Winning Strategies

Distracted Living

More and more often we are having conversations where we are only 'half' listening and attending meetings and meals where we are distracted and un attentive. What do you gain from distracted living?

This moment will only pass you by once. This second is a gift. Be present in the moment. Eliminate all other thoughts and focus on the person speaking. Concentrate. Observe. Listen. Respond.

In our attempts at 'doing it all', we are attending but not actually there, we are having the conversations, but not actually conversing.

Work to live in the moment. Strive to pay attention to this moment in time. Enjoy those around you and live life like there is no tomorrow.

Be present in this moment. This moment is your life.

Your Future is a Mystery

Today I spoke to the Rockwall Cheerleaders in Rockwall Texas.  It was their Inspire Luncheon.   

We talked about their futures.  I covered a few key points:

Your future is a mystery.  Your life is a book that you are writing and the ending is still unknown.  You can be anything, go anywhere, and achieve whatever you set out to achieve.  YOU are driving the bus that is your life.  You are in control of your life and the decisions that you make.

No one would ever have guess that this hot little number (yes, this is how cute I was in the 2nd grade) (laugh), would have grown up to be me.  We do not know the direction that our lives will take, nor the places and people that we will see and impact.

Begin writing a story that you want to live.  Begin making decisions and moving yourself in the direction that you want to go.  You are in control.  You control your destiny.  You can go places you've never dreamed of and arrive places that you never thought you'd be.

Keep stretching, keep searching, keep pressing the limits.  Stretch further, reach farther.  Create BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS (BHAGS) that you can RUN after and achieve.

Live the life that you were born to live.  I know you can. Go do it.

 
Modeling picture, Bethany Williams, California, 1993.

Blessings that Flow

Today I had the amazing opportunity to speak at the Rowlett Chamber luncheon.  I spoke on the topic of Thriving in a Tough Economy.  We discussed ways that individuals and businesses can thrive despite the difficult economic times.

Part of the speech covered 'perspective'.  When you consider all the blessings that you have been blessed with, it is stunning.  We walk on streets that are not covered in drainage, we live in spacious houses, we sit on cushioned chairs and couches, we drink clean water, we eat food- bountiful amounts of food whilest a large percentage of the world starves, we clothe our bodies in beautiful robes while many have nothing to cover themselves.

We are blessed beyond belief and blind to our blessings.  We are living the lives of royalty and treating it like we are paupers. 

Spend a few moments counting the MANY blessings in your life.  Count every one.  Be thankful that today you are not dying of malaria, that you don't have to sacrifice your life because you cannot afford the pills that are less than $1 us dollar.  Be thankful for heat and air conditioning if you have it, praise God for family, friends, and the love that surrounds you.

My father once told me that he knew how I could 'Have everything that I've ever wanted in life'.  I said, "how daddy?"  He said, "Want what you have."

I love you dad,

 
Happy 75th Birthday, and thank you for teaching me so much!

Dare to be Unpredictable; Strive for Life Enjoyment

As I sit in the beauty salon (a place I spend more and more time as I age- just in an attempt to look remotely like I did the year before), my mind wanders to a self evaluation:

• Am I living in the moments of my life?
• Have I dared to explore and enjoy life's twists and turns?
• Am I courageously enjoying my life?
•.Do I take what life throws me and use it? Am I going with the flow?
• What have I missed? What apparent message is staring me down that I have avoided?

Ask yourself these same questions. Think about your life. Are you grasping life by its tail or running from it? Are you living in the moment or barely living?

Start right now making it better! Start living.

School Suspension for Texting in the Hall

My middle boy is home from school today, He is suspended for the day for texting in school. I don't know about him, but if I got to miss work when I did something wrong, I'd probably end up being a bad employee.

I struggled to stay focused at school myself. It was too easy and I was never challenged. I graduated second in my class, but spent most of high school bored. How can we figure out a way to challenge even the brightest of the bright? It is a dilemma that our schools face and have not conquered.

My son is almost an adult. As I head off to the office (no I can't skip just because my son gets to), I wonder how best to teach impactful life lessons.

Welcome to parenthood; often questioning, always wondering.
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Drowning in Data but Hungry for Knowledge

Psychologists are calling our abundance of media and information a situation that can cause a syndrome called IFS- Information Fatigue Syndrome.  I definitely have IFS.  How much time are you spending of your day deleting email and NOT reading information that people send to you?  How do you find the valuable pieces of information and weed through them to find the knowledge you need?  Are you drowning in data but hungry for knowledge?

I must admit that I have begun to develop a 'twitter' mindset.  I like information that is compartmentalized and available in 140 characters.  I like to 'choose' to read more if the 140 characters peaks my interest.

In Healthcare, we are definitely drowning in information and data.  Recent changes in regulations have kept us reading up on everything from the HiTECH Act to ICD 10's to Health Care Reform.

I use to keep a folder of 'reading material', but I must admit that the folder has gotten wider and wider as I have stuffed more and more information into it that I must read and retain.  I attend seminar after seminar and still feel that I have not covered the gamut of knowledge necessary in my role.

I was thrilled to see that the topic of the CEO Netweavers meeting last week that I missed covered exactly this topic.  So- good to know that I am not the only executive struggling with this 'drowning in data but hungry for knowledge' dilemma.  The CEO Netweavers group had Jeff Brady in to talk on exactly this topic.  And what did he have to say?  He said to lean on drama.  Tell stories.  Stories unlock our brains and allow for learning and memory.  They are powerful tools.  I guess that is why I liked the college classes that were case studies.  We like to learn from others in story mode.

The next time you need to communicate where others will listen and learn- tell a story that has a beginning, a middle, and an end that conveys a challenge, a struggle, and a victory.  Add an element of surprise- and you will have delighted your audience (and will they will learn and remember).

Consider this therapy session free. Smile.

A Hike To Remember

I use to live in San Diego, California. One of my favorite weekend activities was to hike Torrey Pines Reserve in La Jolla, California (http://www.torreypine.org/).

It remains to this day, the best hikes that I've found anywhere. The beauty of the mountain as it touches the sea is breathtaking. The trails are winding and filled with natural wonders. The sea breeze blows, bringing the ocean smells to you. I miss my Saturday hikes at Torrey Pines. To me, they are a permanent blissful memory.
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Drastic Winter Weather Hits Dallas the Week of the Superbowl

Who could have imagined the drastic ice covered roads followed by 4 inches of snow covering Dallas just days after our beautiful 70 degree weekend? Well, it certainly happened almost bringing the city to a standstill at a time that we are expecting thousands of additional guests in for the
superbowl.

 (http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/04/fanhouse-tv-the-cold-hard-facts-about-super-bowl-xlv/)

Ice harms some as it falls from the roof of the stadium. I imagine that salting the roof of the stadium wasn't in the weather disaster plan. The schools closed for 4 days straight, making it, I believe, an all time record for Dallas.

With the cold weather was an onset of colds and flu across the area, filling up physician offices.

Today the weather will warm to 38 degrees, a welcome relief from the frigid 13 degrees that we have faced.

I veered out last evening to try to get to the Gallaria Mall and it was a big mistake. I saw cars slipping and sliding across the ice, bouncing into each other as well as the medians. In a 30 minute ride, I witnessed 6 accidents. Underneath the snow was inches and inches of solid ice. Cars
rolled across the ice like bumper cars, completely unable to stop themselves. I successfully got there safe, only to discover that selective stores were closed. Toni and Guy wasn't open and although no one had called to cancel my appointment, I had made the drive for no reason.
Welcome to weather in Dallas. I was furious. Customer service has slowly declined everywhere, it seems, over the last several years.

Tomorrow we will get to watch the Superbowl. Who are you rooting for? I'm undecided.

 

Time Saving Ideas to Help You Get It All Done

There are always ideas and new discoveries for you on time savings.  We have never thought of them all, or developed THE BEST efficient and effective use of our time.  I have a couple of ideas to start you thinking 'out of the box' that you may be trapped in.

• Evaluate the value of your time.  Often time we are doing things that would be better done other ways, or by other people.  It is best to evaluate the value of your time.  Does it make sense to figure out other ways to do some of the things that you are doing?  Here are a few ideas:
  • Hire a college student to help out with some errands
  • Hire an out of work mother or someone needing extra money to help you with some of your domestic duties.
  • Trade services- do something that you do easily and well for someone else in exchange for something that you struggle to do.
  • Accept that you cannot do it all.  Arrange for car share rides, and solutions for some of your responsibilities.
  • I love that in some cities grocery delivery service is available.

Don't stop there, you can outsource many elements of your life to enable you to get more done. I suggest you consider becoming a buyer of services.  Here are a few ideas:

• Conrad Creative    www.conradcreative.com
  Jenny Conrad- let her create fabulous
  gifts for you to give others when the need arises
   (one less thing for you to do)
• My Personal Valet  www.mpvalet.com
  Errands, Bill Paying, Shopping, Etc.  How would you like a few extra hours a month?  Wouldn't it be nice if someone could meet the plummer for you or run to the store and pick up perscriptions?  Imagine getting a few extra hours of help a month.  You'd love it, admit it.
• Long Lasting Gel manicures
  I'm loving the new Gel manicures that last for 3-4 weeks.  My nails look amazing and I spend much less time away from home or the office.  You might try them and see what you think.
• Lasers for Beautiful Results from New You Spa  http://www.thenewyoumedspa.com/
  With the new advancements in lasers, it isn't a bad time to try hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, skin tightening, or an amazing amount of other options.
• Snapfish Digital Photo Creation www.snapfish.com
  I cannot count the hours that I've saved by uploading my digital photos to snapfish and sharing them with family and friends.  I can request photos mailed to relatives, pick them up at the local Walgreens store, or have them mailed to my house.  I also adore the ability to make photo gifts.  Lovely gifts and options on this web site.
• Online Bill Pay tool www.paytrust.com
  Ever hate that you have to pick through your mail and sort through all those stacks of bills?  Yes, I can certainly relate.  Paytrust allows you to send all your bills to a PO BOX where they will scan all your bills, file them electronically, and store them in an electronic mailbox.  They will email you when the bills are due and you can even electronically choose to auto pay certain bills.  It is brilliant.

Write in with your ideas.  I'd love to hear them.  Pick a few ideas to try.  You can only do so much.

From Mother to Mentor and Father to Coach eBook

My newest book is available on e-books through Diesel.  Check it out on their website:
 
From Mother to Mentor and Father to Coach eBook.

Press Release:

From Mother to Mentor and
Father to Coach: Mentoring Your Children Through the Rough Preteen and
Teenage Years by Bethany Williams offers guidance for parents looking to take a more strategic approach to raising their children during the most
difficult years.

According to Williams, a mother of three and successful executive, parents expend more effort planning and applying strategy in the workplace than in child-rearing, even though parents consider the wellbeing of their children to be more important. In this book, Williams
applies her experience from the business world to the home by introducing business logic and long-term strategic planning to child-rearing. Weaving personal narrative with case studies gleaned from hundreds of executives, she aims to help readers develop better problem-solving skills and an ability to connect authentically with
their teenagers.

"We plan diligently for projects at work, carefully plotting out each action point required to achieve success," says Williams. "In our personal lives, we do much less, expecting our children to complete the path to independent adulthood with little planning and foresight."

Williams lays out keys to successful parenting including how to react to problem situations, minimize conflict and maintain positive relationships. She claims that this strategy can help parents transition from a traditional adversarial role during the teenage years to one of a
mentor for the child well into their adulthood.

From Mother to Mentor and Father to Coach: Mentoring Your Children Through the Rough Preteen and Teenage Years is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author
Bethany Williams is an inspirational author who has mentored hundreds of professionals and helped them increase their pay and earn status in the workplace. Williams is a results-oriented executive with 25 years experience driving complex initiatives in business, including new
business development and new market launches. An executive with one of the big four accounting firms, she was named one of the top 25 "Women to Watch" by the Dallas Business Journal in July of 2010. Williams is an accomplished speaker and has spoken at a variety of events for
organizations, including JP Morgan Chase, Raytheon, Women in Technology International (WITI), The National Charity League, The Junior League, Southern Methodist University and the University of North Texas. She has raised a daughter to adulthood and is currently raising two teenage sons with her husband, Michael, in Dallas.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Williams
E-mail: midhya@bethanywilliams.org
Phone: (972) 757-6730
Web: www.bethanywilliams.org

REVIEW COPIES AND INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE