Friday, December 3, 2010
November Fast Track Video Revised Edition.wmv
Congratulations to my entire team for working so hard during the busy November and Thanksgiving Holiday. It's so important this time of year to find that balance of family, work and everything else. This last month I even got to the point that I had to set specific times for me to work. I would even set the timer to work for an hour and then do household things for an hour. So my point in saying that is to make sure that you do what works for you. Find the system and the motivation that works for you. Especially when you work from home it's easy to say I'll do it tomorrow but you need to work every day. Consistency is KEY!!!!!
So I hope some of these pointers help you in the following month. Look for more tips to come soon!!!
Have an AWESOME day!!!!
Laura
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
A Child's Ten Commandments To Parents
This is something that was posted on the website Seeds of Faith Women. I loved it and wanted to share. This is an excerpt from a book by Kevin Leman entitled "Getting the Best Out of Your Kids". It is called "A Child's Ten Commandments to Parents", and it struck a major chord with me. So much so, that I wanted to share it with you here.
"1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection.
2. I haven't seen the world; please don't restrict me unnecessarily.
3. Housework will always be there; please take time for me.
4. My feelings are tender; please don't nag me all day long.
5. I'm a gift from God; please discipline me in a loving manner.
6. I need your encouragement; please go easy on the criticism.
7. Please permit me to fail so I can learn from my mistakes.
8. Please don't compare me with my brother or sister.
9. Please don't be afraid to leave me for a weekend together. It's a great way to show me your
marriage is very special.
10. Please take me to church regularly, setting me a good example to follow."
I think I'm going to print this out for myself and post it in several places around the house. I'm feeling gently reprimanded and humbled by the Lord.
Thank you, dear Lord, for these precious gifts that you've given to me in these children. Please help me to raise them as you would have me raise them. Help me to be the mother that You want me to be.
I love these and wanted to share it with all of you - just a gentle reminder as a mom of all that we have in our kids.
Have a GREAT day!!
Laura
"1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection.
2. I haven't seen the world; please don't restrict me unnecessarily.
3. Housework will always be there; please take time for me.
4. My feelings are tender; please don't nag me all day long.
5. I'm a gift from God; please discipline me in a loving manner.
6. I need your encouragement; please go easy on the criticism.
7. Please permit me to fail so I can learn from my mistakes.
8. Please don't compare me with my brother or sister.
9. Please don't be afraid to leave me for a weekend together. It's a great way to show me your
marriage is very special.
10. Please take me to church regularly, setting me a good example to follow."
I think I'm going to print this out for myself and post it in several places around the house. I'm feeling gently reprimanded and humbled by the Lord.
Thank you, dear Lord, for these precious gifts that you've given to me in these children. Please help me to raise them as you would have me raise them. Help me to be the mother that You want me to be.
I love these and wanted to share it with all of you - just a gentle reminder as a mom of all that we have in our kids.
Have a GREAT day!!
Laura
Friday, November 5, 2010
H A P P Y A U T U M N!!!
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Wishing you a Blessed day!!! |
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sunny Attitude When You're Fighting Unusual Blues!!
I want to share with you that I have been dealing with a little bit of blues lately and really couldn't pinpoint why. Our family has been through a lot lately with some health issues for my husband (which I can now say are really on the mend - Yay) and we recently had a death in the family - an uncle. I also have been dealing with a cold which has not happened to me in about 4 years - which I attributed to all the stressing situations going on. But I still didn't feel "quite right" even after these things were going away and getting better.
So I was picking up our 5 year old from preschool the other day and it HIT me like a ton of bricks. My blues have actually been because he recently started going to school part-time. You see he is the baby of my family and after almost 16 years of having one or the other of our four kids home with me all the time, the realization that next year they will all be in school and I will be all alone hit me. Isn't it funny how you don't realize how your mind works. Well even just acknowledging that fact and realizing that's what it is has made my mood much better. It made me realize I really better enjoy this last year with Braden!!!
So now that I know my disposition has changed but I also just found a link about having a sunny attitude that I thought I would share.
If feeling blue stems from the combination of different causes and conditions, it makes sense that there isn’t a silver bullet to feeling more positive. My own experience is that I have to create a “soup” with a little of this and a little of that to maintain the feeling of peaceful productivity that I so desire. Posted by Kay Allison at PositivelySunny.com
So I'm creating my "soup" and getting through this time, coming to terms, dealing with and making sure I make the best of everything I have NOW!!!
I love my kids and will miss them all terribly when they are all in school!!!!
Thanks for listening everyone!!
Laura
So I was picking up our 5 year old from preschool the other day and it HIT me like a ton of bricks. My blues have actually been because he recently started going to school part-time. You see he is the baby of my family and after almost 16 years of having one or the other of our four kids home with me all the time, the realization that next year they will all be in school and I will be all alone hit me. Isn't it funny how you don't realize how your mind works. Well even just acknowledging that fact and realizing that's what it is has made my mood much better. It made me realize I really better enjoy this last year with Braden!!!
So now that I know my disposition has changed but I also just found a link about having a sunny attitude that I thought I would share.
If feeling blue stems from the combination of different causes and conditions, it makes sense that there isn’t a silver bullet to feeling more positive. My own experience is that I have to create a “soup” with a little of this and a little of that to maintain the feeling of peaceful productivity that I so desire. Posted by Kay Allison at PositivelySunny.com
So I'm creating my "soup" and getting through this time, coming to terms, dealing with and making sure I make the best of everything I have NOW!!!
I love my kids and will miss them all terribly when they are all in school!!!!
Thanks for listening everyone!!
Laura
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
An Excerpt From The Right To Lead
I am reading this book and had to share it on my blog. It's a GREAT read but tons of GREAT information!!!
"Introduction"
An Excerpt from
The Right to Lead
by John Maxwell
What gives a man or woman the right to lead? It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either.
No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.
The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow
The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go.
As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:
1. Let go of your ego.
The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."
2. Become a good follower first.
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.
3. Build positive relationships.
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.
4. Work with excellence.
No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.
5. Rely on discipline, not emotion.
Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.
6. Make adding value your goal.
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.
7. Give your power away.
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.
In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.
The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn't learned or earned in a moment.
"Introduction"
An Excerpt from
The Right to Lead
by John Maxwell
What gives a man or woman the right to lead? It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either.
No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.
The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow
The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go.
As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:
1. Let go of your ego.
The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."
2. Become a good follower first.
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.
3. Build positive relationships.
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.
4. Work with excellence.
No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.
5. Rely on discipline, not emotion.
Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.
6. Make adding value your goal.
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.
7. Give your power away.
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.
In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.
The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn't learned or earned in a moment.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
TEAMWORK - THIS SAYS IT ALL!!
I came across this and wanted to share it. I thought it was a GREAT read on Teamwork!!
Excerpt from
Pulling Together....The 10 Rules for High Performance Teams,
by John Murphy
At the center of every high performance team is a common purpose - a mission that rises above and beyond each of the individual team members. To be successful, the team's interests and needs come first. This requires "we-opic" vision ("What's in it for we?"), a challenging step up from the common "me-opic" mind-set.
Effective team players understand that personal issues and personality differences are secondary to team demands. This does not mean abandoning who you are or giving up your individuality. On the contrary, it means sharing your unique strengths and differences to move the team forward. It is this "we-opic" focus and vision - this cooperation of collective capability - that empowers a team and generates synergy.
Cooperation means working together for mutual gain - sharing responsibility for success and failure and covering for one another on a moment's notice. It does not mean competing with one another at the team's expense, withholding important data or information to be "one up" on your peers, or submitting to "groupthink" by going along so as not to make waves. These are "rule breakers," that are direct contradictions to the "team first" mind-set.
High performance teams recognize that it takes a joint effort to synergize, generating power above and beyond the collected individuals. It is with this spirit of cooperation that effective teams learn to capitalize on individual strengths and offset individual weaknesses, using diversity as an advantage.
Effective teams also understand the importance of establishing cooperative systems, structures, incentives and rewards. We get what we inspect, not what we expect. Think about it. Do you have team job descriptions, team performance reviews and team reward systems? Do you recognize people by pitting them against standards of excellence, or one another? What are you doing to cultivate a team-first, cooperative environment in this competitive, "me-opic" world?
To embrace the team-first rule, make sure your team purpose and priorities are clear. What is your overall mission? What is your game plan? What is expected of each team member? How can each member contribute most effectively? What constants will hold the team together? Then stop and ask yourself, are you putting the team first?
Excerpt from
Pulling Together....The 10 Rules for High Performance Teams,
by John Murphy
At the center of every high performance team is a common purpose - a mission that rises above and beyond each of the individual team members. To be successful, the team's interests and needs come first. This requires "we-opic" vision ("What's in it for we?"), a challenging step up from the common "me-opic" mind-set.
Effective team players understand that personal issues and personality differences are secondary to team demands. This does not mean abandoning who you are or giving up your individuality. On the contrary, it means sharing your unique strengths and differences to move the team forward. It is this "we-opic" focus and vision - this cooperation of collective capability - that empowers a team and generates synergy.
Cooperation means working together for mutual gain - sharing responsibility for success and failure and covering for one another on a moment's notice. It does not mean competing with one another at the team's expense, withholding important data or information to be "one up" on your peers, or submitting to "groupthink" by going along so as not to make waves. These are "rule breakers," that are direct contradictions to the "team first" mind-set.
High performance teams recognize that it takes a joint effort to synergize, generating power above and beyond the collected individuals. It is with this spirit of cooperation that effective teams learn to capitalize on individual strengths and offset individual weaknesses, using diversity as an advantage.
Effective teams also understand the importance of establishing cooperative systems, structures, incentives and rewards. We get what we inspect, not what we expect. Think about it. Do you have team job descriptions, team performance reviews and team reward systems? Do you recognize people by pitting them against standards of excellence, or one another? What are you doing to cultivate a team-first, cooperative environment in this competitive, "me-opic" world?
To embrace the team-first rule, make sure your team purpose and priorities are clear. What is your overall mission? What is your game plan? What is expected of each team member? How can each member contribute most effectively? What constants will hold the team together? Then stop and ask yourself, are you putting the team first?
Monday, May 10, 2010
Self Improvement Leads to Home Improvement
Our family has been going through some remodeling in our house the last few weeks. We built our house a little over 10 years ago. We weren't really ready to build our house but the house we were renting was sold and we had to move. We had the lots purchased already but had no intention of building our house just yet. Therefore, we had to kind of do the bare minimum. Part of our home before was an office for me because for 14 years I had a CPA practice in a separate part of my home for that business. That business was very good for my family and for myself but as we had more kids and things got more hectic we just decided it was not working anymore. For all those years we were lucky, the kids didn't go to daycare and either my husband or myself was always home with the kids. But..... what we didn't have was time together as a family where we could all be together, MOM, DAD and the kids.
One day 3 1/2 years ago, I was introduced to a team called MyFamilyDreamTeam and life took a big change. I started working from home with this team - part-time to begin with - with this great group of moms. I quickly saw this to be a business that I could do from home around my kids and allow me to be home more with my children.
This leads to our home improvement. As I joined this team, I realized that this was what I wanted to do and I sold my CPA practice. I really wanted to be able to focus my time on my new business. I have learned so much in the last 3 1/2 years being a part of this team. I would never be where I am right now in life if I hadn't met this group of great, powerful women. They have taught me how to be positive always, how to lead, how to develop and be part of a great team. The office I had before for my CPA practice is now going to be a nice family room, we are adding just a small home office for me that was a porch on our house that we never used. And much of the work has been done by myself and my husband which would have never been possible before. One of us was always working while the other was so busy with the kids. Now we both have time to be with the kids and do the things in our home that we've always wanted to do.
So I'm not bragging about the projects we are doing on our home but just sharing that these things would not be happening now except for the fact that I joined this team. I'm so thankful every day when I get up and I have so much joy to go to work and help other people develop themselves and develop their businesses as well.
One day 3 1/2 years ago, I was introduced to a team called MyFamilyDreamTeam and life took a big change. I started working from home with this team - part-time to begin with - with this great group of moms. I quickly saw this to be a business that I could do from home around my kids and allow me to be home more with my children.
This leads to our home improvement. As I joined this team, I realized that this was what I wanted to do and I sold my CPA practice. I really wanted to be able to focus my time on my new business. I have learned so much in the last 3 1/2 years being a part of this team. I would never be where I am right now in life if I hadn't met this group of great, powerful women. They have taught me how to be positive always, how to lead, how to develop and be part of a great team. The office I had before for my CPA practice is now going to be a nice family room, we are adding just a small home office for me that was a porch on our house that we never used. And much of the work has been done by myself and my husband which would have never been possible before. One of us was always working while the other was so busy with the kids. Now we both have time to be with the kids and do the things in our home that we've always wanted to do.
So I'm not bragging about the projects we are doing on our home but just sharing that these things would not be happening now except for the fact that I joined this team. I'm so thankful every day when I get up and I have so much joy to go to work and help other people develop themselves and develop their businesses as well.
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