by aileen on January 1, 2010
A brand new decade. I’m spending some time today organizing my office and finding all the calendars I bought this year. I love calendars – it’s a graphic thing, and the fact that a blank calendar carries with it so many possibilities. I gaze at how short the year is and wonder at how I’m going achieve everything that I want. This year I’m continuing the 45 challenges that I started on my 45th birthday back in September. You can keep a check on my progress (or challenge me) at http://challenge45.com/blog – I quite a few that I will have to start today or tomorrow to get them done. Those calendars are going to come in useful. One of the challenges is to write a blog post everyday for 45 days. I have decided to do it on this blog, I will try and find relevant and useful information to waffle on about. This is day 4 of that challenge. I also have to write 100 articles in 100 days (starting today), read a book every week, talk to a stranger every day for 45 days and blog about it. I need to start doing some art pieces and writing haikus. I’m not sure how I’m going to fit in work!
This year you are going to see more products from me. I will be rolling out quite a few in January, including my new book, Using People. More information coming soon about that.
I hope you are planning to have a great year too. Everyone I’ve spoken to seems to be very positive about this year, and that alone may make it amazing.
Have a great year.
BE YOU
by aileen on December 15, 2009
On Christmas Eve I’m hosting a blood drive. It’s the first time I have ever done anything like this and I’m leaning how to ask. It’s not very English to ask for things directly – We tend to hint a lot and beat around the bush. We don’t want to offend anyone by putting them in a situation where they feel awkward. So even as a communication coach, I’m wary of asking and exactly how to do it.
A bit of me wants to say: “Give Blood, you have plenty, it doesn’t cost you anything except some time and a bit of put-outwardness. Shall I sign you up?” I want to tug at heartstrings by saying: “It could be your mother, or child that needs this blood.. it will certainly be someones Mum or Dad, someones Son or Daughter”. “I want to tell everyone it’s Christmas – giving is what it’s all about”. I’ve certainly been hinting at that. I’m more comfortable telling them what they get:
A mini-health check
Possibly the coolest blood drive t-shirt ever (designed by Blake Lagneaux)
.. available until they run out.
Food by Jolie’s Bistro
Draw Prizes (including personal training session, gift from Vivian Alexandra, Event Planning Gift Certificates, Golf gift box.. all sorts of amazing things)
If you register online you also get a copy of my first book – and I’ll sign it for you. http://tinyurl.com/myblooddrive
There are also some surprise gifts coming – it’s gonna be fun!
I want to ask people to buy into the dream. To make this the best blood drive ever seen at UBS, Lafayette. I want everyone who comes to feel like they are a hero.. because that’s what they are. To give to a complete stranger. A gift that you will never see them use. A gift that comes when they need it most. That is the best gift of all.
I’m learning to ask, in a very English way. This is important.
So here goes. I need your blood. Sign up here http://tinyurl.com/myblooddrive If you can’t give blood I need a draw prize if you have one. If nothing else, I need you to tell others, get them involved. Call me on 337 255 4283 if you need any more information or need me to pick up a donation.
(thank you)
by aileen on September 22, 2009
Because of the overwhelming response (Thanks guys) I have set up a new website just for The Challenge. Please CLICK HERE to go to the new site and leave your comments.
I look forward to having you involved and having fun
by aileen on September 17, 2009
So this week I turned 45. There it is, a number out there for everyone to see. I promised myself when I was in my 20′s that I would never lie about my age. So far I’ve kept that promise.
I was one of those kids who just presumed I wouldn’t live beyond 30. I imagined people at my (so so sad) funeral talking about all my potential and how successful I could have been. It’s much harder to live up to potential than just ‘have’ it.
Last year I had my memorable wall of sticky notes to guide me though my goals. It gave me a focus (to go surfing) and helped me have lots of fun doing silly little goals.
Although it was a great relief to rip those post it notes down and have a white wall again, I must admit I miss having that visual reminder every day.
Life is too short just to see what happens. You have to create the life you want.
So enough with the pre-amble. I’m 45 and want this year to be packed with fun. I have decided to take on 45 challenges. The first will be to lose 45lbs. As for the others.. I would still love to milk a cow, visit a gospel chuch, and do some really stupid stuff for charity. (can you help me with those?)
Do you have any ideas for other stuff I should do? Things you want to do with me?
So I guess my challenge is to challenge you – come up with some ideas and lets get living!
ps. If you are the kind of person who reads blog posts but doesn’t comment, I challenge you to break that habit now.. Leave a comment – even if it’s just “wow 45 – you don’t look nearly that old” (LOL)
