Winning Strategies

A Company of Dreams

I received my Mary Kay newsletter in the mail and noticed that they were talking about Seminar, the annual gathering of Mary Kay sales women from around the globe.  Mary Kay created a 'company of dreams'.  In a time when there were very few jobs that women could succeed at and make money, she created a company that incented women to perform.  Her accomplishments are astounding.

Key Facts
Mary Kay Ash started Mk in 1963 with only 9 woman and $4500.
Did you know that the Mary Kay Inc's global wholesale sales accounts for 2.5 Billion dollars today with more than 39,000 women across the worldthat  have become independent sales directors?  (http://www.marykay.com/company/companyquickfacts/default.aspx)

Mary Kay products are packaged in recyclable containers.

Only 2% of all cosmetic companies manufacture their own products. Mary Kay is one of the 2%.
                                                     
Mary Kay is one of the 20 companies profiled in the 1996 book, Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time. Mary Kay Ash is the only woman included. She received the greatest woman in this century- her male counterpart is Henry Ford.
                                                              
The Mary Kay marketing plan is taught at several business universities, including Harvard Business School in their MBA program.
                                       
The Mary Kay career car program is one of the largest corporate fleets in the USA and over 120,000 women have earned the use of a car in Mary Kay.                                         

More than 215 women in the United States have become  a Mary Kay millionaire based on their gross commissions.
                                                  

A Woman with a Vision
It is amazing to me that a women with a mission and vision created an empire that continues to impact thousands of lives today.  Let her inspire you to pursue your passions, find your vision, and impact the lives of those around you.  Be Inspired to live your best life.

Ben Breedlove Shows Us All How to Live

 

Today we talked about Ben Breedlove, the 17 year old with a heart condition that died in December.  His story about how he chose to live his life despite a life threatening heart condition is encouraging, amazing, and lifts your heart.  Watch his story, it is well worth the time spent.  Watch it with your family and notice his geniune smiles.

 

Part 1 of the story:  http://youtu.be/tmlTHfVaU9o

Part II of the story:  http://youtu.be/a4LSEXsvRAI

The story from his sister's viewpoint:  http://youtu.be/GEhAtP2Fnb8

What an uplifting and surreal story and vision from a young man from Austin Texas.  I know that this will bless your day and help you to put things in your life in their proper perspective.  I too, like Ben, believe in God.

Working without arms, John Foppe strives to teach us all to change our being

Yesterday I attended the regional HFMA Leadership meeting at the Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas.  John Foppe was the first speaker.  Born without arms, he works to encourage both individuals and organizations how to executive and break through traditional boundaries.  You will find his story encouraging and uplifting ( http://www.visionaryvelocity.com).

How many times a day do we complain, and get frustrated over what we feel that we cannot do?  How many times do we let the surrounding messages penetrate our being and affect our mood and attitudes?  We don't have to.  We can rise above.

Thank you John, for providing an uplifting and riveting presentation.  You rock!

My Mom is my Hero

You would walk into the church, decorated just perfectly- yet you'd never know the lady who placed the decorations so nicely.  Into the homeless shelter you would pass, but you'd probably not get to meet the woman who put up all the trees and made it look like Christmas at Carriage Town Ministries (http://www.carriagetown.org/).  You'd see my dad there, teaching classes to the needy of Flint Michigan, but you'd probably not run into my mother sorting donated clothes in the back room.   You could attend a wedding in Michigan, with all the decorations and time spent decorating donated by an amazing woman, but you probably wouldn't see her there.

Behind the scenes of all of these and more is the most beautiful woman that I've ever known.  My mother is the most selfless woman that I know.  Yesterday she celebrated her birthday.  Well into her seventies, she does things for other people on a daily basis and keeps a schedule that even I couldn't keep nor ones half my age.

For all you do Mom for others, we love you.  For all the effort and time that you spend that goes unnoticed by most- we notice you.  For all the love that you show through your decorating and time spent on others, we appreciate and love you.  You are one of a kind.  You are my hero.  Happy Birthday to Elois Eastman of Flint Michigan.  Thank you for showing me an incredible example of what a woman can be.  You are truly a woman adored and loved by her family. 

Heros come in all shapes and sizes

Congratulations to Leah Stoltz, the 17 year old that won one of the Teen Nick Halo awards.  Having fought scoliosis myself, I found the story about her developing a support group, the Curvy Girls, uplifting and heart warming. 

Scoliosis is the disease not often talked about, but devastating to young girls that usually find out about the illness when they are in their early teens.  Some are met with spine braces that they must wear (I think I wore my Milwaukee brace for 2 years), and others face a devastating surgery.  Some endure both.

I had my first scoliosis surgery in June of 1983, followed by procedures in 1991 and a complete re-do in 2004 requiring months of physical therapy and I had to learn to walk all over again.

Here is my school picture from 1984 in my body cast.  It was just as uncomfortable as it looks (laugh). 

We face these trials in life, yet they do nothing other than to make us stronger.  You are facing trials.  The hill seems hard to climb.  Take note of the heros around you and be encouraged by those journeys.  Leah is a teenager that, when facing a crisis, decided to make the world a better place for those around her.  She did just that.  In your crisis, you can do the same. 

Find write up on the web about Leah (http://www.teennick.com/halo/winners.php?id=4).  You can be the hero in your world.
 

Listening to Ross Perot Sr

I sat mesmerized (again today) as I listened to Ross Perot Sr speak. He never ceases to amaze me. What an amazing man with incredible fortitude, wisdom and knowledge. I enjoy hearing him speak. I think of the footprint that he has left on the world. Each of us can make a difference in the world.

Each of you can leave a footprint. Have you thought about what area you may concentrate on to make that impact?