Winning Strategies

LinkedIn- an Amazing Success Story

 

This afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting Eric Ly, former co-founder of LinkedIn.  LinkedIn is really an amazing phenonmenon.  It was founded in December of 2002 and launched in May of 2003.  Eric said that he worked with a small team to bring a 'minimally viable product' to market to then allow the customers to give feedback/information for enhancements.

 

They wanted to create a professional networking site and did they.  The site now has 150 million subscribers and grows at 2 subscribers per second. 

Eric is now working on Presdo- a networking site for people while attending trade shows and events.  It will allow you to better manage that sparing time out of time, allowing you to meet with the ones you want to see while there at the show or meeting.  Find them on the web at:  http://www.presdo.com/about

 

 

 

When I Get Around To It!

 

Ever just think that you will do something 'When You Get Around To it?'  Yes, I've heard that SO MANY times in my travels around the globe and my interactions with people in varying locations, in an assortment of job positions, and even in different economic classes.  We all seem to have one commonality- we never FIND ENOUGH TIME to get to the things done THAT YOU WANT TO DO.

 We try, don't get me wrong- and we have the best intentions.  But, somehow, we just don't make time to schedule that family trip, call our loved ones, or take a moment out to chat with our children or someone at work that needs to be listened to.  We are rushed.  We are in a hurry.

I had so many plans of things that I was 'going to do' with Heather's dad (now deceased).  We had said many times that we would do something 'when we got around to it'.  How do you really know that the future you are delaying your today for will ever arrive?

Live for Today
You really don't know what tomorrow holds.  You really have only one chance to live today.  You have but one opportunity to LIVE IN THE MOMENT and seize it- grasping it to the fullest.  So, if you are reading this- there is a reason.  There is something on your 'WHEN I GET AROUND TO IT' list that you need to tackle RIGHT NOW.  Stop reading and DO IT NOW.

Ideas of DO IT NOW THINGS
1) Schedule that family vacation- if you have miles- search for a location you want to attend and CLICK the Submit button.  Book it!

2) If you don't have miles- look up package deals on expedia or kayak.  Find a package that fits you.

3) Book out a lunch time on your calendar for Spring Break- plan to have lunch with your kids or spouse.  Why not?

4) Plan a dinner/date night with your spouse.  Surprise them!

5) Book out a vacation week on your work calendar.  It will be more likely that you spend some time with the family if it is booked on your calendar.

SUMMARY
Life speeds by.  It quickens past us and before we know it, many of the plans we had have dissipated into the wind.  They no longer apply.

Make something happen today.  GET AROUND to SOMETHING that you haven't DONE- but SHOULD.   I encourage you to plan something special.

Las Vegas Machine Gun Experience

Our Vegas vacation weekend was a blast. Saturday we stopped in to visit the Machine Gun Experience (www.discountfirearmsinc.com/rentals.html )  in Vegas. It is located quick close to the strip. The place was loaded with people. We stood in a short line and signed up for a gold package. It was a chance to try 11 different guns, each of which we would get a chance to shoot several rounds. The four of us decided that we would split the rounds and get an opportunity to each enjoy the experience.

It was much funner than I expected (funner- is that a word? Laugh). I never thought I'd enjoy it as much as I did. For those of you with only daughters, you may not be off the hook. We were there for about 1 1/2 hours cycling through the guns and each getting a chance to shoot the guns. Wow- what a rush! Some had extensive kickback. They sure make it look easy in the movies, grin. A few of them had difficult to pull triggers and some were hard to hold- because of their weight. Some had switches to move that moved them from semiautomatic to automatic. Holy cow, most of the time my aim was perfect- straight to the kill zone. I held my own with the boys ( don't I always) lol.

 

I highly recommend the Machine Gun Experience for all you adventure seekers out there. It is certainly different than anything else you might do on the strip in Vegas. Enjoy!

Live the Life You are Dreaming Of

I've spent loads of time coaching people and speaking on 'Living the Life You are Dreaming Of'.

Today, an amazing friend Mandi Gilstrap will be speaking to a group of kids in Oak Cliff for me. Due to an upcoming trade show in Vegas- and the way it landed between a Kentucky trip- it worked out schedule wise to fly straight from Kentucky and use this time to spend with my kids and husband. Part of living the life of your dreams is making and keeping priorities. So- I must apologize for not being there in person to motivate and encourage you to find your passions and seek out a great life.

I have sent with her some of my books, and I hope that they inspire and motivate you into action. She has my contact information. I value each and every one of you. I will personally speak to you if you have questions. I want to see you succeed- and YOU- are the key to that success. Believe it!

So go DREAM--PERSEVERE- ACHIEVE- and SUCCEED. Trust in yourself and go create the life you've always dreamed of- or better yet- dream a better dream and go create that life.

Again- I apologize that I am not there in person. I care about you.

Let Mandi motivate and inspire you to action. May God richly bless you.

Sent with Xobni Mobile - http://xobni.com/mobile

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Indoor Skydiving Fun in Las Vegas

Eons ago I saw a spot on television about indoor skydiving. It looked fabulously fun. I even thought it would make for an incredible birthday party one year for my adventurous son Caleb. Well, unfortunately I couldn't find anyplace near Dallas that offers this fun sport.

Now in Vegas on a family together weekend before a tradeshow that I'm attending called HIMSS, we head over to 200 Convention Center Road to the Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving Center (http://www.vegasindoorskydiving.com/). We met our instructor and guide Chris Baker and sat through our quick class.

Untitled from Premier Pixels on Vimeo.

 

We suited up in skydiving suites, goggles, gloves and shoes and walked into the wind tunnel. Ever wonder what it would feel like if you ever actually did jump off a building or out of a plane? We were about to find out.

The giant fan assimilates the wind as if you are freefalling. We step onto the fan and took turns floating high above the earth as if free falling. It is exhilarating. It is breathtaking. It is hilarious to watch.

See if you have time while in Vegas to check out their facilities and free fall away!

Talent- The Wise Company's Way to Success

Tom Peters had a book called 'Talent' that he put out in 2005.  It centered around the concept of

not paying lip-service to people.  He challenged organizations to become truly talent-attractive,  an awesome place to work—a place where Talent rules. He tried to convince leaders that the office slave is dead and that it was the age of the Free Agent. Talent doesn't just support the brand—but IS the brand. He advised organizations to use quirky, energetic, and disobedient talent to create their primary competitive advantage.

 

 

 

Then, in the Circle of Innovation, he again brought up 'Talent'.  It is the focus of the companies that have 'rocked it' and excelled beyond belief.  The Ciscos, Googles, GEs, IBMs, really- the makers of incredible brands and products - like Apple- have found talented individuals to relentlessly pursue their passion.

 

 

So, what we can we all be reminded of?  Talent is the key to success in any organization.  Hire talented individuals with gifts and passions that can be applied to your business.  They will do the work of dozens, perform beyond belief, and catapult your company forward.

 

Talent pays off for organizations.  They spurr on others, create a catalyst of change, creativity, and acceleration.  Really- you can't afford NOT to hire talented individuals to set your organization on the right course.

When I was at GE, I wanted to hire a stellar engineer.  She was gifted.  I was in product leadership, and with her, I knew we could do amazing things.  Her pay was above the 'pay grade'.  I bargained hard for her, explaining that she would get the work done of 2 engineers.  Guess what?  They hired her, and she did just that- amazing work year after year.

Rethink your talent strategy.  Hire incredibly talented individuals to set your company on fire.  I dare you.

A Weekend Getaway in Vegas at the Venetian

 I've been working hard. One thing I think that everyone should do from time to time is to step away from the grind and look at life from a different perspective. Spend time looking at life through different colored glasses.
 
I've planned just a step away myself. I am going to Vegas for the upcoming HIMSS convention for work. I will have a busy week next week of meetings, demonstrations, executive debriefs, walking the trade room floor, and exasperating myself , I'm sure, trying to get it all done in a short window of time.
 
SOOO, ahead of this - I have planned a weekend getaway with my family in Vegas. I'm excited to get a chance to check into the famous Ventian hotel and spend a few needed hours with my family.
 
Venetian Hotel Vegas: http://www.venetian.com

 
We will be spending a few days in one of their suites. Stay tuned, I'll blog the experience so that my friends from around the globe can 'see it through our eyes'.
 
I suggest you consider a little break away from life yourself. Thinking about how stressed you are? Take a minute to google around the net and see if you can find a vacation package that works for your budget. You don't have to go far to feel a world away from your day to day routines, your work, and the monotony that life can become. Go ahead, I dare ya!

They Don't Know

 

My kids have never gone to bed hungry, never wondered where they'd sleep the next night. They have never gone without clothes and struggled to stay warm in an empty alley all night.

They have never cried themselves to sleep, wondering if they would wake up alone with no parent by their side- or woke up next to a drug addicted parent- passed out and unable to be awakened.

They don't know what they don't know. They don't know the feeling of living alone on the streets, struggling to support themselves, or moving from shelter to shelter sleeping on old cots. They've never had to deal with that.

Because of the limited things they've seen, they do not REALLY know all that they have to be thankful for. They do not fully comprehend the blessing that is their life and their circumstances. They are missing the chance to truly celebrate all that is good in their lives.

I'm saddened that I've been unable to truly teach them this one lesson: life is a gift, enjoy and treasure each piece of all that you've been given. It is truly more than you recognize and FAR MORE than you celebrate on a daily basis.

Today- celebrate the gift of your life and all the blessings that you have in it!

 

Start Something for a Boy or Girl Today

Ever thought that this may be a good time to start something?  Maybe a good time to start something BIG?  Ever considered becoming a BIG sister or BIG brother to a child that could use a little of your time and commitment?

Now may be the right time.  Watch these motivating stories online:  http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.7932445/k.8399/Start_Something_Web_Series.htm

 

 

It's not about you.  It is not about the work waiting for you on your desk, or the LONG list of TO DO's that you feel that you HAVE to get done.  That all adds up to a pile of wood, hay, and stubble.  It all erodes away.  Relationships that you invest in are really the only thing that stands the test of time, and lasts beyond rust, age, and changing fashions.

If you're reading this, there is a reason.  If you are feeling a 'tug' to volunteer or donate, do it.  Life is about what YOU DO and what you DON'T DO, not about what you thought you'd get around to.

Create a legacy that changes the world around you.  Years ago when I started my online encouraging website and blog, my motto was simply 'Encouraging Women to Change the World'.  As I begin to get more male readers, I changed it to 'Encouraging YOU to Change the World'.   Fast forward several years, and I felt led to change it to 'Encouraging YOU to change YOUR World and the world around you'.  So many were doing for others and suffering in their own lives.  Changing the world, I think, starts with your own world.  Once that is in order, you can reach out and touch the lives of those around you.

I encourage you to REACH out,  and TOUCH a life.  Work to invest yourself in someone that could forever be changed as a result.  At this moment, I'm praying that God will select a very special girl to be a part of my life, and someone that I can grow with and get to know.  I'm excited at the possibilities. 

May God encourage you to start something!

For more information, find Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization online:  http://www.bbbs.org
It is not too late to begin.

Be The Change

We usually are not big fans of change. Now don't get me wrong- often we want things to change, we just don't want to be the change makers. We see others in that role. We step away quietly and wait for others to step in to create the change. We get unhappy and discontent at work when things don't change EXACTLY as we want them to.

Today's advice is to be the change that you want to see. Mahatma Gandhi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world.". I love that quote. Do you know why? It puts the focus on YOU! What can you do to alter the situation? NOT what can THEY do to change things.

So- go change things. Create positive change in your life and work places that sets you on a new course. Put the focus on WHAT YOU CAN DO not what you want them to do.

You will find increased satisfaction and contentment. Go make change!

One Minute Video on Being Change Makers:  http://youtu.be/_EyuIJMUipM