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day 6 – sharing

by aileen on July 19, 2011

Being deliberately creative takes a combination of thinking alone and sharing. Day 6 was a sharing day. I talked ideas with friends in person, over skype and via text – there are so many ways to share these days. I didn’t have “an idea” but I had an idea what I wanted to have an idea about. Then last night it struck me, – this may be ‘the idea’, it may just be the ‘next idea’ – or it may be the idea that leads to ‘the idea’ – who knows.. but it is firmly planted in my head and growing rapidly.

So the idea is…..

No, not ready to share it yet, but believe me, you will hear about it. There are lots of clues in this post – but clues are no good unless you know what you are looking for. So today, go and share your thoughts, your ideas, you thoughts, yourself – you’ll be surprised at what happens!

 

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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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Forty Days of Creativity – Day One.

by aileen on July 12, 2011

Day One

This is an experiment in creativity. Deliberate Creativity.

I have been researching, writing, reading, ok yes – obsessing about creativity in business for a while. Not just for those business who have to be creative on a daily basis but those that don’t (but could really benefit from it). I have lots of ideas so what better than to try them myself daily and work out what works. I have no idea where this will lead but I intend to have a lot of fun finding out.

I wanted to share some of this journey with you. Some of the things I try I’d love you to try too, I will (if this all works) be creating some products (maybe a book, ecourse & of course a speech / training) but that’s not the point right now. The point is to experiment with being deliberately creative.

I started my career as a Graphic Designer, apparently from the time I was 3 or 4 years old I used to tell my parent I wanted to “draw Cornflake Boxes” when I got older. Through my teenage years it was my complete focus. I was the first in my family to get a degree (yes, in Graphic Design) and I loved every minute of working in the industry…… but then I began to notice something else. This was a business. This was about clients and productivity and end product. At college no one had mentioned that – they were all about clever ideas and great looking design.

I became obsessed with the client presentation (yes I’ve always been the obsessive type) and why they liked some design and not others. I loved packaging design more than logo design because the success or failure didn’t depend on people thinking it was ‘pretty’ or ‘cool’ – it depended on sales figures. Yes, I got to draw cornflake packets. Yes it was everything I’d dreamed it would be.

Then my career took a turn. I was freelancing as a designer and working at a couple of London Colleges teaches Graphics. One day someone entered my classroom and asked if I could cover a class that afternoon… in Communication. I agreed and my life changed. (Skip long story here) Gradually I became a speaker, winning the Best Humorous Speaker in the UK and Ireland title in 2000.

I have always stayed creative, my speeches have always been very visual and my home is full of design. Lately it’s been bugging me, leaping out of every crevice, it’s time to let it have a more important role, an upfront position in my business.

So this is the blog of the experiment. 40 days to test what I think I have learned in the last 40 years.

If you have read this far, congratulations. Today I am starting my day by re-reading one of my favorite very small books by Seth Godin. GRACEFUL – It’s a simple little book with powerful messages- It’s only $2.99 from Amazon (kindle edition) – It should put me on the right track.

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments as I go through this process, I’d love to hear how creativity plays a role in your business and whether you leave it to chance or have a system to make it happen and make it brilliant.

 

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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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The Next Big Thing?

by aileen on April 20, 2011

I am working on a fun new project. It was inspired by all the questions I am asked about communication wherever I go. I wanted to be able to answer more questions, and to share those answers so we could all learn from them, I wanted to be able to provide a place where people can go to find the answers… and so a new website is being hatched. It will be a membership site, not sure of the cost yet, but I’m all about giving people the best value possible so you can rest easy on that.

It will be a place where you can go and find what you need, if it’s a last minute bullet point list as you head into a meeting, a video how to write a speech, or an article about dealing with difficult co-workers. There will also be (insert drumroll here……… ) a question and answer section where you will be able to ask questions and get them answered directly by me. It will be like having your very own communication coach. Someone to answer your questions about your specific situation. The answers may also be open to others to discuss so you can get lots of opinions and learn from a multitude of people – I’m not completely sure yet.

It’s still in the planning stages, but we are working hard and fast (it’s been brewing for a while)…

I am planning on including information/ advice about Presenting, Networking, Selling, Customer Service, Understanding People, Dealing with Difficult People, Asking Difficult Questions, Behavior, Negotiations, Creativity, Faciliating- and other subjects.

I’m not sure what all of this looks like yet… so I would love your input.. What would you like to see? What would you use? Tell me your thoughts – after all it’s all about you. My aim is to make it the best resource of it’s kind, and to do that I need to make you happy.

Please leave your thoughts below. They will be read, and thought about, and will help create something magical…

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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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BE YOU – THE WHOLE TRUTH – THOMAS PETERS

by aileen on December 20, 2010

Thomas Peters

Thomas (in his own words) serves coffee, fun and smiles at CC’s on Johnston. I know him as someone who always has a smile on his face and some of the most interesting Facebook updates I have ever read. He is a thinker, a dreamer and a doer, a rare combination these days. Interviewing him was a blast, a glimpse into a life well lived, and he left me still intrigued.

What was your first job?
I worked for my dad digging postholes and cutting grass. It taught me a lot about manual labor.

Describe a typical day in your life.
Up at 4 am dressed. Come to the cafe. Play with coffee all day. Go home about 5 or 6 and play with family. It’s all play.

What advice would you give the younger you?
Always be who you are. Don’t compromise. We are all individual for a reason.

What event in your life most shaped who you are now?
I took a week long trio Shasta Abbey in Northern California. It’s a buddhist retreat. It taught me so much about who I am.

What values do you live by?
Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.

What do you most appreciate?
The ability to be who I am and think freely – to be who I want to be. Not having to fit into a stereotype.

What is your favorite journey?
The journey of life. It’s fascinating. Everyday is a new destination.

Where is your favorite place to be alone?
In the center of the hustle and bustle.

What living figure most inspires you?
My three children. Every day is so different. When they laugh it’s heaven on earth. They inspire me every moment.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
Some stories are true even if they are really false.

What book would you tell everyone to read?
The Tao of pooh by Benjamin Hoff.

What is the best thing about where you live?
The people. I absolutely love the people. They are so open and genuine.

How do you “let the good times roll” ?
Enjoying time with the family. Enjoying who we are, in our own little bubble.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A Disney animator.

What is your motto?
Life is good.

How would you like to be remembered?
Legendary.

What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself?
Just breathe.

What three things are vital to BEing YOU?
Coffee. Imagination. Family.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Really.

What is your favorite word?
Balance.

What do you collect?
Stories.

What food could you live on for a month?
Coffee and cheese.

What would you change about yourself?
My ability to give more time to my family.

What literary, movie or cartoon character do you most identify with?
Charlie Brown. Tristan Ludlow (played by Brad Pitt) from legends of the fall.  He’s trying to find himself.

Describe yourself in five words.
Creative. Balanced. Random. Friendly. Open.

What is your idea of happiness?
To be in my daughters mind.

What is your favorite movie?
Tropic Thunder. Legends of the Fall. Big Fish.

What music defines who you are?
Opera.

What do you most regret?
Not following the dream of becoming a Disney animator. I had it so close that I could reach it and I got scared.

What question do you wish I’d asked?
What do I most want to be when I grow up.

What would the answer be?
Someone who can inspire somebody to be the best they can be.

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