aileen

days 8-13 – the quiet before the storm.

by aileen on July 26, 2011

I know I have been quiet. Sometimes you get too busy doing to write about doing. I committed to writing about this experience and so I’m back.

I have a new project that I’m set on doing. It’s an idea that might fail (those are the best kind) and I’m going to need others to make it happen (those are the scary kind).

I’m at the stage where I’m getting everything together behind the scenes which is why you haven’t heard from me, but I’m still here and I’m still being deliberately creative. Someone asked me yesterday, over coffee, “Where do you get all these ideas?” and I replied in my standard manner “Oh, that’s the easy part” – I was wrong, I defaulted to a standard answer (as we often do). They come from training your brain to think that way, they come from noticing the world, they come from being deliberately creative.

My first semester at college changed my life. They taught us to think of ideas, in fact that was all we did – and we were judged on it. I wish I could do that time over again – I wish I could analyze what we did. How I worked and how others worked. When it comes down to it the only way to think of ideas is to think of ideas.

I’m sorry I’m not revealing all on here, in my head I was intending to share it all, but sometimes ideas need some time to incubate before they are launched on the world. Today I will be making a timeline for that – working out what I need to get in place, and when. It’s getting close to time to share this idea, to let it out into the world and see if it flies or sinks – either way I’m going to learn a lot about me, about you, and about the world.

 

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Days 4 & 5

by aileen on July 18, 2011

This weekend I decided I would spend the time preparing my space, my equipment for what is brewing in my mind… yes that’s the gurgling sound you can hear when everything is quiet. It’s a kind of ‘build it’ and you can’t afford for it not to happen.

I got my current computers hard drive and memory upgraded – and ordered a new second screen (bigger) and a new (well, refurbished) macbook pro.. yep I went all out. I have decided to subscribe to the new Adobe stuff – all of it. It’s been a back and forth decision but I have decided that, although, yes it’s cheaper to buy it in the long run, this gives me a chance to have it all, play with it, learn (some of) it, and really see what I use and what I don’t. It’s time for me to play catch up in the software stakes.

I don’t want to be a graphic designer again, but I do want to use all the new technology to communicate – in a whole new way. I plan on using a whole lot more video, graphics and creativity. I want to combine that with my obsession with business, communication, connection and company culture.

Weekends are a great time to let things stew in your head, you can relax with friends and family and just let your ideas brew for a while.

This could be dangerous!

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A reminder to be OPEN

by aileen on July 11, 2011

Last week I bought an ‘OPEN’ sign from a business that had closed (ironic) and I couldn’t resist altering it slightly. I painted out some letters and used a dremel to carve out some new ones. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. It now hangs in my office to remind me to be OPEN. So now for the before and after pics…

BEFORE

NOW

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The Quick Fix

by aileen on July 5, 2011

In the last few years we have all be trained to look for the easy way to do things. Television, magazines and the internet constantly promises us magical results: lose 15lbs this week, tone your body in 3 minutes a day, make six figures a year working four hours a week. You know the stuff.

We are continuously fed the lie that success doesn’t take hard work or effort. I guess we just wouldn’t buy something that declared ‘Use your hard work and willpower to lose 2.5lbs this week.’

We want quick fixes, and blame ourselves when they don’t work. With each easy method that doesn’t work, (not that we ever really stick to them) we label ourselves or the system a failure and look for the next thing.

We want newer and faster, we look for ‘no willpower needed’ and cling to phrases like ‘work smarter, not harder’ — after all who wants to work harder?

A few years ago a movie called “The Secret” revived people’s interest in the Law of Attraction — we no longer had to do anything. We just had to visualize what we wanted and magically the Universe sent it to us. I’m a motivational speaker — I’m meant to tell you this stuff works. Just imagine it happening and it will. Believe in yourself and everything will change. Blah, blah, blah.

I’ll be honest — I still spend the first 20 mins of each day visualizing what I want to happen in my life. Sometimes I write out my goals. Sometimes I just think about them with a cup of tea. I’m learning to meditate.

So why do I do this if I don’t believe it worksIt’s not that it doesn’t work, it does. If you spend the first 20 minutes of the day visualizing AND then the rest of the day working towards what you want.

Learning to believe in yourself is only worth it if you use that belief to spur you into action. If you want the body, the career or the life of your dreams you have to take action.

This is good news. Really. There is only one way to know the joy of working towards what you want, following your passion — and that’s to do it. If it’s the path you are meant to be on, the work is part of the reward. I can’t promise that you are going to love every minute, but you are going to be learning the skills, and the lessons, and the self-discipline that are all an integral part of success in any field.

Yes you need to dream, but you also need the discipline of action.

Watch an athlete at his peak, you can’t fake the years of training that takes. You can’t fake learning, or experience, and even if you could bluff your way through life you’d be missing out on the true reward.

Effort is it’s own reward. The sooner we learn that, the happier we will be.

Now that’s a quick fix.

This was first published in The Advertiser in the weekly column I write, That’s What She Said.

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New Skills, beliefs, inspiration and then there’s this….

by aileen on March 14, 2011

Register for USING PEOPLE - THE EXPERIENCE in Lafayette, LA on Eventbrite

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Updates – USING PEOPLE – THE EXPERIENCE

by aileen on March 3, 2011

Sorry for the blog silence. I have been so busy that I’ve forgotten to keep you all updated so here goes.

USING PEOPLE – THE EXPERIENCE is quite an experience. We have had a great reaction to what we are doing – combining a speech with actors, special effects, networking, and a whole lot more. It’s been such fun working with everyone so far.

I am very happy to announce that DEXCOMM  have agreed to be our event sponsor. They are a company that care about communication, and so are a perfect match for us. We love working with them. Read about it here.

I am also thrilled to announce that we will be donating 10% of our profits to Camp Bon Coeur – a camp for kids with heart defects. I have also worked with them before, they do great things and are wonderful people – more about Camp Bon Coeur coming up soon!

We are planning an amazing event, working with playwright, Cody Daigle is fascinating, he is adding elements to the speech that I would never have considered. It’s going to be such fun! I wish I could tell you more, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy!

Lunch will be provided by Jolies Bistro – if you have already eaten there you will know what to expect, if you haven’t – get ready to taste scrumptiousness.

The evening cocktail will be created by Luke Tullos, a talented mixologist, and we will have cheese from the wonderful cabot cheese people (yes we have a cheese partner – we are big time now!)

If you want to get involved there is still time. We still have space for a couple more sponsors and are collecting items to put in the best goodie bags ever! – just contact me and let’s talk.

DON’T FORGET TO BUY YOUR TICKETS ASAP – YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS!

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The outtakes

by aileen on February 23, 2011

We had a lot of fun on our recent shoot for USING PEOPLE – THE EXPERIENCE. Here are some of the outtakes. Enjoy, and don’t forget to buy your ticket.

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Are you afraid?

by aileen on February 22, 2011

Here is this week’s column in The Advertiser – I wrote it for myself as much as for my readers.

“Are you scared? I hope so. Not afraid-scared, but out-of-your-comfort-zone, taking-some-risks, knowing-you-are-really-alive, kind of scared. It is a good fear that comes with living your life to the fullest.

We all play it safe sometimes, but there’s nothing like taking a step toward something you want, or even away from something you don’t.

For the past few weeks, a lot of people have been glued to “American Idol,” and especially to local boy, Jacee Badeaux. We are watching him take his chances to achieve his dream, and whatever happens, his life will never be the same again.

This week I spoke at a meeting of The 705, Acadiana’s Emerging Leaders, a group for young professionals and was amazed by their drive and energy. There are some people in that group living on the edge of their comfort zones; they are on the fast track to success.

It’s scary to put yourself out there, to say ‘this is what I want’ or ‘I think I’m good at this.’

There will be people who laugh behind your back, people who resent you for changing, and people who support and love you. You may drift away from some friends, and toward new ones.

People think that because I am a motivational speaker I don’t get scared. Of course I do. How could I speak about this stuff unless I lived it too? How could I know about overcoming doubt unless I had to do it myself?

We see ourselves from the inside, and others from the outside and then we compare the two. We think everyone is more confident, braver and less worried than we are. We all have those emotions; the secret is to acknowledge them and carry on anyway.

Doubt only hurts you if you let it prevent you from doing what you want. Other people can only hurt you if you value their opinions above your own.

If you are one of the lucky people who know what your passion is, or if you have a dream, then do something, anything. Yes, it’s going to be scary at times. Do it anyway. Imagine how scary it will be in 10 years, when you look back and realize the only person holding you back was you.

You have to stand in your own truth. That’s a very Oprah way of saying it, but it means that you have to know who you are and be that person. Jacee became a national talking point when he stood by who he was on “Idol,” when he didn’t let the behavior of others bring him down.

Yes, he shed a few tears, and then he got on with it. He didn’t even feel the need to put others down. It showed great character and won our hearts.

Collect people who are taking steps toward their dreams. Learn from (or go and join) The 705, watch Jacee on “Idol,” and then take your own steps.

I wish you much fear in the months ahead. The good kind.”

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You were saying?

by aileen on February 21, 2011

Watch this. Once. What were those excuses again?

Thank you Nike for the reminder.

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USING PEOPLE IS NOW AN EXPERIENCE!

by aileen on February 9, 2011

Using People started as a speech, then a book, and now… an entire experience!
Taking place in downtown Lafayette on Friday April 8th, Using People – the experience is part motivational speech, part theatrical event, part networking, all complete fun and lots of learning. Find out more HERE

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