Winning Strategies

Pay Your Bills Easily with Paytrust

One of the greatest time savers that I have found is called Paytrust (www.paytrust.com).  I have been a customer for about 6 years, I believe.  With identify theft on the rise, and web browsers available virtually anywhere you are (even on vacation) - - I have loved the ability to handle my finances from anywhere; home, office, and even on vacation.

Step 1:  After you sign up, they assign you a PO Box in another state.  You re-direct your mail to the PO Box assigned to you.

            The Process

• They scan any bill that arrives for you.
• They enter the bills into your online bill paying mailbox.
• You are alerted when bills are due and when expected bill don't arrive.  I love the email that says, "Your Victoria Secret bill was expected on X date and has not arrived."
  
  Link Checking Accts
• I'm able to link accounts (even accounts from multiple banks).  This works for me and my complicated accounts.
  
  Pay Bills with the Click of a Button
• I am then able to pay bills with the click of a button. 
• I can pay electronic epay bills as well as 'paper' bills.
• They will cut a check and mail it for me if the vendor/payee doesn't accept electronic payments.
  
  Make Tax Time Easier
• Every bill from the entire year is scanned and available for me to purchase on a CD.  It has made end of year calculations so much easier.
• Easy reporting options allow me to see which vendors I paid and summarize my paid amounts.  It couldn't be easier
  
  Remote Access
• Best of all, you can pay bills from anywhere around the globe.  I can see the scanned image of the bill and easily access the details.
• I can set bills up to 'future pay', as well as ask the system to auto pay bills for certain vendors under X dollar amount.
• It is like putting your bill paying on auto pilot.

It is one way that I have alleviated stress and frustration and found a simple solution that makes bill paying easy.  Even when I was in the hospital, I was easily able to schedule and pay my bills with access to a laptop.  Try it, sign up for a free trial today.  You may be surprised how much time you save out of your month.  (and it makes getting the mail so much more enjoyable- no more bills in the mail)

 

 

 

Get Glamourized , Go SkyDiving, or Go See a Baseball Game

Saturdays are fun days.  I get to spend time with the family. Today my daughter and I went to Glamour Shots to get a beautiful pregnant picture of her.  It was such a fun time.  My middle son and his friend wandered around the mall while we had fun in hair and makeup.  I enjoyed the escape from reality.  I think that there is nothing like having a hairstylist, a makeup artist, and photographer at your disposal for several hours. 

 

While we were at Stonebriar Mall at the Glamour Shots store, Michael was jumping out of an airplane with a parachute.  As you can see, each of us has a very different idea of what we consider fun.  I have no desire to jump out of a plane (unless it is going down). 

At the time that we were being glamourized, and Michael was jumping out of a plane, Heather's fiance' was at the World Series game hoping for a team win for SF.  He use to play AA ball for them, and knows one of the pitchers quite well.  He use to room with him.   

So, we all did something we enjoyed today- - - glamour shots- - - - sky diving- - - a world series baseball game.  What did you do today?  Go do something you love.
 
 

Francis Osei and All Souls Baptist Church in Ghana, Africa

Sunday I had a chance to catch up with Francis Osei, Pastor of All Souls Baptist Church in Ghana,   
Africa. I can hardly believe that it was 2002 that I visited Africa and met the team over there, ministering to the villages around Accra.

In my mind (and my horrible memory), I thought it was 2004, not 2002.  Even though it was 2002, I can vividly remember the faces of the children and their smiles, the villages bare of furnishings, water, drainage, and food, and the amazing and happy spirits of the people that I met there.  I was amazingly blessed to have met such incredible people.  How is it that I was able to meet people with so little, and yet they had more joy and happiness than anhyone I've ever met in the states?

What a blessing this trip was for me and continues to be.  To support Francis Osei's ministry and All Souls Baptist Church, you can send a check made out to Lake Pointe Church, marked for Francis Osei, sent to 701 Interstate 30, Rockwall, TX  75087.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 
• 
• 
• 

 

 

 

 

My Daughter's Baby Shower

Today I had the amazing pleasure of throwing a baby shower for my baby girl.  It is hard to imagine that it was 24 years ago that I had her.  It is even harder to believe that it was sixteen years ago that her father died.  Time flys by.  Minutes evolve into hours, hours into days, and days into years.  Our little children grow and change- and in the blink of an eye, they are adults building families of their own.

I wish for my dear daughter, and her lil baby Madison , health, happiness, and the ability to find and pursue their passions.  Here is Heather's blog about the coming baby:  http://babystirm.weebly.com/

 
 

The Art of Doing Nothing

The art of doing nothing, or ' l'arte di non fare niente' in Italian is an interesting concept covered in the movie 'Eat, Pray, Love'.  It implies a feeling of having all the time in the world at our disposal and doing something simple, relaxing, fun, or whimsical. 

Italians have developed the abilty to practice l’arte di non fare niente, the Italian expression for the art of doing nothing. Ah, dolce far niente!or the sweetness of doing nothing. How have they developed a culture that accepts the ability to silently enjoy pieces of life, slowing down to take a breather and live in the moment when we have developed a culture of overachievement and constant activity?

When I think back to the best times of my life, they have, simply stated- been times that I was relaxed, unhurried, and able to slowly move through my day with full senses as to the world around me.

Do you think it is possible for us to develop this capability if we haven't experienced it firsthand?  It is certainly one of my favorite things about Italy and many parts of Europe.  I love the meals where they don't ever bring you the bill until you ask for it.  They allow you to sit for hours enjoying a meal wihout the slightest feeling of hurried pressure to vacate the table.  I love the stores closing for siesta, allowing their staff to rest in the middle of the day.

I adore the fresh cooked meals and evening walks that so many Italians participate in.  Have we locked ourselves in our homes, never to be seen and stolen from ourselves the beauty of the world that we are living in?  Have we robbed ourselves of the pure enjoyment of life by packing every moment of our life full of activity?

I challenge you to spend a little bit of every day practicing ' l'arte di non fare niente'; enjoy moments of time where you enjoy doing absolutely nothing.  I dare say that I bet that you will like it! 

Nancy Lieberman's New Book -Playbook for Success - A Must Read!

I had the honor of sitting a seat away from Nancy Lieberman, Hall of Famer – Olympian – NBA D League Head Coach – WNBA Coach – ESPN Broadcaster – Author – USA Today/ESPN Writer – Motivational Speaker (how would you like to have a list of credits like that!) (SMILE), on my flight from LAX to Dallas late last night.

I am excited to get a chance to read her book,  Playbook for Success.  She will be at a book signing in Plano if you'd like to meet her in person.  Don't miss this chance to be motivated and inspired by a truly inspirational woman.

November 2, 2010 7PM  Borders Bookstore, 1601 Preston Road, Plano, Texas

I want to see you there!

Her website:  http://www.nancylieberman.com

Book page: http://www.nancylieberman.com/books/

Detail from her website:
"A top coach teaches the sports-related skills and basics every women needs to succeed.

There are basics that every woman must have if she is to succeed in the corporate world, start and run her own business, or coach her own winning team. In "Playbook for Success", Hall of Fame Business Entrepreneur Nancy Lieberman brings her leadership and coaching ability to the boardroom to teach professional women the same rules of success she teaches her players.

"Playbook for Success" is a plan to help make success a part of one's daily routine and teach women that success is not just a title or corner office, but an attitude, belief, and way of life.

• Teaches the top sports-related skills women need to thrive in the corporate world, featuring a provocative examination of women and teamwork.
• Includes profiles of women succeeding in business, ways to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, and exercises that can be used in the business world
• Foreword by Basketball Hall of Famer and business legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson
• Playbook for Success gives you a unique and inspirational road map to compete and win in your life and career. "

Another Day in Paradise

I awake to another day in California. The beach outside my room beckons me to explore. The sun hides behind the clouds, but the lack of sun doesn't lesson the beauty of the sand, the waves crashing to the beach and the sounds of the birds and nature surrounding me.

It is relaxing. Beaches, to me, are rejuvenating. They are refreshing. The cool air rushes past my cheek and a chill spreads through my body. There is still a bit of a chill here this morning. Passer byers walk with kids and dogs, enjoying the weather and the beach.

It is another day in paradise. I am enjoying my stay at The Beach House in Hermosa Beach (http://www.beach-house.com/hermosa-beach-hotels.html) , California.   The ocean front room has been delightful. The room amenities are perfect. Every need has been catered to. I am relaxed and ready to start a new week. It was just another day in paradise.


 


 

Beachin' It

My morning exercise is different today. I am not hiking to Lake Ray Hubbard in Rowlett, Texas. Today, I am walking the Strand in Hermosa Beach, California.

I am surrounded by serenity, beauty, and the earliest of light beginning to peak over the horizon. Avid Californians are jogging, walking, biking, and running by. The beach is long and expansive and one would have to run the length of a couple blocks to arrive at the ocean. Ahhhh, the ocean. The gentle sounds of the waves crashing to the shore provide healing for my tired soul.

I am celebrating. I am taking a moment to build a memorable event to remember for years to come to celebrate the release of Book 2, From Mother to Mentor and Father to Coach (I suggest you create these 'anchor' events for yourself in this book).

So much effort, time, and energy goes into the creation and completion of a book. I can only hope that it will bless and inspire thousands around the globe.

I have been amazed at the reach of book 1. I never dreamed it would reach as far as India. Life is strange sometimes.

So- today I lift my coffee in toast to an accomplishment of which I am very satisfied.

My you find the fortitude, strength, and endurance to follow your dreams- whatever they may be. I'm pulling for you!

Myth: Too Late To Change Direction & Make a New Decision

One thing that I thought in my younger years was that there was a point on the calendar whereas one was tied to the decisions that you made previously.  If you had decided to take a new job, for example, and had already accepted it, then you wouldn't be able to back out of it.  I believed that you 'tied' to your decisions.    This is a myth.  I have talked to women that have agreed to marry someone, then wanted to back out in the last month but felt that they couldn't because it was 'too late' to make a change in direction.

There is no point on the calendar whereby you are no longer free to choose the direction for your life.  Accept it.  Making the right choice is far better than worrying about what others will think of you for changing your mind.  You will not 'put others out'.  You must live your best life.  You must do what is right for you.  I've also talked to many men and women that felt that once they'd decided to divorce, they had to go through with it because of the things that they had said to their friends.  Forget what you've said to your friends, if it is better for you and your spouse and children to stay together, then do it.  It is never too late to make the right decision.  You will be surprised how forgiving and loving your friends and family will turn out to be.

Make a new decision.  Drive your life where you'd like it to go.

Make a Bold Request

The best thing that you can do for yourself is to make a bold request! I find that there are desires of your heart that you are not following through on. How do correct this?

Request Advice or Mentoring
You've met someone you admire or are in awe of, yet you are too shy or timid to boldly ask them for advice or mentoring. Ask away! You have nothing to lose.

A New Position or Job
You've seen a new position posted and are reluctant to ask about it. Do it anyways! You have nothing to lose and will build a positive brand message about yourself (go getter).

Friend Request
You've met someone that would make a great friend or you want to date them. Go forward and ask them out for coffee. Risk equals reward. No risk equals no reward.

New Idea
You have a new idea for how to do something better at the office, yet you are hesitant to offer your suggestions. Take a bold request to leadership.

Vacation Planning
You have earned time off but are reluctant to plan a vacation and take the time. You are stuck in paralysis analysis (what if this, what if that). Strike out of the analysis and book a vacation for the upcoming year.

Make a BOLD move. With action will come exciting RESULTS you never expected.