Goodbye to 2008!

It's really true that the older you get, the faster time goes. Proof of that is how quickly a year passes. It seems like yesterday I was getting ready to ring in 2008 - now I'm saying goodbye to it. But one great way to review the year and remember exactly how much I did do, is to look through my pictures. So I thought I would share a few of my favorites with you!

Key West in December - AAAHHHHHHHHH!

I was just in Key West for a week with my sister - and mid week my boyfriend joined us (does anyone have a better word than boyfriend for a 30+ woman?). Anyway, while we were down there, the northeast got pounded with snow. Every night we watched the weather channel with what can only be described as glee. Why is that? I suppose were just happy to have escaped this one storm knowing we'd be dealing with it the rest of the winter. Anyway, here are some of my favorite pics from the trip.

These pictures are from a snorkeling trip my sister and I took out to a reef about 7 miles from Key West.

Here we are enjoying the 75 degree weather. Every evening around dusk, everyone heads out to the beach, pier, docks - wherever they can to catch the sunset.

My sister had a bit too much to drink at B.O.'s Fish Wagon - but found a friend!

Betcha didn't know I could Tango!

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The Most Beautiful Toddler turns Two!!!

Here is my great-niece Mika. She just turned two in October. She is the smartest, cutest, most independent little girl. She refuses to get in her carseat most of the time because her older brother Ben doesn't have to. At the playground, she insists on going on the regular swings (not the ones that have the enclosed seats that would keep her safe) and climbing up the big ladder to go down the big slide. Can you say willful?

But I have to admit - I love seeing her feisty spirit. It reminds me of someone else I know. ;-)

Spotted in NYC - Thing One and Thing Two!

I was at a picnic back in September in Central Park. I thought these kid's shirts were awesome!

Stephen M.R. Covey and I share the stage in Boston!

Needless to say, this was quite an honor. And it was great to realize we were both speaking on similar topics. His new book "The Speed of Trust" shows the essential nature of trust in relationships and organizations. I was speaking on several topics, one being how organizations must balance accountability with trust. Accountability without trust is a sweatshop environment, trust without accountability is a country club environment. You really need both to produce results and have people enjoy their work!

NYC and the Catskills

Last week, I had the opportunity to go hear Dan Kennedy (marketing guru extraordinaire) speak in NYC. He comes across like an ogre, but I think he's very funny and has a soft mushy side. Check out one of my favorite books by him "Ruthless Management of People and Profits." NOT for the thin-skinned or faint-hearted!

I spent a few days there with friends and then headed to the Catskills for a camping trip with other friends. Looking through my pictures when I got back, it was so funny to see pics of the city (from Central Park) followed by pics of "belted cows" in the mountains.

The Most Beautiful Baby in the World Is Back!!!

Perhaps you missed the most beautiful baby in the world the first time around! My great niece Mika was featured in my newsletter when she was about 9 months old. This spring, she was in Minnesota for about three months but she's back. Now she's the most beautiful toddler in the world. Here is a picture of her then and now! Isn't she gorgeous?

Where the hell is Matt?

Have you seen this video yet (Dancing 2008)? I sat here at my desk this morning with tears streaming down my face and I couldn't even say why exactly. Check it out and let me know what you think!

http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=BXRq1f

Do You Know Your Life Purpose?

Last week when I was in Colorado, I got some tragic news. A family I grew up next to lost their son who committed suicide at age 20. I used to babysit him and spent a lot time with him when he was a young boy. While I was holding back the emotions (I was in a meeting with a client when I got the news), I had a strange thought occur to me. He must not have known his purpose.

I talk about life purpose and mission quite a bit. I have a philosophy that there is no greater happiness than to know your purpose and to be on the path to fulfilling it. Whenever I meet someone who is unhappy or struggling in their life, I wonder if they think about why they are here. Why did God put them on this earth? We all have very specific talents, interests and abilities and are meant to use them to their fullest - not only for our own fulfillment - but to benefit and bring enjoyment to others.

But the more we focus on our challenges, bad luck, or mistakes, the less we focus on the BIG picture - the purpose of our life. It seems like many people are sleep-walking through their life, just passing the time.

I realize this topic of purpose seems really heavy for a BLOG topic.

It happens to be the only way to live a joyous, fully expressed and adventurous life! I think about "EK" and how I wish I could have talked to him about all of this before he decided to end his life. But perhaps his death will wake someone else up.

Defying Gravity

Have you seen "Wicked" yet? It's a broadway play that's sweeping the nation (pun intended for those who've seen it! ;-). Anyway, if you get a chance to go - GO! It's the story of Elphaba (a.k.a. The Wicked Witch) and it's the story of her life from birth up to the events we know from "The Wizard of Oz" - but told from her perspective.

What we find out is that she wasn't really wicked - she was just misunderstood. Besides having the best score of any musical I've ever seen (including Phantom, Les Miserables, Lion King, etc.) it has very relevant social, political and religious themes.

After the show, we were invited to the private cast party. Above are some pictures of myself and my nieces with members of the cast.

Mommy Duty

Last week, I found out what it means to be a "working mother". My neighbors and I found 4 kittens - not much more than 3 or 4 weeks old. We couldn't locate the mother and since it was to be near freezing the night we found them, we created a temporary home for them in a cardboard box. The next morning, I got on the Internet and researched the care required by really young kittens and I went in to panic mode. They have to be fed a special formula every two hours, you have to burp them and wipe their bums!!! Since my neighbors were all at work, it was up to me to be on mommy duty. That's the beauty of working from home - I was able to tend to the kittens during the day and work at night. But I'll tell ya, I was exhausted!!


My neighbor kept the white kitten (Bella) and although I was very tempted to keep one of the black kittens, I knew my lifestyle and my allergies are not conducive to owning a cat.



So two days later, a woman who runs a cat shelter came and took the three little black ones. While it was good to get back to my regular schedule, I really miss those little kitties.

Networking and More!!!

On Friday was a networking, shopping, and wine tasting event that Jill (my niece) and I hosted together at the beautiful Beau Monde Spa and Salon in Victor, NY. We had the privilege of having Jonna Martin, image consultant and President of the Rochester NAWBO Chapter, come and share some do's and don'ts for creating a professional and updated image. She reminded us that image is a lot more than just the clothes you wear. Jonna created and teaches the "ABC's of Image" - Attitude, Behavior, and Communication.
Here is a picture of Jonna presenting (above)...and one of Jill and I (below).

Chase Corporate Challenge

It was a busy week here last week. First on Thursday was the Chase Corporate Challenge. Every year I get a few of my friends (oops, I mean "Employees") to do the 3.5 run with me. We always design fun Team iNsights t-shirts that always create a buzz. This year the slogans included "Just Frickin' Do It!" and "Suck It Up Princess." Given that I work in human behavior and motivation - I think those messages were appropriate. Here's a pic of Team iNsights. That's Patty (Goddess of Administration) on the right, her boyfriend Craig behind her, and my niece Jill on the left. Oh yeah, I'm in the middle!

Je suis juste retourné de Montréal!

I just returned from Montreal where I was volunteering at the Millionaire Mind Intensive seminar. Montreal was where I first attended an MMI in 2005 and it was a life changing event for me. So I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to go back to where it all started and give my time and energy as a volunteer. And the truth is...I got so much back in return.

First of all, the positive energy of the volunteers is awesome. Think about it. These are all people who went to an MMI and had such an amazing experience that they wanted to come back and share it with others. Many of these volunteers are business owners. They took time away from their businesses and their lives to contribute to other people. In my opinion, this makes them a special group of people just in that respect.

Second, the participants of this seminar are amazing. They came in on Friday morning, unsure and hesitant about this whole Millionaire Mind thing. But they went along on a 3-day journey, participated fully and many of them - given the comments on their evaluation forms at the end - will never be the same.

If you want to check out this life-altering event, go to www.peakpotentials.com and under events go to Millionaire Mind Intensive. They have these seminars all over the US and Canada and now in Singapore! If you decide to sign up, please use my ambassador code: 293458.

Sedona, Arizona

I just got back from a week in Sedona. While I haven't been all over this globe, I believe people when they say Sedona is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The red rock formations are just incredible and you can spend all day hiking trails and taking in the sights.

The picture of my sister and I with the dog is actually a wolf named Teka. He was born into the hands of a man named Many Bears who we met one day while out hiking. Many Bears gave us a great tip while visiting Sedona.

He told us that if we posted a sign in our dashboard that read that we were there for spiritual or health reasons, not purely recreation, and that we do not wish to contract with the State of Arizona, we would not have to pay the parking fees in all the parks. So we did that and we parked for free everywhere we went! It always pays to get to know the locals!

(And if feels pretty good to circumvent the law too! SSSHHHH!!)

I also got a chance to see the Grand Canyon for the first time. The word "awesome" may be over used, but it really is the only word to accurately describe the GC. Pictures can't do it justice, although I will post one anyway. The vastness of the Canyon is hard to comprehend. The depth is hard to conceive.

While there, my sister became intrigued by a book about all the deaths that have happened in the GC (yes, it's a bit morbid, I know!). But what was fascinating was all the different ways people died. More deaths from heart failure than falling. And because of the elevation differences, people can die of heat stroke and hypothermia - all at the same time of year.

I heard a few people at the GC say they felt insignificant as they looked at it. I had just the opposite experience. I felt connected and grounded in a way that made me appreciate being alive. In a way, it made me more determined to have my life be significant and leave a legacy for others.

All in all, it was an inspirational trip. Exactly what I was looking for.

Ken Blanchard is in the building!

I had the privilege of meeting and learning from Ken Blanchard, author and speaker, most notably known for his book "The One Minute Manager". He was here in Rochester speaking about his latest book "The One Minute Entrepreneur".

I think of all the profound things he said, my favorite came towards the end of his talk. "At the end of the game - it all goes back in the box. So seperate the temporary stuff (work, money, success) from the important forever stuff (family, love, friends)."

And then he quoted Sam (Patrick Swayze) at the end of the movie Ghost, "The remarkable thing is you get to take the love with you."

Disco Dancing

If you want to see Dan and I tearing up the dance floor, check this out...
http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/4IlmHMcFdr6LtOraX4JyxFOt

Ugly Disco Pic

Ugly Disco in Rochester

Well you know it's spring in Rochester when a few things happen. It's 60 degrees and people are in shorts and t-shirts. People start smiling at you for no apparent reason. And 4000 people in the ugliest disco clothes descend on the Riverside Convention Center for the annual Ugly Disco. Here is a picture of my friend Dan (Elvis) and I having a good time!