motivational

Day 3 – Noticing the creativity around you

by aileen on July 13, 2011

Yesterday was about noticing the creativity that people use without even labeling it as such. I was at an event at a large company and before and after I spoke I watched:

People thinking on their feet and making spur of the moment decisions- that’s creativity.
Adding value to the customer experience – that’s creativity.
Writing on the paper table clothes to say ‘good morning’ and later, ‘thank you for coming’ and ‘we’ll miss you’ (See the message they wrote for me below)- that’s creativity.
Finding solutions to customer problems – that’s creativity.

Once you start looking you see it everywhere. Once you see it you start by wondering what else could happen. Start by asking What If…..

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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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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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BE YOU – THE WHOLE TRUTH – LUKE TULLOS

by aileen on December 15, 2010

The BE YOU interview appears every Thursday in the Times of Acadiana.

Luke Tullos

The first thing that strikes you about Luke is how dapper he is. He is always impeccably dressed and oozes gentleman vibes. He is newly hired lead mixologist at Trynd, a restaurant and boutique lounge (opening downtown in Jan ’11) Recently engaged to Jessica Reeves he is creating a bright future for himself. Luke is a barman of the best kind, with a dedication to educate the general public in the possibilities that lurk behind the bar. He makes you not only want to buy a drink, but hang out at the bar and learn a thing or two.

What was your first job?
I worked at Dairy Queen, it was horrible. It taught what i didn’t want to do

Describe a typical day in your life.
i don’t have a typical day, every day is different, it will usually entail research and mixing drinks.

What advice would you give the younger you?
Be open minded.

What event in your life most shaped who you are now?
Leaving the church, I was really involved well into high school and leaving really opened my eyes to a lot of things.

What values do you live by?
Love as much as possible

What do you most appreciate?
Good friends. Good drinks

What is your favorite journey?
I love to move forward

Where is your favorite place to be alone?
In the shower. it’s where i get most of my ideas.

What living figure most inspires you?
My baby sister, she had the most unique mind i’ve ever experienced. She is pure creativity

What was the best advice you were ever given?
Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean you should be doing it.

What book would you tell everyone to read?
Boozehound – On the Trail of the Rare, the Obscure, and the Overrated in Spirits,
by Jason Wilson. – its a great view into somebody who is passionate about what they do

What is the best thing about where you live?
My fiancé and all the people I love are around me.

How do you “let the good times roll” ?
Good people. Good booze.

What did u want to be when you grew up?
A preacher. I’ve always loved people. I love inspiring people. I love education.

What is your motto?
Love as much as possible

How would you like to be remembered?
As a genuinely good guy.

What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself?
There’s nothing you can’t do.

What three things are vital to BEing YOU?
The people i love, alcohol and ice.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Awesome. I use it so much it’s really bad. And um, Iuse umm a lot.

What is your favorite word?
Delicious or the yummy sound

What do you collect?
Dollar bills and antique bar wear

What food could you live on for a month?
Hot dogs

What would you change about yourself?
I would be more observant .

What literary, movie or cartoon character do you most identify with?
Max Fischer from Rushmore.

Describe yourself in five words.
Devastatingly handsome, friendly bar professional

What is your idea of happiness?
My life. I’m very happy with my life.

What is your favorite movie?
Bottle Rocket – with Luke and Owen Wilson

What music defines who you are?
Jazzy rock

What do you most regret?
Nothing, everything shapes who you are

What question do you wish I’d asked?
i didn’t think of that, i just promised myself i would answer everything you asked me.

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A busy week… lets work it out.

by aileen on December 6, 2010

This week is one of ‘those’ weeks. One where I have what seems like a million things to do. I’m still playing catch up from last week and it would be easy to sit here and feel overwhelmed. I confess by the end of last week I did feel that way, but today I have a schedule. I have it all planned out. I know what I am meant to be doing and when.

I know today won’t go as I have planned, they never do – and life would be very dull if they did – but having a plan enables you to think about one thing at once, and get it done (or at least further towards done).

Sometimes we look at our ‘to do’ lists and there are just too many things on them, we spend precious time just worrying about how we will fit everything in. Grab a calendar instead and block out times to work on the different things we have to do. Guess how long they will take, once we sit down, focused, most things take less time than we thought.

Today I have a plan, I know what I must get done, what I should work on, and what I want to do. There has to be a balance. Some of the things you want to do should always be included. Life has to be fun, you have to get to BE YOU. Consider moving some of the things that you think are ‘extras’ into the ‘must’ category. This week working out is in the ‘must’ column. I know that will make me more productive, more focused and have more energy in the long run. It’s an essential. It’s just as important as any project. Too often we skip the things that are best for us because we think there are more urgent things. Nothing is more important than your health – it is the key to everything.

So have a great week, I have an appointment in the gym now.

Aileen.

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BE YOU- THE WHOLE TRUTH – John Herrera

by aileen on December 3, 2010

John Herrera

John is the owner of JuuJ Coiffure on Kaliste Saloom. He is one of the coolest people you will ever meet, and I’m not just saying that because he often has scissors just inches from my throat. He is one of those people who is doing exactly what they are meant to be doing, and I love people like that. John manages to combine a mischievous grin with a total air of calm. He is professional but never predictable and that makes me smile.

What was your first job?
My first job was at Baskin Robbins as a senior in high school. I can make a mean banana split.

Describe a typical day in your life.
I usually start with a 5:30 WOD at CrossFit Lafayette. Then I take my daughter to school for 7:30. I get to my salon by 10 AM and take anywhere from 8-12 clients till about 7 or 7:30 PM. I’m home just in time to hang out with my wife and 3 kids for about an hour, then we say prayers and tuck the kids in around 8:30 or 9. I try to get to bed before 10:30 so I can wake up and do it all again.

What advice would you give the younger you?
Live like you were dying.

What values do you live by?
Family, balance, passion,

What living figure most inspires you?
My wife. She challenges me to live “eternity-minded.”

What was the best advice you were ever given?
“Know when to hold ‘em, Know when to fold ‘em, Know when to walk away, Know when to run” Kenny Rogers.

What book would you tell everyone to read?
Power of a Praying Husband, Wife, etc. by Stormie Omartian

What is the best thing about where you live?
Hospitality.

How do you “let the good times roll”?
Cow tipping.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a surf shop owner.

What is your motto?
Right is right, even if no one is doing it. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it.

How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who made a difference in at least one person’s life.

What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself?
Just keep swimming! Picture Dory on Finding Nemo.

What three things are vital to being you?
Music, Laughter, and Ambition.

Which words or phrases do most overuse?
Seriously…I use it as a question, a statement, and an exclamation. Seriously? Seriously. Seriously!
and Ridonkulous.

What is your favorite word?
JuuJ. The proper spelling is tzsuj; it’s a Yiddish verb that means to tweak, finesse, or make better. It’s also the name of my salon, JuuJ Coiffure.

What do you collect?
I would like to have a watch collection someday, but I have too many mouths to feed at home.

What food could you live on for a month?
Mexican, but the kind you get from any place in California with ‘bertos in the name-Alberto’s, Filberto’s, Roberto’s, etc.

What would you change about yourself?
I probably would get rid of my tattoos. I’d be bringing wholesome back.

Describe yourself in five words.
Blessed, amicable, independent, optimistic, fun-loving.

What is your idea of happiness?
Spending time with my children.

What is your favorite movie?
Pulp Fiction, one of the best quotable movies EVER.

What music defines who you are?
I’m a huge fan of DMB, but I grew up on punk rock and reggae.

What do you most regret?
I regret some of the things I did in my life, but what I regret most are the things I did NOT do.

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A CHALLENGE (or two)

by aileen on December 1, 2010

I know it’s only December 1st – but it’s a great time to get a head start on those New Years Resolutions…

Challenge 1

By reading on you are agreeing to accept at least one of these challenges (us writers are tricky like that). I am going to be doing it right along with you

I challenge you to pick one of your new year resolutions and start it today. Think how good it will feel to celebrate Christmas and already be fitter, or slimmer, play the piano better, start using Facebook more, give up cupcakes, stop smoking, start taking singing lessons or whatever it is you are planning to start next year.

Whatever you are going to do use December as a ‘practice month.’ Practice is great — there is no pressure to be perfect, you can’t fail, and whatever you do, you are ahead. You will also have proved to yourself that you can do it, and that’s going to feel great on New Year’s Eve. Whatever you do is lagniappe. Extra. A bonus. A slip or two doesn’t matter because it’s only a practice month.

I am going to get back into my exercise routine. I have let it slip a bit lately and need to get refocused. There now you all know, you can all hold me accountable. It’s here in black and white. It helps if people know, share what you are doing with your family, with your co-workers or you can email me and tell me. You are not in this alone. We are all practicing together.

The only rule is you are not allowed to give up, this is a rehearsal. You can have slip-ups and bad days but you are just practicing, you just get back on track and practice some more.

Challenge 2

Find at least one thing you want for Christmas that isn’t materialistic and encourage your children to do the same. It’s only one thing on your list but it may turn out to be the most important thing. Something you want to do, or learn, or experience. If each member of your family came up with one thing imagine the fun you would have together helping them get what they wanted. Would you like game night at your house, a walk in the park on Christmas day, a family photo album, homemade decorations, to start a new tradition, a once a month dinner club with friends. Pick something and put it on your Christmas list.

Challenge 3

Yes I know I mentioned only two challenges, but while I’m on a roll I may as well push my luck. Think of something you want to do next year, just for fun and make some plans. I want to go paddleboarding. You know, where you stand up on a surfboardy looking thing and paddle. I am already excited. I’m thinking spring in Florida. Find something that makes you smile and plan to do it.

Yes I know it’s only the beginning of December but there is only one time to start living your life, and that’s now.

This article appeared in my column “That’s what she said” in The Advertiser on 30th November 2010

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