speaker lafayette la

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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BE YOU – THE WHOLE TRUTH – Terry Butts

by aileen on November 26, 2010

Terry Butts

Love him or hate him, you know when you meet Terry Butts. He is larger than life, highly motivated, and he doesn’t care who knows it. In the last few months he has taken part in 136 mile kayak race, completed the Everest Challenge, the hardest 2 day USA Cycling race (over 29,000 feet of climbing) and is currently training for the Rouge Orleans, a 126 mile run. A former special operations marine, Terry does all of this while running four businesses, and planning others. He doesn’t just walk his talk, he runs it while carrying others. You may be surprised by some of his answers.

What was your first job?
i had my own little business shoveling snow and raking leaves. I was in the 5th grade. 10 years old

Describe a typical day in your life.
My alarm goes off at 3.45, coffee,out the door by 4.30. I teach my first class at SEPI at 5am. Then I run 8-14 miles or workout. Then the day is either working with personal training clients, being at Tri-Running, Lake Charles (the new store), working on schedules for online clients, or training high school and college athletes in sports performance. I love it all.

What advice would you give the younger you?
l would tell him, your life is gonna be unbelievable.

What event in your life most shaped who you are now?
The birth of my children. Joining the Marines.

What values do you live by?
Christian values.

What do you most appreciate?
The unconditional love of my family.

What is your favorite journey?
I would like to take a year off, homeschool my children and travel the country in an RV to show my children what an awesome country they live in.

Where is your favorite place to be alone?
On my bicycle, on a long ride.

What living figure most inspires you?
I am continually inspired by our wounded military, who despite their injuries and disabilities, continue to push themselves to live great lives and who continue to be an example for us all.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
BE YOU.

What book would you tell everyone to read?
The Bible

What is the best thing about where you live?
I can jump on my bike and go for a ride.

How do you “let the good times roll” ?
Being with my family and friends.

How would you like to be remembered?
Driven, honest, inspirational, a great father, a great husband, and a great friend.

What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself?
I don’t doubt myself.

What three things are vital to BEing YOU?
Coffee, discipline and motivation.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Wow” and “Take all the time you need, just hurry the hell up” – I say it to my clients all the time.

What is your favorite word?
Daddy

What do you collect?
Experiences.

What food could you live on for a month?
Ice-cream.

What literary, movie or cartoon character do you most identify with?
Johnny Bravo

What is your idea of happiness?
Helping people change their lives.

What is your favorite movie?
Without Limits – the story of Steve Prefontaine.

What music defines who you are?
I grew up surrounded by country music, but these days everything has it’s place.

What do you most regret?
Not graduating from college because there are people who judge you by that piece of paper – it’s not really a regret but a limiting factor.

What question do you wish I’d asked?
These were more than enough

The BE YOU questionnaire by Aileen appears in The Times of Acadiana every Thursday.

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Do something..

by aileen on November 24, 2010

I don’t know how I missed it but last Wednesday was Guinness World Records Day. All over the world people attempted strange things in order to hold a world record. A 90 year old man in England became the oldest man to wing-walk, in Germany they broke the record for the most nationalities in a sauna, and in the USA they gathered together the most dogs in costumed attire. Records were also created for juggling (both underwater and on land), catching arrows, making mosaics from rice, standing on one leg and of course I can’t forget the new record for the most stairs climbed while balancing someone on your head or most concrete blocks broken while holding a raw egg.

People all over the world are wonderfully strange. I haven’t met any of these people, and although I would love to sit down with them and find out what makes them do these things, I know one thing for sure. That each one of them went home happy that night.

You only have to spend a few minutes on Facebook to see people’s accomplishments. There are photos or status updates that show people at 5 and 10k races, winning honors, playing in sports teams, passing tests, and generally sharing their news. It is human nature to strive for more. I’m always proud when I see one of my friends achieve something. It pushes me to want to do it too.

In the early 1920’s when George Mallory set out to attempt to climb Everest he was asked why, and he simply answered “because it’s there.” He didn’t make it but his quote has become “the most famous three words in mountaineering” and applicable to so many things we do in our lives even today.

We are human, we strive to be better. It’s easy at the moment to be discouraged. Ten minutes listening to the news, or dwelling on all the negativity around us and we can start to wonder. I know everything will be fine. Better than fine. While people are still pushing their own comfort zones, while we are attempting new records and trying new things we will all be just fine. If you ever doubt that, just go and check Facebook. Or even better find something that you want to achieve and start working on it. You don’t have to climb Everest, just take a few steps in a direction you want to go in. You will feel more alive and more positive.

If you followed last week’s advice and surrounded yourself with positive people then this should be easy. If not, do it now. Find those that are pushing themselves and join in. It’s never too late to start.

As we get to Thanksgiving we start thinking about Christmas and tend to plan a lot of the next month away, don’t put this off until next year. Don’t tell yourself you’ll make it your New Years Resolution. Do something, and do it now.

You don’t have to break a record, just expand your comfort zone.

This article appeared in my column “That’s what she said” in The Advertiser on 23rd November 2010

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Technology Tuesday… square

by aileen on November 23, 2010

I love square.

It’s a great way of accepting credit cards on your iphone and ipad.

You sign up for an account and they send you a little cute white square thingy that plugs into your microphone jack. You can then swipe credit cards straight into your device (I believe it works with droid too).

It saves me having to jump through hoops to get a merchant account and the fees that brings. It’s like paypay, they take a %, for me, its worth it. Every sale that I would have lost if I couldn’t take credit cards makes me smile.

So far it has worked seemlessly, the client signs on screen and enters their email address to get a reciept. Simple and secure.. and beautifully designed. I’m a fan.

This review is purely my opinion. I was not paid for it, nor do I have an affiliate relationship with the company (although I would jump at the chance)

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The best advice I was ever given…

by aileen on November 22, 2010

(about speaking)

Your speech doesn’t begin with the first words you say, it starts way before that.
The moment you are in sight of a member of your audience your speech has started, whether that be when you enter the building, when you get out of your car, when someone meets you at the airport or the day before when the conference begins.

You should look and sound confident the whole time, not just when you are on stage. If you have sat at breakfast looking nervous and scanning your notes, you have already made an impression on someone. If you sit through the speakers before you but ignore them, and reread your speech, you are not only missing out on some great stuff that you could be referencing, but you are giving an impression to the other speakers that you don”t care about them, and telling your audience that you are not prepared.
If your audience knows that you are confident they can relax and listen to you.

You may have already guessed that I believe that your speech doesn’t end until you leave the venue. Be confident, BE YOU.

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BE YOU – THE WHOLE TRUTH – Tracy Wirtz

by aileen on November 19, 2010

Tracy Wirtz

Tracy is the co-anchor of Good Morning Acadiana, on and off screen she oozes good vibes and is usually wearing a huge smile.
Tracy is one of those people who is so herself that she relaxes those around her. What you get is what you see, and in Tracy’s case what you see is a woman with a big heart and her priorities in order.

What was your first job?
A babysitter. I was 13 and I was awful at it… after that I fried chicken.

Describe a typical day in your life.
I get up at 1.45am and am in the office by 3.15. Yes, I do my own hair and make-up. Then I get wired up (with a microphone) and smile a lot

What advice would you give the younger you?
I would say two things – Be gentle with yourself. Recognize the speed bump between your brain and your mouth.

What event in your life most shaped who you are now?
There are so many, of course the births of my children, but it’s really about paying attention to all the moments, they add up.

What values do you live by?
Every single person has a purpose, a reason for being in your life. Nothing ever happens by accident.

What do you most appreciate?
Time – without it, you have nothing.

What is your favorite journey?
Work to home, and home to work. My ramp up and my decompression time.
The journey to 40. I’m so much more comfortable in my 40 year old skin than I was in my 20 year old skin.

Where is your favorite place to be alone?
In my bed at home, or in the bathroom at work (it’s my dressing room)

What living figure most inspires you?
My mother, she inspires me to this day, she’s 64 and she doesn’t stop, she amazes me.
My Grand Daughter – when I look at her I see hope, the future.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
BE YOU! Early in my career I tried to emulate people, I was told to find out who I was and be that person. I have to be me.

What book would you tell everyone to read?
Using People by Aileen Bennett (of course).. and I would tell them to read fiction. Other peoples imaginations fascinate me, it’s a real escape.

What is the best thing about where you live?
That even before I was on TV, everybody knew who I was.

How do you “let the good times roll” ?
With a remote control and a DVR

How would you like to be remembered?
As somebody who make people happy. There are not enough people like that in the world.

What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself?
I’m very hard on myself, I’m very mean to myself. I don’t talk myself out of a bad time – I just keep going.

What three things are vital to BEing YOU?
My children. My job. My sense of humor.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Awesome”, “Dude”

What is your favorite word?
Serendipity. I just love saying it, what it means, everything about it.

What food could you live on for a month?
Steak

What literary, movie or cartoon character do you most identify with?
Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink

What is your idea of happiness?
Peace. For me, for my family. Oh, and lots of smiles.

What is your favorite movie?
Pretty in Pink.

What music defines who you are?
I love country music, but I listen to whatever strikes me. My music reflects my mood.

What questions do you wish I’d asked?
What things do you DVR, my DVR is stacked. Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, Cop Shows and of course, Swamp People.

The BE YOU questionnaire by Aileen appears in The Times of Acadiana every Thursday.

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This is the Commencement Speech I wish I’d given…

by aileen on November 18, 2010

One of the things I have always wanted to do is a commencement speech. The one below is perfect… but I have one ready for when someone asks.. it’s on my list of things to say YES to.

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We are in this together

by aileen on November 17, 2010

(This post first appeared in my column,”That’s what she said” in the Daily Advertiser, on 11/16/10.)

Take a look around you, at your life, and especially at your friends. They have a bigger impact on your life than you might think. It is said that you earn the average of your five closest friends, but more importantly than that, they reflect who you really are.

Think about the people you spend the most time with, do their attitudes reflect your own, are they positive and upbeat the majority of the time, or are they stuck in misery and full of excuses as to why they are not happy? Are they adding to your energy or draining it?

We all go through bad times, and lean on our friends occasionally, I’m not talking about those moments, I’m talking about their general attitude to life.

I have found that ‘like attracts like’ – if you are a positive, creative person with big goals you are more likely to gravitate toward people who have a similar outlook, and they will magically find you. Equally if you like to wallow in fear, and gloom you will attract people who feel the same. People are a mirror to your own attitude.

If you are reading this, and know that you have been attracting the wrong people, if they are not supportive and positive then you need to change something. But, before you go around dumping your friends you may want to start with the only person you can change – and that’s you. Make sure you are being the kind of friend you are looking for. Often once we change ourselves we find that our friends attitudes change as well.

“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” Oprah Winfrey

We sometimes think that we can achieve our goals alone, but although the discipline we have when no one is watching is important, so is connecting with others. Sharing our goals, thoughts and feelings is an integral part of being human. We are pack animals by nature, we need others and are influenced by them, and they by us.

So take a look at your friends, your colleagues, and those you spend time with and see if they are reflecting who you want to be. They are definitely reflecting who you are now.

While I am writing this, I am thinking about the people I spend my time with. Most of them are driven, creative and positive and I’m very grateful for them. They keep me that way, when I doubt myself they are there with stories and support. I hope you are thinking the same. Sometimes we judge life by our own successes and achievements and forget that it’s a group effort. We need people around us to share our victories and failures, to celebrate with us and commiserate with. We also need them to show us who we are.

Sometimes we all forget that we need others around us, I am more guilty of that than most. We get caught up in stuff and neglect the people we care about.Take some time this week to connect or reconnect, and be the positive influence in someone’s life.

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Technology Tuesday.. soundnote

by aileen on November 16, 2010

I love my ipad. I’ve only had it for about a month and am still working out which apps are the ‘absolute-unlivable-without’ ones.

My first vote would be for Soundnote. I have always liked the idea of recording while I take notes. Somewhere I have a livescribe pen, I used it for a while. You take notes on special paper and it records, playing back exactly where you were in a conversation when you click on a word. I thought I would use it forever, but I would forget the (bulky) pen, or the notebook, or leave it to run out of charge. It was soon another good idea that was kept in the back of my drawer.

Enter Soundnote – It lets you type or draw and record. Click on any point on your page and it plays back the recording from that point. I only have to remember to have my ipad with me, and that’s pretty easy.

I love this because I can pay attention to the people in a meeting, rather than taking notes. If I hear something I want to play back later I quickly doodle something to remind me, knowing I can hear what was said at that point. I take notes much better with drawings.

This is a perfect example of technology improving face to face communication. And I’m all for that.

(this is an unpaid, just what I think review, I have no affiliate links or payment for this product)

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BE YOU – THE WHOLE TRUTH – Kody Chamberlain

by aileen on November 12, 2010

Kody Chamberlain

Kody is a comic book creator and illustrator. He is a quiet creative powerhouse often to be found in the local coffee shop (typically Americas coffee at the moment) sketching or planning. While he manages to stay relatively anonymous in Lafayette he is quite a big deal in the the world of comic books, having most recently produced his own comic, Sweets, which is getting people talking all over the country and has just signed a deal with MTV Geek. There is even has a Wikipedia page about him. His success is due both to his talent and work ethic, a lethal combination.

What was your first job?
Besides a bit of grass cutting, my first real job was scooping ice cream and making sandwiches at a small shop in Thibodaux, Louisiana. I used to ride my bike about 5 miles to get there.

Describe a typical day in your life.
My wife is a school teacher, so we normally wake up around 5:30am and I get to the studio around 6:30am. I’ll often walk over to Americas Coffee House in the morning to get the blood flowing and do a bit of writing, email replies, an any paperwork that needs to get done. Then I walk back to the studio and start making comics. That involves lots of penciling, inking, coloring et. I do try and do one full page of comic book art every day, but that’s not always possible, so I do still work a lot of nights and weekends to get i done. It’s fun work, so I don’ mind much, and I have a very flexible schedule.

What advice would you give the younger you?
I would tell a younger me to bet big on the Saints in the 2010 Superbowl. And I’d also tell a younger me to start drawing and reading comics a lot earlier in life. Since I started drawing around the age of 18, I was a bit behind and it’s taken a while to catch up. Most of the other professional artists I know have been drawing and reading comics all their lives. I wish I had as well. But in a way it may be to my advantage because I have an outside’s perspective. Time will tell.

What event in your life most shaped who you are now?
There are several of those moments that come to mind, but the event that’s had the most impact so far was the death of my mother. We never really bonded or had a real connection, so instead of living with regrets, I’ve been working hard to build better relationships with family and friends ever since.

What values do you live by?
I don’t always live up to my own standards, but I try to be honest, respectful, hard working, and a true friend.

What do you most appreciate?
My wife.

What is your favorite journey?
I love learning, any chance I get to learn something new, I embrace it. That’s always the best journey of all.

Where is your favorite place to be alone?
I’m usually alone in my studio, so that’s the easy answer. But since I work alone most days, I enjoy taking breaks and interacting with the people as much as I can.

What living figure most inspires you?
I’m most inspired by art, and my favorite living artist is Martin Scorsese.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
My college graphic design professor one told me that in the real world, results count, not effort. That’s been a real inspiration for me in many ways.

What book would you tell everyone to read?
To Kill a Mockingbird.

What is the best thing about where you live?
The people around me.

How do you “let the good times roll” ?
Dinner and a movie.

How would you like to be remembered?
I’d like to be remembered as someone that gave more than they took.

What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself?
I rarely doubt myself, but when I do, I remind myself there are people far less intelligent than me doing what I’m trying to do.

What three things are vital to BEing YOU?
Family, art, and music.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I probably curse too damn much.

What is you biggest fear?
My biggest fear is not knowing whats coming next, but it’s also my biggest thrill.

What is your favorite word?
Storytelling.

What food could you live on for a month?
Raisin Bran

What literary, movie or cartoon character do you most identify with?
Don Draper, but without the adultery, smoking, and alcohol.

What is your idea of happiness?
Hitting a deadline and heading to New Orleans for a weekend away with my wife. Those are the best days.

What question do you wish I’d asked?
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing and drawing SWEETS for Image Comics available online, in comic shops, and on iPad/iPhones. I’m also illustrating PUNKS for MTV Geek, which should be available late this month.

The BE YOU questionnaire by Aileen appears in The Times of Acadiana every Thursday.

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