Success Personified Blog

This past weekend I attended to a memorial service for an extended family member.

A normally, sad event, for me it was an uplifting and extremely touching experience.

Why?

The eulogy was delivered as a compelling story, a joyful narrative that wove the man’s history and life experiences together into an engrossing tale of adventure and love.

The essence of the man as I knew him was captured in both the eulogy as well as in what people came up to the microphone and said about him afterwards….

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“Mommy, for my birthday party, I want it to be princesses.”

Shocked, I held my breath for a moment.

I could not believe those words had come out of my toddler’s mouth.

“Okayyyyyy…” I mumbled. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Some context: Our almost 4-year old daughter has never before shown any interest in princesses. We don’t watch Disney princess movies and she doesn’t even know the characters’ names.

…But I sure do:  Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, Snow White, etc….

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Is it possible?

That’s the question people keep asking me.

It comes in various forms, such as:

Is it possible:

• To have flexibility and still be paid well for work I love?
• To land a good job after the age X?
• To find a job that supports my dreams for my life?

I get these types of questions all the time…especially lately.

The answer that immediately comes to me is:

It is ABSOLUTELY possible, if you believe it is.

You see, it depends on you….

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Here’s my second video blog, this time on Vision Boards.

I’m loving this video blogging thing!

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I LOVE the show “Project Runway.”

Last night, I watched the finale.

Unlike prior seasons, this time popular previous contestants were invited back to compete in an all-star round for some outrageously good prizes.
While usually the winner walks away with $100K, this season’s winner received a LOT more. The package was crafted to transform the designer’s life, making his fashion dreams come true.

The winner received:

• A special boutique within Neiman Marcus to sell his merchandise
• A photo spread in Marie Claire magazine and a position as a guest editor for one year
• $100K in technology and office space to grow his business
• A sewing and embroidery studio
• $100K in cash

As the TV show host said, “That sounds like a life-changing package to me.”

Well said. Every time the rewards were mentioned, you could see the contestants’ eyes light up. The package represented an open door to the lifestyle they all craved.

Why am I telling you this?…

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Join me for my first ever video blog post! Click the photo to play.

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The day had started off fine.

High on the mountain at Heavenly Ski Resort, we shushed through fresh powder, recovering our ski legs after a five-year absence from the sport.

After a while though, the weather took a turn for the worse. The visibility diminished as snow flurries and wind increased. I was reminded of that scene in Forrest Gump when he says that it felt like the rain came sideways and even from underneath. That’s what it felt like….

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The Seven Sacred Pools in Maui is a lovely place. The pools cascade in a series of waterfalls leading down to the ocean. Although I haven’t been there in several years, the image of the pools remains etched in my brain and heart.

For me, when in a tropical climate there is nothing quite as refreshing as lowering yourself into a cool, Emerald-hued pool of water next to a cascading waterfall. Surrounded by lush greenery and the distant roar of the sparkling ocean, the experience is a moment of pure bliss.

Why am I telling you this?

Because I find this idyllic picture to be a useful image to conjure when I want to stay in a positive state of mind, believe in myself and my ability to enjoy a successful, joyous and fulfilled life….

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My birthday is coming up this month. To celebrate, our nanny crafted a beautiful bracelet strung with Jade beads on an elasticized band. It’s just the type of present I love – easy to wear, beautiful, and has a cool, solid feel that grounds me when I’m feeling anxious.

My 2 ½ year old son likes it too. In fact, he likes it so much he wanted to play with it the other day.

I was at a café with a friend having a chat while my son was playing happily along with his Matchbox cars at the table. After a while, though, he got bored and was looking for something to do.

He spotted my bracelet and wanted it. As I chatted with my friend, I thought, okay, I’ll let him hold it for a moment.

Big mistake.

As I slipped the bracelet off my wrist and gave it to him, a small voice inside my head said this could be a bad idea.

It was…

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