver platter. So easy. You can get
yours at www.confidenceandcourage.com

Read more here:
I’m Every Woman!

We all have these same struggles going on in our lives, especially as we reach midlife.  In addition, many of us are facing major stresses with money, relationships and family issues.  All of this can drag us down and make us want to just let our dreams go.

Several times in my life, I have been so ready to just give it all up myself, and each time, I found a mentor or just the perfect book to help me get back on track – and you know what – within a very short time, I had reached that dream and beyond.  Here are a few quick tips to help you stay on your path and connected to your Divine Essence: Reach out for support from a mentor, friend or councelor Read inspirational books and listen to your favorite music Take really great care of your mind, body and heart by mediating, exercise and yoga Plan time for yourself and time with friends and love ones in your calendar and in advance

Allow yourself to experience pleasure – seek out joyful experiences Invest in yourself and continue to move towards your dreams Here is my chapter, “ Thank God I Was Abused ” in the ebook, Thank God I and how I was able to find joy and gratitute after experiencing extreme adversity:  http://www.thankgodimultimediabook.com/pg.php?p=59

I hope you enjoy it.

I would love to hear how you

See the article here:

Claim Your Brilliance as a Woman