"What are you so afraid of? Make it happen!"

                            "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by 
                              the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  
                              So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  
                              Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover."

                                                                                                - Mark Twain

The world awaits your talents!

                                        "Are you NUTS?"
                                        "You're moving back to WHERE?"
                                        "Are you sure?"
                                        "After all these years, WHY?!"
                                        "Don't you think you'll miss the nightlife?"
                                        "What about shopping and Wegmans??"
                                        "Don't leave us!"

                                        "Well it's about time"
                                        "I think that's a GREAT idea!"
                                        "Oh my God, McKenna's gotta' be thrilled?!"
                                        "Absolutely, I think that's wonderful!"
                                        "That's fantastic!"
                                        "How exciting, what a big move!"
                                        "You'll be close to your family again!"
                                        "Can I come with you!?"

"There's no place like home"

---Just some of the reactions to my 'news' I shared only a few short months ago

I threw off an old set of bow lines!

I'm home again.
Welcome to my new (old) home.... 

and now lol...

 so, we stay inside where it's cozy :) xo

One of McKenna's favorite parts of the house...

... and her other favorite part lol

:(

So...

what is it that YOU are so afraid of? Failing? Failing shmailing... trust me, you're
your own worst critic and so what... you pick yourself up and say "NEXT STEP..." !

McKenna took this photo :)

Maybe it's a physical move like mine - 

Maybe your bow lines are your current circle of 'friends' who don't lift you up,
they criticize and watch and wait for you to fail.

Maybe your safe harbor isn't a place, it's an old business model.

Whatever's holding you back from exploring, discovering, being inspired...
THROW OFF THOSE BOW LINES! Get exploring!

Contact Angela M at 315-559-0947

So instead, twenty years from now you're sharing stories with your kids about 
all of the fabulous things you've done, seen, impacted, learned from.  

Pass on to them what it means to be free from the 'supposed-to's' and the 'are you sure's'
and help them chart a course AWAY FROM THE SAFE HARBOR!

A not-so-perfect plan

"Is a 'B-' today better than an 
'A' two weeks from now?"

If you're my 11th grade social studies teacher, no way, not now not ever!

If you're an avid fan of history or at least recognize the name 
General Patton, the answer is a resounding, undeniable YES!

General George S Patton Jr

What did Patton know how to do best? Take ACTION.
Regardless of political or religious beliefs, it's difficult to deny
he knew how to get things DONE... and on a massive scale.

Are you starting a business, writing a book, teaching a class, losing weight,
learning how to play Angry Birds? Well, the principle remains the same.

At this point, she's going to learn more by just DOING
and adapting from there.

Do it NOW.  Don't wait.  

If you're passionate about your idea and what you want to do... 
do it now rather than plan... and then keep planning.

A plan does NOT predict or realize the future.  ACTION does.

You're not learning best, while you're waiting or guessing or doodling 
or doing more online research.  Manifest what you're doing - 
bring it into being, then judge it, get feedback, learn, adapt, 
modify, substitute, eliminate.

Understand that your traditional beliefs about planning 
are more than likely, pretty outdated.  

Michael Gerber, author of one of the best selling business books 
of all time, The E-Myth, also writes featured articles for Inc. Magazine.

In an article about Traditional Planning, Gerber echoes 
similar sentiments:  "The pace of change in today's world 
makes traditional planning virtually meaningless." 

So what do you do with that Ms. Planner?

Step One:

Progress - admit there is no perfect plan.
If you're constantly striving for one, you're setting yourself up 
for eternal disappointment.  Not a good strategy.

Step Two:  

Answer this question:
"In today's world, are things slowing down or speeding up?" 

You would answer __________.  That's right, the latter, 
speeding up exponentially.  

So, get 'it' out there, get 'it' to market, try SOMEthing!

If you're waiting, working, waiting, working on getting 'it' perfect,
whether it's a business plan, a product roll out, your latest scrapbook,
a phone call to 'patch things up' with an old friend...

why are you waiting?  Why are you still planning to do something?

Take action, do it, get it done, learn, move on to whatever's next.  
There is no perfect plan.  

I promise you, a plan you feel good about executed today, even if it's a B-
is better than your 'best plan' executed two weeks from now.

Want to 'Round Table' on moving your ideas, your plan into ACTION?

Contact Angela M @  315-559-0947

                 

  

Lighten up Romantic!

"Ya' gotta have heart"

xoxoxo

Ahhh, romantic Love.  When it hits, WOW! right? 
What about the enduring love when you extend a hand to 
a friend who needs you, a shoulder to cry on, a secret to divulge.  

A vice? Coffee.  This is one of my fave cups
my daughter McKenna gave me.

There's so much to be said for that kind of love that gets you 
smiling on a rainy day... or night.  

Some of my dearest friends and I had the chance to celebrate 
the Rescue Mission's 125th Anniversary at an event at the 
Everson Museum called "Mission Al Fresco!"  

Mission Al Fresco, Everson Museum, Downtown Syracuse

The unique idea was to dine al fresco (out of doors you see) and to 
deck your table (and your bodies) all out in ... you guessed it... 

RED:  Passionate, steamy, sizzling hot, glorious RED.

A crazy amount of time and energy was devoted to the right dress, 
hairstyle, table accessories, selected wines and foods for that 
one night.  

I was so excited I was jumping out of my candle apple red shoes
that I'd probably never find another occasion to wear.  

In all of the whizzing and buzzing, no one (at least in our group) 
thought about the "What if?"  Plan B in case the unexpected happened.  

The happy table... just before 'it' hit

"What's that in the sky?"

Tables set, candles lit, cameras flashing, glasses clinking, 
our catered salads jussssssst opening and...

WHAMMO Hurricane Zelda arrived... with a vengeance.

This was the first, smaller 'wave'  
note the soaked-to-the-bone shirt on this poor, romantic soul

The rest of the story? A testament to love.  
This is evidence that love and the love for fun 
and togetherness can defy the worst of potential times.

Drenched, cold, mascara streaming, our red, sizzling hot dresses 
resembling more like Maid of the Mist ponchos-gone V's Secret, 
there were a few quick tears.  We were starving and our meals 
and beautiful table were destroyed. We did what you would do - 
we grabbed the wine, the polaroid camera hidden for safekeeping, 
and headed to dry ground.

xoxo  Ladies (& Gents) in Red   xoxo

What ensued was one of the most memorable, 
lighthearted. lovely experiences! Laugh? 

All the time on the hairstyles for not and we all agreed there was

something 'magical' and beautiful about the way we all looked.

The night was completely and totally salvaged and then some.

I couldn't celebrate this Valentine's Season of Romance and Love
without tipping my hat to those wonderfully romantic spirits who lit the
night last September in the face of a potentially disastrous memory,
laughed, hugged, reminisced, and in the end, chased the rain away.

This is the time of year when even the 'Scrooge-iest" of hearts 
get a chance to soften a bit.  

Infusing joy and lightheartedness into your life, into your business is 
all-important.  So is understanding that without the rain, you don't 
appreciate the sun.  

Be grateful for the business you DO have.  

Share with an employee how much you appreciate it when you 
see them smiling.  Tell the people who you surround yourself with 
how much they matter in your life or to your business.  

Then... when ZELDA rains on your parade... you have the energy, 
support, and LOVE around you to chase it away.

Say "Happy Valentine's Day!" to AngelaM@Cliquen.com
and submit your inspirational story today!