That One Big Break!

Are you wondering whether or not you should look into a crystal ball or shake some dice in Vegas? Are you comparing yourself to others and thinking why can't I have what they have? Are you sitting on your porch swing waiting for someone to come to your door step to tell you it is your time to be a star? If you said yes to any of these, you might want to splash some cold water on your face to refresh yourself.

Your lucky break does not have to come from shaking a pair of dice or learning about your future. The reason you do not have what someone else has is because what was achieved was meant for them in their way and not yours. However, if you admire what another has, you should be inspired to know that you can aspire to have great things in your life too. Little do you know, this overnight success you have been comparing yourself to has been a work in progress for some time now. Their consistent efforts and persistent attitude helped them get to where they are today. Learn from them. Study them. Get to know them as a person. Ask them about how they got started. You might be surprised. Your new connection could also lead you to others you must meet. As the saying goes, you shouldn't wait for success to come to you, "you need to swim out to meet it."

Create your big break! Increase Your Odds of Success...

1. Tell everyone you know about your dreams, ambitions, and goals.

2. Ask them if they know someone you should meet in their network and request a virtual introduction. There are on average about 250 people in each person's network.

3. Connect with the person you were introduced to with a 15 minute phone call. Remember people do business with people they know, like, and trust. Be real.

4. Be specific. People naturally want to help people but they cannot help you if you do not ask or if you do not know what to ask for.

5. Think about how you can help others by connecting them with your network or circle of influence.

Make big plans for yourself by setting goals and breaking them down into manageable pieces. They are the "breaks" that make the difference. Take action with each piece. Each action helps you take another action step. Before you know if, your goal will be attained.
What "big break" have you been waiting for? What is it that you can do today to help someone with their "big break"?

“Cherish the journey; the destination is where it all comes together.”

– Debra Kasowski

Track Your Way

Every successful person followed a path. Each path may vary in length and smoothness. Some paths may be hilly, some may have a slight bend in the road, and some may even be straight. The beauty of each path is that even if two people are heading to the same destination, their path will vary in lessons learned and length of time to get there. Yet they both can get to the same destination and succeed.

One of our family goals is to be more active than we currently are. I decided to get each of us a pedometer. We are going to keep track of all the steps we take in one day and set our own personal goals. We will strive to reach our personal bests. The kids were quite excited. "How cool! Look at how many steps I  have!" as they ran in one spot or dash up and down the stairs. Instant althletes!

Tracking your way to success can be exhilarating!  Watching your progress creates momentum and awareness of the efforts required to reach your goals. Set a goal. Have a clear intention of what you want your end result to look like. Break your goal into smaller steps - daily, weekly, and monthly. At the end of each day, review the steps you have taken and track your progress by writing down what you have accomplished. Celebrate your victories! Plan your next day and realign or tweak any changes you need to. How can you improve if you do not reflect on what you do? Each day is a fresh start to great things!

If your goal is to declutter a room, stay in the room until you finish it. Do not beat yourself up if you have completed 90% of the room and you still have 10% left at the end of the day. Marvel at the beauty of what you have accomplished. Just think - it is way better than it was and there is so little left to complete that you will get it done quickly the next day and move on. Aah! Feels great doesn't it. Feel the weight off your shoulders as you can now relax in your decluttered room, closet, or garage. It is welcoming and now you look forward to spending time in that space.

Success comes in all shapes and sizes. What are you trying to accomplish? Track your way and you will see what makes you the success you are! Now I have to go so I can get my steps in!

Your Success Depends on Your Health

I had the honour of interiviewing Dr. Fabrizio Mancini a few months ago. He is internationally acclaimed speaker with a big heart. Listen to his interview below.

Are You Accountable?

The Millionaire Woman Club is growing! I am glowing and raving about the incredible women I get to meet. Each one shares their light of knowledge and expertise. The energy is amazing! I could bask in it every day. I had asked the participants to develop an accountability relationship with their partners during a couple exercises that I facilitated.

Accountability = Commitment.

An accountability partner is someone you make a commitment to. A commitment to complete a task or exercise that will take you one step closer to your achieving your goal. This is why having an exercise buddy or partner is so crucial to many people's fitness goals. You have someone to challenge you to higher heights. Having an accountability partner, helps you stay true to your word. Why is it we break commitments to ourselves before we break a commitment to others? Is it because they depend on you or you are afraid that you will hurt their feelings? We must realize that not only should we make commitments to ourselvess but we must also keep them. Your commitment to yourself is most important. When you value your commitments, people also know that you will value theirs.

Accountability partners are people who:

• you share and review your goals with. help you keep your commitments
• you share and celebrate your wins with
• you set your intentions for the week with
• challenge you when you do not follow through
• keep you motivated to keep your commitments to yourself and others
• help you achieve maximum results
• brainstorm through roadblocks
• share advice
• encourage you when you feel that you are ready to give up!

Accountability partners are NOT people who:

• place judgment on you
• breach your confidence
• assess you

Accountability partners are ultimately there to hold you accountable for your own success! What are you doing to achieve your success?

ABCs of First Impressions

Have you ever been out and realized you had two different shoes on or your skirt was caught in your panty hose? First impressions are lasting impressions and the impact we have can last longer than we know.

As I was planning next month's Millionaire Woman Club event, Dress for Success theme, I started think about all the first impressions or judgments that women make. Yes, we say "Do not be judgmental." however,  we often get thoughts in our heads about what a person is like before we even speak to them.

The theory of knowing your ABC's can be followed in many contexts. For instance, in healthcare, ABC - airway, breathing and circulation. When assessing a child's wellness, we often look at ABC's being appearance, behavior, and color. The more I thought about this, the more I realized that  the ABCs of your first impression are the lifeline that gives breath or air to your personality and a person's perception. That's right ladies - Your first impression is the circulation and color of who you are!

The ABCs of First Impressions are:

Appearance/Apparel/Aura - Are you looking after your appearance? Do your clothes fit right? What does your dress say about you? These are a few of the questions to ask yourself. The most important question is - Would you want to do business with you?

Behaviour- This is the area that your personality shines through. Are you approachable? Do you introduce yourself to others or do you wait to be introduced? Can you start a conversation and learn more about the person you are talking to and truly listen?

Communication/Character- The words you speak are profound. How you speak to and about others says a great deal about your integrity. Smile, keep eye contact, and practice your handshake. A handshake is a tell tale sign of confidence.

First impressions last...know your ABCs and have impact!