It's time to turn Oprah off!
There’s no doubt that Oprah’s become the icon of women and influence. We can’t argue with that, can we? Riveting guests, great stories, attention drawn to phenomenal causes and a shining example of a woman who stands on her own, she’s paved a way in history for the influential woman. Want to know a secret, though?
I think I need to stop watching her show.
Working for myself offers me the blessing of flexibility and access to a television each day when “Oprah’s on!” It’s been a regular thing that I tune in for an hour and offer myself a reprieve from the day when Oprah’s on. It’s been my little break. I’m sharing with you today why that’s going to stop – and it’s got little to do with Oprah herself!
Reason #1 I’m Turning Oprah Off: Because I’ve been spending an hour tuning into to someone else’s thoughts other than my own. If I took that hour and went for a walk, meditated, called a friend…whatever I choose, that hour would better enrich my life because I’m tuning in to ME.
Reason #2 I’m Turning Oprah Off: Whatever she or her guests can do, I can do, too. And in many cases, I already do. I volunteer in the community, I’ve written a book and I have a career that helps people build a fulfilling life. The difference between Oprah and me? I have less press 
And that’s OK. I think I’d like to continue doing what I’m doing and with whom I’m doing it and skip the prime time coverage!
Reason # 3 I’m Turning Oprah Off: Mobility. If I’m stuck in front of the TV or within earshot, how can I really give myself the freedom to do what I want or need to do at any given time during the day? By untethering myself from the tube, I can go anywhere, talk to anyone, send emails, prepare presentations and (gasp) even run to the grocery store. Life is boundless if I unplug from the gleaming glass screen.
Reason #4 I’m Turning Oprah Off: My clients. They inspire me each and every day in more ways than any TV show could. Their stories, hopes, dreams and desires are fuel enough for me to know I’ve chosen the right path in life. While Oprah’s stories are great, yours are better.
So there you go! I hate to say farewell to Oprah and I’m sure I’ll catch her every now and then, but I’m happy with my decision. Women and influence – it begins with US. We don’t need to tune in to a TV show to see it and live it. I’m glad to live a life devoted to women and influence, and even happier that my electric bill might be a little lighter after taking out 20 hours a month! Now, I love being wrong, but I think I’m pretty spot-on about this one…
I just love doing things wrong!
I really do love being wrong. I relish it, I wait for it and embrace it every time it walks into my life. I greet Wrong with a smile and if it were possible, I’d buy it a mimosa at Sunday brunch. Now, I don’t go out of my way to BE wrong, mind you, but when Wrong shows up at my door, I don’t look through the peephole and pretend I’m not home.
Over the years, I’ve discovered a certain power in being wrong. Remember when we were kids – teenagers, even. We couldn’t imagine not being 100% right all of the time! If anyone told us we were wrong, well, they were just…WRONG. I don’t know about you, but as I traveled through Life’s School of Hard Knocks, I came to realize something:
Wrong is Right.
When you open the door to being wrong, you find new ways to be right. That’s reason number one I love being wrong.
Reason number two is this: when you’re wrong, you can try again. Being wrong is life’s little mulligan. A do-over. And half the time, the work is already done for you when you’re wrong (because someone’s done it right and all you have to do is catch-up). Now, I’m not advocating you don’t look both ways before crossing the street, but there aren’t many types of wrong that aren’t recoverable. I love the do-over.
The third reason I love being wrong? That’s easy: I love learning. If I could be wrong about something every day and have a new Right presented to me, I’m living right. Whether it’s business, a conversation with a friend or a quandary at the grocery store, being wrong gives me the chance to emerge better on the other side. And I can learn how to not make the same mistake again.
Now that you know why I love being wrong, why do YOU love being wrong? What does it bring to your life and what do you learn? Go out and hug a Wrong today – you need them (and they need you)!
Being a person who has the capacity to influence others is big stuff. Sometimes we forget how much of an impact our actions or words can have. I like to think about our influence as either perfume or poison. One is uplifting and pleasing. The other is toxic and hurtful.
Here’s an example. When I was 16 I landed my first office job. I was an assistant to the office manager for a water well drilling company. Everything was a bit scary – telephones, field radios, typewriter, accounting ledgers, 10-key calculator, and the men that came to the office from the field. Being a quick learner, it only took me a few days to master most of my duties.
However, the 10-key was a challenge for me. The office manager was an older woman who had little patience for a girl that lacked total and absolute perfection. She huffed and puffed, sighed and rolled her eyes. I could handle that. What I will never forget is that she saved my most glaring mistakes for when one of the men came to the office. One of the guys might come for help with a payroll question or need a form for a bid. While I was providing assistance, the office manager would announce some [Read More]
Throughout history, the mother and daughter relationship has been a give and take or a push and shove relationship – depending on where you’re standing. Sometimes these relationships are terribly strained ending up in a stand off when the daughter is in her forties or fifties.
“I love my mother, but she drives me crazy!”
Does this sound familiar? And then there’s that tiny twinge of guilt.
How much do we love our mothers?
- 88 percent of adults say their mother has had a positive influence on them.
- 92 percent say their current relationship with their mother is positive.
- 88 percent of all mothers say their family appreciates them enough.
- 60 percent of women say their mother was more influential than their father, compared with 45 percent of men.
Even though we cut the umbilical cord there still is a strong connection. So strong that 80% of women at midlife say they have a good relationship with their mother – but wish it was better.
Wish it was better? If that’s the case then do it. Why would you settle for less than what you want? You have the power to influence any relationship – why not one of the most important one – with your mother? [Read More]
Part 3 of a 3 part series: Living Creative Results
Part 1 of this series helped you get started – discovering that you do have a creative side and how to access it. Part 2 focused on dealing with the gremlins. You know – the self-limiting beliefs that invade your mind.
Now it’s time to focus on what’s ahead. What are your creative goals? What do you dream about? How will you share your creative genius? You’ve accessed your creative energy, beat the challenges and now what do you do?
Bask in the creative genius you have uncovered, engaged and is fruitful.
Here are the remaining 4 secrets designed to support you in living your creative results.
Secret #1: Making the Hurdles. When you decide to put your creative genius “out there,” be prepared for rejection. However, these rejections are like hurdles. You start running and jump one hurdle at a time – never looking back. Better yet, be proactive. Identify and overcome your hurdles before they appear on the track.
Secret #2: [Read More]
