The Power of ONE...

There's something to be said for getting outside of your COMFORT ZONE! For the past 4 years, I've used my computer as a way to almost "hide" myself from the outside world. If truth be told, I have a huge fear of networking face to face. I decided that I wanted to get past this fear--not only to grow my business, but to grow as a person.

So, last week I joined a Women in Business organization here locally in Texas to meet other local business owners and network. TOOT TOOT!!! I was SO proud of myself. I was able to easily converse with each that I met and I exchanged business cards with everyone I came in contact with. More importantly, I was finally able to "see" myself as they see me--a business woman! No more thoughts of not being good enough or hiding behind my laptop. This is the start of something GREAT...I can feel it.

Tuesday Toot!!!

How FUN!!! This is my first "toot", so here goes...
My hubby and I have been reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" together. It's AMAZING and has given us insights into our spending habits. We've been married almost 10 years and this is the FIRST time I can say that we're on the same page as far as our finances go. It's not about how much you earn, but how much you KEEP! So, my toot is that I PASSED UP a cute pair of shoes that I TOTALLY wanted, but did not need! YAY!!!!

It's a quick read and it will change your financial future!

Edie

Laisez lais Bon Temps ROULEZ!!!!

OK...for those of you NOT from New Orleans (or familiar with the French language) that means "Let the Good times roll!" It's the classic battle cry during Mardi Gras season in THE City (aka N'awlins!) and I'm so excited to be getting a little taste of "home" here in Texas. Yep...TEXAS Y'all!

My youngest attends a phenomenal private school in the town where we live and our Parents Association does MAJOR fundraising throughout the year to assist with the rising cost of education. Our largest event of the year is known as "Jubilee" and this year's theme is Mardi Gras! It's a night of dinner, dancing, and fun with both silent and live auctions--and I can't wait for Friday night.

It has been exciting to contact those from "back home" and invite them to share in our event via donations for auction as well as sharing with my fellow Texans the history associated with Mardi Gras. Yes, there is MORE to it than drunken displays on Bourbon Street! lol...

I actually felt like I was back in high school a few weeks ago (the GOOD part of high school, that is!) when I went shopping with my mom for a gown to wear to the event. It was SO thrilling to feel like a GIRL again! That was until my mom commented, "I think it's been over 15 years since we did this last!" OUCH!!! :-)

But, I'm not letting AGE get me down! I can't wait to get my hair and make-up done, slip on that black dress and totally knock the SOCKS of my hubby when I walk out! For the first time in a LONG time, I'll get to feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. We moms just don't get enough of that!

I'll post pictures this weekend after the event!

What's something that YOU haven't done in a long while to make yourself feel special?? Do SOMETHING today!

~~Edie

Laughter Heals the Soul...

Ok...my boys are the CUTEST in the WORLD and I have the story to prove it!

On Saturday, I was totally bummed that my hubby had to go into work overtime on a project which meant that I would be with the boys ALL day by myself...again! That's not to say that I'm not happy to be at home with them, but ALL moms need a break--and I was at my breaking point, if you know what I mean.

Well, I decided that we deserved lunch out so we headed to Wendy's for a treat.

Just to set the stage for what I'm about to say, I have to let you know that YES I'm a country girl and YES I live in Texas and YES I have cowboy boots and YES I've worn them AND a cowboy hat in PUBLIC--and did I mention I drive a Ford Expedition???

Anyway, I was not in the best of moods and decided to throw on a little Hank Williams Jr. Good 'ole Bocephus sure can cure the blues. So, "A Country Boy Can Survive" came on and I cranked it up! During the chorus, however, I noticed that my boys were laughing hysterically in the back seat. Frustrated that they were ruining my "HANK" moment, I turned around and said, "What EXACTLY is so funny?" My 5 year old says, "He said that he can SKIN A BUTT!"

For those of you who AREN'T Hank Williams Jr. Fans, the ACTUAL words are "He can SKIN a BUCK"--as in a MALE deer! I laughed until tears ran down my face and I almost PEED my pants.

Needless to day, my blues were cured and I've got a PRECIOUS memory of sharing my love of Hank with my boys!

**This is part of the 4 Fab Moms Blog Carnival** CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

WHY settle for "Just Over Broke"????

I responded to another post last week where a fellow business owner wanted to know why so many want to just have a "job" and be someone's employee. Better yet, they want to be someone's "employee" from HOME! Very few are able to accomplish this goal. That's just the truth. If it were EASY to find an at-home-job, don't you think that MOST people would do it??

We, especially women, are raised to be BROKE! Think about it--we're taught get an education, get a JOB, participate in the 401k so that when you "retire" you'll have extra money to live on. We PLAN to be broke. Does that make sense to you??? It didn't to ME!!!

Don't get me wrong. I totally value the education I gained in order to be a nurse. However, I didn't get stuck in the mindset that working for someone else was the only way to have security. Just talk to a nurse manager who's been "downsized" for a new grad who'll work for LONGER hours at HALF the pay! This happens in ALL types of professions.

It IS frustrating to those of us who CHOOSE to be EXTRAORDINARY (and this is a conscious choice!) to deal with those who are happier than pigs in you-know-what just to be working for the "man". We can't understand why so many settle for mediocrity. You can avoid this frustration by following this advice: surround yourself with like-minded individuals. If you're job seeking, find someone who has the type of "job" that you want. If you want MORE than a "job" can offer, consider ALL your business options.

Ask yourself this: Who are your CLOSEST 5 friends and how much INCOME do they earn??? What kind of lifestyle do they lead?? This will allow you to glimpse where you're headed. Doubt me? Ask yourself how many "broke" friends does a "rich" WOMAN have??? 0...otherwise she won't stay rich for long.

Here is my personal case study. When I started my OWN business 3 1/2 years ago, I can tell you that MANY of our friends and family voiced their opinions on the matter. I heard it all--especially because I had FAILED 4 times before. However, FAILURE is critical to SUCCESS. Not many people understand that. How can you know what to do right if you haven't tried it wrong???

Anyway, these family members and friends ALL lived paycheck to paycheck. They had NO dreams--NO vision. I didn't let THEIR lack of support stop me. I DUG in and WORKED like there was no tomorrow. I sacrificed and my family made sacrifices as well. I surrounded myself with those who were "Getting it DONE!"...not the one's who WISHED they were. I had MANY mentors...not all were part of my team or industry even. We can learn from many and I certainly did.

And you know what??? By the end of the FIRST year I had out earned everyone who we were associated with--even our most EDUCATED friends. I had a NEW vehicle PAID FOR by the company as a reward for my work and I was just getting started!

You may say, "WOW! You worked for a YEAR to reach you goal?" or "But I want it ALL and I want it NOW and I want it to be EASY and I want it to be FREE!!!"

But, if you do NOTHING today your TOMORROW will NEVER change!

Fast forward to now--- 3 1/2 years of effort total (less time than most spend in college getting a degree) and I'm on the verge of a SOLID 6 FIGURE income. I have a 2nd NEW vehicle sitting in the drive way paid for by the company I partnered with.

There is no more "paycheck to paycheck", dodging bill collectors or repo men for me. The BEST part is the FREEDOM to choose how to spend each day and the FREEDOM to CHOOSE who I work with.

Where are all the naysayers???? STILL in paycheck to paycheck HELL!

Hopefully you see my point.

Not ALL individuals are cut out to be entrepreneurs. Some are completely content letting someone else call the shots. Some expect LIFE and SUCCESS to be EASY! There is no such thing! Long-term success IS hard work--that's why it is called WORK.You won't find me wasting my time trying to CONVINCE someone that they can DO this--because the TRUTH is they can't...not if I had to convince them! WHY??? Because SUCCESS is a matter of CHOICE, not a matter of CHANCE!

Some of you moms reading this may AGREE with me. You may be screaming at your computer screen "RIGHT ON SISTAH!!!" and wonder, "What now?"

Find your passion, CHOOSE to become EXTRAORDINARY, SHUT up, STOP whining and GET TO WORK on reaching your goals! Then and ONLY then, will you find that you will spend the majority of your time letting others convince YOU that they are right for YOUR team.

Thanks for letting me share!

Edie--WAHM of 2

Why be ORDINARY???

I found this online (no bio was given--see www.houstonsahm.com ) and thought it was really worth sharing. You don't have to be a "mom" to appreciate this.~~Edie

It's pretty funny the things that we'll do as moms to fit in. For instance, how often do you restrain yourself from doing something that might seem crazy (like running through the waterfall at the park), or have you ever failed to express your opinion about a topic (such as child discipline) for fear it wouldn't be popular with the other moms in your group?Don't get us wrong... Fitting in with a group is a good thing. It gives us a sense of belonging, identity, and security, and it establishes group-specific expectations of how each individual will act and respond to others in the group. In this way, it reduces misunderstandings and the social gyrations otherwise necessary to establish.

But at the same time, the pressure to be a "typical" mom can quelch your personal expression and creativity and smother the urge to be extraordinary. Think about it... When was the last time you pointed to someone and said, "Wow, that woman is so normal – I'd like to be just like that!" Instead, consider the heroes you admire and respect, whether they be political, religious, athletic, or in some other walk of life. Nelson Mandela; Mother Theresa; Gandhi; Tiger Woods – to name a very few – are these people ordinary?

We all have the ability and opportunity to act in ways that are not ordinary, ways that expand our horizons and enhance our lives and the lives of others. It's usually fear that stops us: fear of stepping outside the defined normal conduct of our group, of being thought "weird" or – well, yes, abnormal. But it's by doing the unusual and the extraordinary that we can introduce the people in our circles, including our very own children, to new, interesting concepts and ideas, and can surprise ourselves by being more of who we are instead of less.

We invite you, therefore, to do something wonderfully not ordinary. Take a small step, even a baby step, outside your comfortable boundaries and don't be afraid to let others appreciate you for who you truly are. You can start by voicing an opinion you have that might not be popular with the other moms in your play group or your circle of friends. Then think about how it felt, and how you plan to keep extending yourself into being totally you.

Remember the words of Mark Twain: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things 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."

Urgency Counts!

Each day when I wake up I remind myself of 3 little words: "Sense of URGENCY!"

It may sound trite, but it gets the point across. Long ago, I learned that simple enthusiasm on FIRE is more productive than sophisticated knowlegde on ICE.

When I started my business in January of 2004, I knew that craziness would soon follow because of the URGENCY I felt to begin. I embraced that feeling. I was willing to ride the intensity that came along in order to move forward quickly. Recently, I read that "stress" is caused when you want to get somewhere but don't want to do what must be done in order to get there. I can honestly say that is SO true! Many people WANT success, but they don't want to DO anything to obtain it.

I didn't WAIT until I was "great" to begin. I just jumped right in! It was through DOING that I developed the skills necessary to propel me forward and sustain me for long term success.

Was I scared? Yes!

Was I uncertain? Yes!

Was it WORK?? Yes!!

Has it PAID off??? Yes...and it continues to do so each day.

Make TODAY the FIRST SUCCESSFUL day of the rest of your life~~Edie

Discouragement

This says it all~~Edie

The Difference

I think this came from one of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series. Sorry that I don't know for sure, but I love it. I came across it today and no matter how many times I read it, it touches me....Edie

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school,she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh.He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.

"His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.

"Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself.

She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.

But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting iton, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had.But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F.Stoddard, MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring.Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained tha this father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear,"Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

Just goes to show you should never judge a book by it's cover.

Learning To Get Back Up...

Bringing a giraffe into the world is a tall order. A baby giraffe falls 10
feet from its mother's womb and usually lands on its back. Within
seconds it rolls over and tucks its legs under its body. From this position
it considers the world for the first time and shakes off the last vestiges of
the birthing fluid from its eyes and ears. Then the mother giraffe rudely
introduces its offspring to the reality of life.

In his book, "A View from the Zoo", Gary Richmond describes how a
newborn giraffe learns its first lesson.

The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look.
Then she positions herself directly over her calf. She waits for about a
minute, and then she does the most unreasonable thing. She swings her
long, pendulous leg outward and kicks her baby, so that it is sent
sprawling head over heels.

When it doesn't get up, the violent process is repeated over and over
again. The struggle to rise is momentous. As the baby calf grows tired,
the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts. Finally, the calf stands
for the first time on its wobbly legs.

Then the mother giraffe does the most remarkable thing. She kicks it off
its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up. In the wild,
baby giraffes must be able to get up as quickly as possible to stay with
the herd, where there is safety. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild hunting
dogs all enjoy young giraffes, and they'd get it too, if the mother didn't
teach her calf to get up quickly and get with it.

The late Irving Stone understood this. He spent a lifetime studying
greatness, writing novelized biographies of such men as Michelangelo,
Vincent van Gogh, Sigmund Freud, and Charles Darwin.

Stone was once asked if he had found a thread that runs through the
lives of all these exceptional people. He said, "I write about people who
sometime in their life have a vision or dream of something that should be
accomplished and they go to work.

"They are beaten over the head, knocked down, vilified, and for years
they get nowhere. But every time they're knocked down they stand up.
You cannot destroy these people. And at the end of their lives they've
accomplished some modest part of what they set out to do."

Craig B. Larson
Adapted from "Illustrations for Preaching &
Teaching from Leadership Journal
Baker Books