| Greetings Friends!
Flags waving, fireworks booming, and the smell of bar-b-que grills in the air! Independence Day is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 - our declaration of freedom.
A patriot, I think about freedom throughout year and especially in the month of July (not just on the 4th), which is why my article this month is about freedom. One of the principles of excellence in Upside Thinking is "You are where you choose to be." We have the freedom to choose to be happy, successful, and fabulous.
I believe that the true meaning of freedom is often misunderstood. Freedom does not mean having the ability to do whatever I want whenever I want without any limitations. That's anarchy. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, freedom is defined as being free of restraints, liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression, the capacity to exercise choice, or the right to engage in certain actions without interference. Freedom is simply the ability you have to make your own decisions-about what you value most in your life and how you are going to achieve it. You can decide to be honest and true to yourself and to your priorities. You can say "no" to a project in order to honor your commitment to your family's night out and show your kids what freedom is all about, too.
May you recognize the freedom you have to create the life you've always wanted!
All the best,
Lisa Marie Platske, President/CEO
Upside Thinking, Inc.
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| Featured Business with an Upside Attitude |
In my business, maintaining an "upside attitude" usually involves turning my computer off, closing the office door, and stepping out into the sunshine.=20
My creativity is my greatest asset. Taking time to recharge my creative batteries is how I keep it flowing. A few months ago, I found myself stalled in my business. It wasn't growing the way I wanted it to, and I felt frustrated and confused. Rather than try to work through the problem, I pushed away from the desk and slowed things down. I took time off, visited friends and family, and sought out new sources of support.
That downtime led to an epiphany that profoundly affected my business. I suddenly had the solution to my former problem, the energy to do it, and the focus to see it through. I am now in the process of rebranding-launching a whole new line of programs and services to help entrepreneurs stand out, get noticed, and get more business, putting themselves on the map as experts in their field!
What I found for myself was something I could share with others: how to not only be highly visible, but to add sizzle to your visibility. In fact, I invented a whole new word: sizzle + visibility= Sizzibility! For this breakthrough to happen, I had to hit the wall, retreat, regroup, and then return in order to continue on. Now I am poised to make more money this year than ever before (and with less effort). My new website www.VivaVisibility.com launches August 1st, and I feel more focused and alive than ever before.
Our society overvalues workaholism and undervalues the power of downtime. To maintain the upside, don't forget to include the downtime! The rewards are amazing.
About the author: Nancy Marmolejo is an award winning entrepreneur and recognized expert in creativity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance. She is regularly featured in the media, sharing expert commentary, and now helps entrepreneurs add sizzle to their marketing by positioning themselves as recognized experts. Find out more about Nancy Marmolejo and how to increase your Sizzibility at www.VivaVisibility.com. |
| Upside Quotation Station |
"In matter of style,
swim with the current:
In matters of principle,
stand like a rock."
Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States and principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
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| Leadership Tales and Trivia Corner |
If your feeling like a strong cup of coffee and a good book, try Anyway by Kent M. Keith (for the freedom to live your life anyway you want) or Designing Your Destiny: Achieving Personal and Professional Success Through Upside Thinking (for the freedom to create the life you've always dreamed of!) by Lisa Marie Platske.
If you're in the mood for popcorn and a movie, try Invasion of the Body Snatchers (People replaced by look-alikes in a small California town and the doctor (Kevin McCarthy) describes how dreadful it is to watch people he knows drained of their humanity and individualism. It happens all the time without the pods, he explained, but usually over a lifetime rather than instantaneously!)
And, if you're feeling lucky, answer our July trivia question! Which United States President was born on July 4th? A prize will be awarded to the 1st person who e-mails the correct answer to us!
2007 Trivia Winners Circle!
January - Mary Sharp, Cookie Lee Jewelry
February - Kevin J. Fleming, Center for Business Excellence Program
March - Rayba Watson, Customs & Border Protection
April - Rachel Pradhan, Indra Successful Coach Marketing
May - Nicole Kinney, Inland Empire Women's Business Center June - Miguel Cruz, Custom Tailor
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| Upside Offerings! |
 Is your organization looking to grow?
Are you planning a conference or board retreat in 2007-2008?
Interested in creating the life you've always imagined?
Contact Lisa Marie for information about one of her motivational seminars or leadership coaching packages!
Experience the Unlimited Possibilities with Upside Thinking! |
| Save the Date!!! |
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 The Official
Designing Your Destiny:
Achieving Personal and Professional Success
Through Upside Thinking
book launch, signing, and introduction of
"The Art of
Being Extraordinary"
(It is a playbook, not a workbook, because heavens knows, we all do enough work already!)
Proceeds will benefit Alternatives to Domestic Violence
Experience the Unlimited Possibilities
with Upside Thinking!
September 12, 2007
Riverside Convention Center |
| About Lisa Marie |
As the President and Chief Excellence Officer of Upside Thinking, Inc., Lisa Marie brings enthusiasm and passion to her work every day. Committed to transforming organizations through individual development, Ms. Platske believes lasting success in organizations comes from recognizing that people have intrinsic value and deserve respect, regardless of where they are in the organizational chart. UTI's leadership coaching and training programs teach individuals how to develop their leadership ability, increase their sphere of influence and strengthen their earning potential. | |
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| Freedom Fighters |
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As I mentally prepared myself for one of my leadership presentations last month on the 75-mile drive there, my mind drifted to my list of "must-do's" and for a moment I forgot where I was headed. A truck whizzed by and snapped me out of my trance, and it was as if all of my thoughts were tumbling inside of my head, bumping against each other, like a jigsaw puzzle that was knocked off the table-with pieces flying through the air in slow motion.
I made it safely to the event and delivered a powerful presentation on "Maximizing Your Influence: Leadership, Empowerment & Success!" as demonstrated by the standing ovation I received at the end of my program. After connecting with many of the participants and signing books, the meeting planner, the director, and on of the CEO's invited me to dinner. I paused for a moment and said, "No, thank you, but I'd love a rain check."
After I said it, I couldn't believe what I had heard fly out of my mouth, "Maybe another time?" What other time?!? I packed my equipment, expressed my gratitude for their invitation and hospitality, shook their hands, and headed out to the parking lot. As I was walking, I heard a voice inside say, "Stupid, stupid, stupid! Did you just say "no" to making a connection with business professionals who were clearly interested in you and Upside Thinking? " As I opened the back of my SUV and loaded the trunk with roller bag, easel, and flip chart, I once again felt like the same truck has whizzed by. "What just happened in there?" It was like an out-of-body experience, and I was dumbfounded.
According to research conducted by Kouzes and Posner, the #1 characteristic found in all great leaders is honesty. If you believe (as Vince Lombardi and I do) that leaders are not born but made through hard work, then in order to improve your leadership ability, you must improve your ability to be honest. If you took a poll in your office, alma mater, or neighborhood, how many people believe or would admit they are dishonest? I bet the percentage would be slim to none.
The surest way to improve your ability to do anything is to practice. For those of you who took piano lessons, ballet, or were involved in sports, remember how much time you spent rehearsing or training to develop your skills? The same thinking can be said about improving your leadership ability. To practice being honest, you need to know what you value most. In my book Designing Your Destiny, I talk about having the ability to answer three questions: Who am I? What do I do? Why does it matter? It's critical to focus on what is most important in your life in order to live the life you want, not the life other people think you should live. (Mark your calendar for the official Designing Your Destiny book launch on September 12th! I hope to see you there!)
Back to my story...On the drive home, I was honest with myself. I didn't want to go to dinner. I'd had a long day, my husband had been out of town and was flying home that evening and I was looking forward to seeing him, and I had numerous client appointments the next day for which I needed to prepare. By practicing honesty, I gave myself the freedom to do what I wanted and needed to do which was to go home to my husband. Staying for diner would have been good for business; however, I would have been thinking about what I really wanted to do. By saying "no", I was honoring who I was.
Saying "no" is often much more difficult than saying "yes"...to almost anything. Knowing what I value most, however, I have given myself permission to do what I want - not what I think I should do.
What things in your life are fighting your ability to make decisions you want to make? What is your list of should-do's that keeps getting in the way of your want-to-do's? Those "freedom fighters" steal our energy because we lose sight of our priorities. The next time you have a decision to make, any decision, ask yourself if you are being honest about what you really want. Is it something you feel you should do or something you want to do? Is your answer in alignment with your personal and professional values? If you need help getting on track, hire a coach, talk to your mentor, or pick up a copy of Designing Your Destiny.
Remember, "You are where you choose to be!" Write your personal declaration of independence and choose to live the life you've always imagined ~ happy, successful, fabulous, and free!
Did you know?
* According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2.5 million people lived in the newly independent United States in July 1776 compared to 302 million in July 2007.
* A colorful Independence Day event is the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, which supposedly started on July4, 1916 as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic.
* Americans ate 150 million hot dogs this Fourth of July, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. That's enough to stretch across the United States, from LA to DC & back at least twice!
* On March 17, 1824 in Salem, MA, sea captain William Driver was given a beautiful flag by his mother on his 21st birthday. Delighted with the gift, he exclaimed, "I name her 'Old Glory.'" And, Old Glory accompanied the captain on his many voyages.
Captain Driver stopped sailing in 1837 and settled in Nashvill, TN where he often displayed Old Glory proudly from a rope extending from his house to a tree across the street. After Tennessee seceded from the Union in 1861, Captain Diver hid Old Glory by sewing the flag inside a comforter. When Union soldiers entered Nashville on February 25, 1862, Driver removed Old Glory from its hiding place, carried the flag to the
state building, and proudly
raised it for all to see.
Before his death, the old sea captain gave the ship flag to his daughter Mary Jane and told her, "...Old Glory has been my constant companion. I love it as a mother loves her child. Cherish it as I have cherished it."
The flag remained as a precious heirloom in the Driver family until 1922 when it was sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where it is carefully preserved under glass today.
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