Winning Strategies

What do we learn from the Olympic Athletes?

We learn from the olympic athletes that good is never good enough.  They spend hours and hours and hours conditioning their bodies, doing drills, practicing and perfecting their sport.  This works in business.  By never accepting good and spending hours and hours in preparation, we can be victorious.  Like the olympic athlete, what you see in the competition is only but a small speck of time compared to the practice and preparedness that went before the event.  If you were to ask me one of the things that I contribute much of my success?  The answer would be preparedness and practice and never accepting good.

Good is never good enough.  Challenge yourself to put in the hours and prepare for greatness. 

Sponsorships that Make a Difference in Someone's Life

Hitachi Consulting is the title sponsor for The Family Place’s annual golf tournament on April 23, 2010 at Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco, TX. 

The tournament, called FORE!, helps to support The Family Place’s programs for women, children, and men who are victims of family violence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. If you know of anyone that might be able to help with sponsorships, auction items or volunteering, please visit http://bit.ly/bwioyt and pass along this link to others that may have an interest to support this great cause.

They would love to see you on April 23!  

For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/bwioyt   

Haunting Memories

I worked in the emergency department in a hospital for years. Sometimes people ask me why I try to live a healthy lifestyle and one reason is the pictures that I carry in my head. I've seen a smoker with lung cancer take his last breath, I've watched several heart attack patients pass away in front of my eyes (all of them overweight), I've held the hand of a parent discovering that their child committed suicide and I have checked in battered women abused by the men they live with.

Some things are more poignant when they are in front of you, some memories more memorable- some you can't forget even if you try. Truly some of the strife we experience in life- we have brought on ourselves. You could say in some ways, I am scared straight (straight into a healthy lifestyle). Grin

Quiet Serenity

I'm sitting by the lake, looking out over the water. I hear only the cawing of the birds and the quiet hum of cars off in the distance. Ahhh, this is my favorite place.
Here it is quiet and peaceful. No voices strike the silence and I hear only the panting of my tired dog lying next to me. He pants rhythmically in steady beats like a heartbeat. A jet zooms by overhead and I hear the slight rumble of the jet engine.

The sky is the bluest blue and there isn't a cloud in sight. The sun shines down from directly overhead and warms the air around me. It is almost as if the earth has stopped revolving and this moment is frozen in time. It is hard to believe that time is moving at the same pace as when I sit in business meetings or am cooking or caring for the children. Is it possible that one moment in time exactly equals the next when some feel so long and some rush by so fluidly?

Do we rush through life, rushing through the miracle moments and missing the amazement that is all around us? Do we take for granted being alive and the wonderful world surrounding us?

I sit quietly soaking in the view and the solitude the way a sun bather soaks in the rays of the sun. I let the solitude wash over me and warm my spirit. I bask in the serenity and enjoy the moment. This is my writing spot. I'm hidden behind an empty house amidst a busy neighborhood. I'm hidden from view. Only the lake knows I'm here, only the birds watch me as I sit and stare. This is my place of quiet serenity.

Being Fearless

In order to get where you want to go, you have to take some risks. Playing it too safe will limit your potential and your opportunities.

When you take risks, you never know if they are going to payoff. It is part of the unknowns in life that make life interesting. One thing is for sure- it won't pay off without them.

So- which ones should you take? Which path should you walk? There is no one answer. Too many times we shy away from the unknowns. Risks create opportunity and opportunities create rewards.

Which risks are you avoiding? Are you afraid of failure or more afraid of success? What is holding you back? Take a risk that pushes you forward. You may find rewards, pay and increased job satisfaction.

It's the Weekend- YEEEAAAHHHHH

I'm glad that the weekend is upon us.  I love the weekends.  It allows us a chance to re-prioritize our lives and spend time with our families.  We step away from our work and spend time on the really important aspects of our life.  I don't believe that we spend enough time enjoying life.  I believe that we work too hard and play too little.  I think we forget to take time out to smell the roses and we watch life rush by with little to no attention on the simple and basic parts of our days.

I'm advising you to spend a few minutes this weekend smelling the roses.  Take a moment to  meditate or spend some time doing pilates or walking for relaxation.  Step outside of your work all the time self and enjoy your family and your weekend.

Born in the USA- Reading Half the Sky

I jump out of bed this morning and slide into a hot shower. As the water washes over me I'm over come with a feeling of guilt over all that we have been blessed with by just being born in the USA.

I'm reading 'Half the Sky' and am moved by the stories and the way that women around the globe are being treated. It is a travesty. Listening to the stories of others that lack access to maternity care, basic healthcare and are just generally being treated as less than human--- digs at my soul and enrages my spirit.

So- today I enjoy a hot breakfast, warm clean clothes, shelter, hot water, electricity and many other things that I feel guilty for having access to. Today I celebrate access to education and a job. I celebrate the right to vote and the amazing health care centers that have treated me for a variety of health issues over the years.

Today I celebrate being born in the United States of America.

Over 2,000,000 Miles on American

As I plunk into an American Airlines seat on my flight, my mind wanders to the literally hundreds of flights that I've taken over the years. I think of all the people and organizations that I've met and browse through the lessons I've learned.

I have traveled over 2,000,000 miles on American Airlines and am Platinum for life. I've spent approximately 3 years in hotel rooms (if you add them all up). In traveling the way that I and many have done- we get a chance to see a global view of healthcare, operations, and organizational structures and cultures. It is amazing how much clearer things are when you are looking across organizations rather than the view from within the four walls.

As I sip my latte and reminisce, this is a shout out to all the people that have touched my life over the last 15 years. I have enjoyed the journey, the experiences and am glad that today I head off to create new experiences and start a new day. I hope you all are having a great day as well.

Step 1 in Building Your Personal Brand (Yes you Need One)

I have begun blogging for WorkBloom.  This is a great website for job seekers and those just looking for a career boost.  It contains valuabe resources and information on your career journey.  Check it out on the web and read my first post:  http://www.workbloom.com/

Reinventing Yourself Into a New Job

One thing that I've discovered on my speaking/writing/blogging journey is that there are more resources available to you than you may realize. It is never too late, and never unrealistic to consider reinventing yourself. Whether you are jobless or just unhappy in your current position- consider reinventing yourself into a new field and a new occupation.

You can put yourself into a position in life where you do what you enjoy doing much of your day. There are areas of the economy that are lagging- yes- but there are also areas that are on the rise. Every recession has winners and losers. In health care, we consistently are faced with needs for CNAs, RNs, physicians of all types, information technology resources, and organizational development resources just to name a few.

Don't be afraid to reach out for help. Resources abound and you may be missing the forest for the trees.

Log onto career path for ideas: www.careerpath.com . Or

Read articles on others who have changed occupations: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JobClub/job-reinventing-career/story?id=9926120

Reinvent yourself. You hold the keys to your future.