Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise choices today!

This March I worked with the exceptional board of Michigan’s Kalamazoo Township. This week I received an email from Township Supervisor, Terri Mellinger, updating me about what’s happening in the community. They had an exciting start to the summer with President Obama giving the commencement speech at the local high school. Now, think about it. Over 1,000 schools across the country submitted proposals to have the President of the United States speak at the happy day for their seniors, and Kalamazoo was selected! To achieve such a feat took a massive campaign organized by the students! In Supervisor Mellinger’s words:

It was a whirlwind experience that culminated in a fabulous experience for everyone. I was really excited to see how those kids got an entire community and much of the state to rally behind them. That is something many community leaders have tried for years but have never fully pulled off. They did it.

Congratulations to the youth leaders, passionate contributors and hard working volunteers for making magical memories for your community, and for demonstrating the potential results of having a vision and making it come alive by putting flesh on your words through disciplined, deliberate action. Terri ended her email with:

We “adults” can take many lessons from those “kids”! They demonstrated how goal setting, hard work, and cooperation will result in attainment. I’m reassured that our future is safe in their hands.

Yeah for leadership, goal setting, hard work and cooperation! I obviously need to take a trip to Kalamazoo and pick the brains of some of these youth leaders!

Life is calling . . . Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.
To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
http://www.marilynnsemonick.com
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise choices today!

Few student athletes go on to play professional sports; however, their developed attitude, discipline, skills and habits of excellence are often reported to show up in their workplace and in their contributions as fine citizens throughout their lives.

Our nephew, Kevin Delapaz has been a strong quarterback for his high school football team and an equally successful pitcher for their baseball team. Monday, we watched him play in Michigan’s All-Star baseball game, where we found out he made All State status and then, was announced as MVP of the game! Of course, we’re extremely proud of his accomplishments. However, let me tell you where our family beams even more loudly as we read about Kevin’s exhibited values . . .

The local newspaper writes about Kevin and his fellow athletes, Alyssa Cottrell and Lindsey Winters:

They are outstanding athletes and student leaders who get the most out of themselves and their teammates.

Ah, self initiative and the ability to bring out the best in others – qualities that make for a quality life! And, the paper reports Kevin’s coach saying:

He’s so deserving. He’s a great kid. I’ve coached him for a long time, and he’s such a respectful kid, ‘Yes, sir, No sir.’ He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever coached and one of the best human beings I’ve ever coached.

Being referred to as a great athlete is an honor. Being referred to (as another one of Kevin’s coaches wrote) an even better person will benefit the athletes and the world even more. How different would our world be if more adults, no matter what professional they’ve chosen, decided to use the behaviors of leadership, character and excellence demonstrated by these young athletes?

Life is calling . . . Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.
To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
http://www.marilynnsemonick.com
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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Wednesday Wisdom 6/16/10

Seed tomorrow with wise choices today!

I recently read an interview with Sir Anthony Hopkins, one of my favorite actors, in which the interviewer questioned him about becoming a legend. He said he never set out to become a legend nor famous. Rather, his dream was to be in movies and provide his best. In his words:

We live in such a goal oriented society. But, if you set a little dream, a little mantra in your head of what you want, you become it. That’s the mystery. I don’t understand it, but that’s what happened to me.

Hum, what little dream, what mantra rolls in your head as you read this? None, you say? Well, then, perhaps the mystery isn’t fueled to be fulfilled.

Life is calling . . . Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.

To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com

Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)

Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker

http://www.marilynnsemonick.com

Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise choices today!

Have you visited http://www.thesuccessstudio.com recently? We’ve been excited to work with our current featured contributor, C. Leslie Charles. Her words of wisdom permeated my soul as I wrote my founder’s letter and reflected upon how much she’s meant to me over the years, and how much she’s shared in her books and articles.

Like many of us, Leslie’s life hasn’t been easy, which has given her great depth and texture. She has a rare quality of optimizing each and every rough experience by using them as the abrasion that continuously hones her into the jewel she destines herself to become. I’ve observed her contemplate lessons imbedded in her experiences as though she’s designed to learn from them. Here’s one of her many quotes on leadership that I applaud:

I realized that we become leaders to change things, but it is usually we who end up changing as a result of our leadership, more than anything or anyone else.

Oh, so true! There isn’t a significant leader who hasn’t changed in the process. And, I know this rings true for parents who have taken their role seriously and led their families to the best of their abilities . . . we are never the same.

I’m excited about my upcoming interview with her. I’ll let you know when you can access it! In the meantime . . . what experiences are you currently having that can result in changing you?

Life is calling . . . Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.
http://www.marilynnsemonick.com
To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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Wednesday Wisdom

Seed tomorrow with wise choices today!

WOW! Shanghai is a remarkably impressive city! Cosmopolitan, multicultural, hip and future thinking. The markets offer great adventures, so I found treasures at the antique market, the pearl market, and of course, silk at the fabric market. Now, when I look at each piece, I’ll savor the memories.

One of the best memories will be my interview with Nancy Owens, General Motor’s Vice President of Human Resources, International Operations (sorry about my mistake on the title last week. Nancy is basically responsible for GM’s entire world outside of North America!)

Her viewing points have been expanded by her enlarged world view. Her notions of leadership have been influenced by others who have mentored, encouraged, challenged and supported her. Challenging projects and people have honed her insight and expertise. Amazing and diverse global experiences have shaped her and serious inner work has translates into exceptional emotional intelligence that others experience in her presence.

Nancy was a reminder that we become a tapestry of the experiences we have, the people we meet, the lessons we learn and the choices we make. What reflections can you make today about why you think what you think and why you behave as you behave? And, more importantly, what can you do to expand your thinking and behave more often as your personal best?

Nancy about what it takes to achieve the exceptional:

I thank my husband Jerome for my achievements. His support is consistent and never ending. Without him I would never have been able to do all I‘ve done.

Gracious, yes. Smart, you bet. She also reminded me that none of us achieve anything of significance alone. Do you have someone to thank today?

Life is calling . . . Today’s the day!

Visit http://www.The Success Studio.com . . . Learn Lavishly. Live Significantly. Leave a Legacy.
http://www.marilynnsemonick.com
To read archived Wednesday Wisdoms visit http://www.thesuccessstudio.wordpress.com
Marilynn Semonick, CEO (Chief Exploration Officer)
Educator, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator, Professional Speaker
Marilynn@marilynnsemonick.com

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