Impacting Kids with your own Goals

In September, I posted my "40 Before 40" list which is a list of 40 things I want to do before I turn 40. As a mom, it's goes without saying that my kids have been listening to me talk about all the things I'm going to do or have already done. I didn't realize how much they were paying attention though until they came to me with their own lists. Check 'em out below:

Finn's 8 Before 8
1. Go to the Museum of Science and History
2. Have my cousins come to visit
3. Get or read 100 chapter books
4. Make a Karmic Acts of Kindness book and video
5. Have a party
6. Take a trip to either our cousins house or Grandpa & Grandma's house
7. Find a smooth rock
8. Invite every single one of my friends to my 8th birthday

Ainsley's 7 Before 7
1. Dance on a stage in front of people
2. Ride a horse
3. Plant a garden with trees, bushes and flowers
4. See a ballet or show like Little Mermaid (I took her to see Little Mermaid on stage)
5. Learn more dance and ballet
6. Start reading more books
7. Have a playdate with McKenna


Bailey's 5 Before 5
1. Learn how to peel a banana
2. Learn how to open my snacks and put lids on things
3. Visit a farm and ride a horse
4. Buy Strawberry Shortcake doll - the one where she is a baby
5. Sing in front of my friends and family


Everything I do as a parent and a person impacts my children. I'm proud to see the impact bring such positive results of forward movement. Try it for yourself. Make a list of things you want to get done and share it with your family. Chances are they will become just as excited about reaching new dreams and goals as you are!

In chaos and creativity,
JWS

Miyoko Fujimori is...Imperfectly Inspired

Each month, I like to interview someone who I feel is imperfectly inspired. This month, Miyoko Fujimori is Imperfectly Inspired!

Multi-tasking mom-entrepreneur and mom of 2, Miyoko Fujimori, also the author of The Housewives Guide to the Practical Striptease, a book dedicated to the to supporting women – especially moms – reclaim their sexuality.

1. What motivated you to become a MOBster (mom-owned-business?
Having been a self-employed person since I was 19, it was very difficult to consider working for someone at all, let alone punching a clock! I wanted to be at home with my family while still being creative, productive, and working. I had been home with my daughter who was then about 18 months, and was pregnant with my son when I decided to dive into a home-based business. I started Indulge Party when I was nine months pregnant with my son! Can you imagine watching this very pregnant woman as she explains the best sex toys and positions? It was a perfect set-up. I decided when to do parties, and had only one other Consultant working for me, so there was very little administrative work back then. As my kids have grown up, so has the company, and the time they are in school is the time I dedicate to processing orders, designing catalogs, answering phone messages, and managing both my team, and my inventory. I also managed to write and publish my first book when they were still toddlers!

2. What are your top three tips for juggling/nurturing yourself and your family?

Wow, I wish I had those figured out myself! I am learning that the biggest thing I need to remember is to be respectful of myself. As a woman and mommy, I know it's easy to lose sight of my own needs and then get angry or frustrated when those needs are not being met. I have had to downsize my schedule and my life to accommodate the things that mean the most. Identify the things that are most important, so you don't spend time on what is not. I have also learned that I need to be more grateful. Stop and appreciate what you have accomplished. Be thankful for your family, even when the kids are screaming at each other, and you think you're going to explode! Take a breath and realize that you are home to appreciate this!

3. What does being imperfectly inspired mean to you?

Being a Virgo, it has been a challenge to have a messy house, dirty car, unwashed dishes in the sink, and still be sane. But in appreciating the good stuff.... being home to help with homework, working in my pajamas in the morning, being able to do it all....because it's on my terms, is what makes my life imperfectly inspired. Life hasn't happened "perfectly" to most people's standards, but it has been wonderful in its imperfection.

Finally, inspiring minds want to know…What’s your personal motto?

Hmm, lately it has been to imagine anything, everything is possible... as nothing is as it seems.

Find out more about Miyoko here and here!

My “40 before 40” List

When I turned 35, I decided that I wanted to create a list of things that I would do in my lifetime that would inspire my imagination. In June 2007, I turned 37 and that list is still swimming in my head. Some things I've been able to check off and others are still waiting patiently for me to experience them. However, those things might just be waiting patiently forever unless I give them a deadline. Turning 40 seems like a good deadline to begin with. So, in no particular order, here's my "40 before 40." Drum roll, please…

1. Lose at least 15 pounds and maintain that weight basically forever: As of 9/26/07, I have five pounds to go.
   
2. Be confident that I am the right mom for my children.
   
3. Save I love you to myself every day.
   
4. Be a good person. Not sure exactly how to define good, but it starts with living life with a pure heart.
   
5. Practice daily karmic acts of kindness by myself and with my family.
   
6. East 5-7 servings of fruits and veggies and take my vitamins every day: It would be so much easier if ketchup still constituted a vegetable, wouldn't it?
   
7. Publish five more books (Bestseller, here I come!)
   
8. "Own" my personal style: Step 1 – stop questioning whether I should have short hair or long hair
   
9. Read at least one book a month: This wouldn't be so tough if I would commit to finishing a book before starting another. I currently have five books I'm reading right now. Here's what I'm reading right now: The Success Principles, The Seven Life Lessons of Chaos, Notes from the Universe, The Monks of New Skete and Harlequin Romance's Mistress for Hire.
   
10. Get my nose pierced: My appt. is scheduled this weekend at Enchanted Ink in Boulder! I'm so excited. I've been talking about it for years, and now I'm finally going to do it!
    
11. Be a guest on Oprah and Donny Deutsch's The Big Idea
    
12. Be a guest on the Today Show and/or Good Morning America
    
13. Be a guest on Jay Leno and/or David Letterman
    
14. Meet Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and/or Steve Carell
    
15. Finish the pile of 'crapbooking – oops, I mean scrapbooking: I solemnly swear never, ever to scrapbook again once I finish this project. From now on, digital pix only.
    
16. Be at least a $1M dollar business annually
    
17. Learn to sing on-key
    
18. Attend a Foo Fighters concert/Meet Dave Grohl: One of my all-time fav bands. Dave Grohl rocks the drums, guitar and vocals. Plus, he seems like a groovy dad.
    
19. Get another tattoo: I love my first tat. I got it at 27. I've been wanting another one ever since (For those of you who have tats, you know how addictive they can be.) However, my hubby doesn't want me to get another one, so I'll need to think of something discreet – maybe I'll tattoo the kids names as a bracelet or rings on my fingers. That'd be kinda cool.
    
20. Adopt a puppy: He's here!
    
21. Train that puppy: This is proving harder than I thought. Frodo is an ornery little sh#%!
    
22. Interview Gwen Stefani for MOB: Gwen Stefani is the ultimate mom-entrepreneur. I absolutely love this style icon!
    
23. Purge all the clutter in the house and move towards becoming more paperless: Ugh – I hate paper trails (flyers, bills, junk mail). I want to reduce it by at least 50%. Click here and here for some ideas I'm using to get started.
    
24. Start a family business: Coming soon!
    
25. Write regularly in both my blog and personal journal: You're reading it, right?
    
26. Write my life story
    
27. Write letters to my children for them to open on momentous occasions (16^th birthday, 1^st day of college, 21^st birthday, wedding day, and birth of their first child)
    
28. Take a Disney Cruise: May 2009 is the tentative date!
    
29. Have date night twice a month: Hubby and I need time with each other!
    
30. Feel sexy: I know a lot of moms struggle with this one a lot, and I'm no different. MOBsters Kelly Paull and Miyoko Fujimori has some ideas though!
    
31. Have a conference for mom-entrepreneurs: Coming soon with Internet Marketing Icon, Kelly Paull (yes, this is the same Kelly with Slumber Parties)
    
32. Write a syndicated column
    
33. Paint my daughters' bathroom: I started this project 2 months ago and go bored. My husband refuses to help me paint it because he is trying to teach a lesson about finishing something you start. I'm thinking I may just call in someone else to finish it. Otherwise it may be in disarray until my 60^th birthday!
    
34. Exercise daily
    
35. Speak at three to five national conferences
    
36. Become a spokesperson
    
37. Become a trapeze artist for a day: I think I'm going to do it here!
    
38. Drive a race car
    
39. Write my 50 before 50: First on the list, visit Ireland and Scotland
    
40. Continue to embrace my chaos and inspire my imagination
    

Yikes! That looks like a lot of stuff to do. I better get started because as of right now, I have just 958 days (or 2 years, 7 months or 136 weeks, 22,992 hours, 1,379,520 minutes or 82,771,200 seconds). I better get going. Oh – and don't forget – keep embracing your chaos to inspire your imagination!

In chaos and creativity,

Julie

PS: BTW, what's on your list?

PPS: I'll update you from time to time here on the blog. Plus, each decade I'll be adding at least 10 more things However, if you want to regularly follow my progress or if you want to share your own 40 before 40 (or 30 before 30, 50 before 50, etc), please visit Inspired Imaginations' Inspiration Village message boards.

Lucky 7's of Falling Back Into Chaos

"Summer is no excuse for chaos, Julie." At least that's what my friend told me recently. And, you know what, my friend is right, because just like Fall, Winter and Spring, Summer IS chaos; it is just a different type of chaos that involves swimsuits, popsicles and watermelon. Now that summer is now over and the kids have trekked back to school. As I sit in my office, I notice that a few leaves have already begun to fall; I also realize I need to do the same thing...I need to "fall" back into my non-summer chaos! Here are a few tried and true tips for a soft landing as you fall back into your chaos.

1. Embrace Your Chaos. Think of chaos as an integral piece of your family's identity. It is a necessary element of life. Chaos is the ebb and flow of life experiences that touch your family. When you fight chaos, your start to lose the variety of encounters (good, bad and even mundane) that life has to offer. Embracing chaos provides you the freedom to create a life you love - an "imperfectly inspired" life that celebrates your authenticity and creativity.

2. Redefine Organization. What do you think of when you hear the word "organization?" Cleanliness and orderliness, right? That can be part of it, but organization is actually cover much more. Organization istime management (scheduling), space management (order), and energy management (prioritization). Organization is very personalized; it is most effective when you tweak it to work for you. What works for me may not work for you. Really, there is no right or wrong way to organize your life; the important aspect is to apply some sort of organization - time, space and energy management - so you can find your comfort in the chaos.

3. Clear the Clutter. Clearing out the clutter is the launch pad to organization. As you start to address time, space and energy management, take the time to clear the clutter from those areas. If your schedule is busting at the seams, stop saying yes to new tasks and start eliminating other commitments. When clearing the clutter in your space, pretend it is moving day. What do you really need to keep? A good rule of thumb is that if you haven't used something in six months, sell, donate or toss it. Finally, clear the clutter from your energy. What do I mean? There are many ways to do this, but one of the most effective ways is to start removing people, places, thoughts and things - that continually deplete your energy without giving you anything in return. Remember, that the more you clear out, the more you'll clear the way for new opportunities.

4. Mealtime Predictability. Dinnertime always sneaks up on me (it really is my most chaotic time of the day). Before I know it, it's 5:30 and everyone is asking "What's for dinner?" Knowing that stale tortilla chips, mushy grapes and soy milk aren't the most appetizing meal, I created my mealtime predictability plan. Exciting it isn't, but effective it is. Here's a peek at our menu: Crock-Pot Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Whatever Wednesdays, Topsy-Turvy Thursdays (breakfast for dinner), Fun-Food Fridays, Simple Saturdays, and Surprise Sundays. Like I said, it isn't exciting, but it saves time and it's edible. .

5. Practice the Rule of 80/20. Did you know that 80% of your work can be done in just 20% of your time? It's true. I call this 80% of tasks the quick-hitters. These are items that can be quickly completed but are often procrastinated. Start employing the rule of 80/20 by finishing these quick-hitters in just 20% of your time. This frees up 80% of your day to spend on activities that require more detail and attention - activities that usually bring you more enjoyment.

6. Inspire Your Imagination. A surefire way to jump back into your chaos is to figure out what inspires you. What is it that sparks your heart? Is it a song or a color that fires you up? Or could it be those few solitary moments when a breeze floats through the house that brings you a sense of calm? Whatever it is, capture that feeling by filling your life with items and moments of inspiration. Your inspiration can provide you with the energy to move forward into your dreams and goals. An added bonus - a little bit of inspiration can give you that push to get through those quick-hitters in less than 20% of the time!

7. Slow Down. Your desire to move through your mile long to-do list in just one afternoon is admirable - unrealistic - but admirable. Set a timer for a short period to work on just one or two small, dauntless projects. Once the timer rings, stop and spend some quality time with yourself and/or your family. Remember, the more you embrace your chaos, the more you can inspire your imagination!

It’s a Boy!

The Smith Family is proud to introduce our newest family member…Frodo Snickers Krypto Marshmallow Angel Smith. No one could pick just one name. However, we call him Frodo for short because of his big ol' Hobbit feet.

Weighing in at just 8 pounds 3 ounces, this 8 week old boy joined our family on Sunday, September 9. Originally born in New Mexico, Frodo was a shelter transfer dog who arrived in Loveland, Colorado on September 5. Spending a few days at Project R.E.X. (awesome place!), he first found his way into our hearts and home after the kids through PetFinder. The kids and I took a trip over to Loveland and quickly fell in love with him (I also clicked with two other dogs, but if I brought home three dogs, I might be the one sleeping in the dog house). Frodo is a Beagle/Jack Russell Terrier mix which basically means he's going to grow up to be the most adorable bundle of hell on wheels you've ever seen.

I've always adopted pets from shelters and rescue centers. I know that there are some great breeders out there, but I just can't imagine adopting a purebred when there are so many phenomenal "mutts" waiting for someone to love them.

Frodo is my first puppy from a shelter. Actually, he's my first puppy ever. I've always adopted grown dogs, kittens and cats. So, puppyhood is a new experience. One thing I've learned in the past two days is that puppies are very similar to babies. They pee and poop a lot. They don't sleep through the night and they cry. A lot. But just like babies, puppies can give you that "look" and you fall head over heels. Plus, just like babies have that new baby smell (new cars have it too), Frodo has that new puppy smell. It's just delicious!

To date, Frodo seems to have adjusted well to our chaotic house. The cats aren't sure what to think of him. They know he's not a cat, but they aren't sure he's a dog because he's still smaller than they are. He has connected with the three kids, my hubby and me which is cool. Other than that there isn't much else to say. I'll keep you posted though.

With inspiration and imagination,

Julie

Amy Manson is … Imperfectly Inspired

Each month, I like to interview someone who I feel is imperfectly inspired. This month, Amy Manson is Imperfectly Inspired!

Olympic athlete, Amy Manson, also the owner Get Goaled, a company dedicated to the personal success of children, and mom of 2, consistently enriches her life and inspires her imaginations.


How do you enrich your life and inspire your imagination?
I enrich my life by prioritizing what fulfills me and doing my best to actively pursue those priorities each day. My priorities are as follows: Faith, Family, Developing and using my personal gifts and passions.

I try to inspire my children by exposing them to experiences and ideas I feel are important. I encourage them to take part in activities that reward them for hard work, respect and kindness. I also try to surround my kids with great role models who teach good character in fun and rewarding ways.

How do you motivate your children?
My best tip for motivating children is to set up a reward plan. Let them know what is expected of them in order to earn certain rewards. Surprise them with a reward when they surprise you with extra good behavior. The reward doesn't have to be an expensive toy. My kids earn smiley faces or frowns on a chart for "target issues" each night and they are quite motivated to get the smile instead of the frown.

I also think it's extremely important to live what you want to teach your children. I know if I want my children to become motivated individuals, I better be living a motivated life in front of them. What they see on a daily basis becomes their norm.

What's your personal motto?
My present Motto is: Positive goals = Positive choices= Positive lives. I really believe that's what it all comes down to. Don't let the wind blow you when it comes to direction in your life. Pick the path you want to take and make the choices you need to make to get there. If you do this throughout your life, your life will be filled with meaningful experiences and accomplishments.

Find out more about Amy!

I Went to Disneyland!

I’m back! Disneyland was great. So was SoCal. However, I feel so good about my family’s move to Boulder, Colorado. There are still things I miss about SoCal (still Trader Joes!), but there are so many things I don’t miss (too much traffic and so many people). My heart will always hold a special place for SoCal, but I am now ready to move forward in colorful Colorado (hey, you Boulderites know how colorful it is here J). Plus, Cali is just a 2.5 hour plane ride again. Here’s a few pix of how we spent our 10 days in SoCal. So much fun!

Disneyland was the highlight of our trip. This was the Chaos Crew of Mouseketeers on Day 2. I’m the one in the green top. We had just waited over 90 minutes to ride the Finding Nemo ride, but it was worth it. It was pretty cool. My son also got to be part of the Jedi Training – he fought Darth Maul. And, my daughters were picked to spend 15 minutes with two Disney Princesses – Aurora and Snow White. It was fantastic!

The fam at Pacific Beach Pier. This used to be my hubby’s and my old haunting grounds.

I’m going to Disneyland!

I feel like I just one the Super Bowl because I'm going to Disneyland! (Just in case the reference is vague, I'll explain. After each Super Bowl – actually any sporting event – the winners are asked, "What are you gonna do now?" They always say, "I'm going to Disneyland!"). Anyway, I'm going to Disneyland!

On Friday, my family leaves for vacation to SoCal. It will be the first time I go back since moving last May. I'm exciting to see my friends, but it feels weird going back. There's certainly things I miss in SoCal (Trader Joes!), so I can't help but wonder if I'll want to move back once I'm there. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm going in vacation mode for a few weeks so postings will probably be zero.

"See" you when I get back!

Julie

Reminiscing on a Goal

Circa 2004

I have achieved a point in my life where gratitude has overcome confusion. I am clear, confident and able to live my life with a pure heart. No, I'm not a saint. That would be pretty comical to think of me as a saint, but I do own and own up to my choices and actions. The past three years, I have relished the role of motherhood, but with the birth of my third child, I have achieved the confidence to truly enjoy my role. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a mother and a wife. My relationship with my husband grows stronger each day. I appreciate the support he continues to provide as I accomplish my personal and professional goals.

One of those goals was to become a published author. As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a writer. I can recall my first book, The Fat Cat, which I wrote at the tender age of 6. It was destined to be a best-seller with its engaging character and non-stop action (the frisky cat ate and ate until he blew up and then he was skinny again.) This 8-page thriller was designed with finest construction paper and illustrated with only the sharpest Crayolas. I remember painstakingly using my mom's ball of yarn to weave the spine of the book together. I loved that book. Finishing it was intoxicating. After the completion of that book, I explored my creative side by writing a play called The Four Girls. It was a short play of four friends who sat around a table talking about all the kids at school. Had I developed it further 20 years later, it could've been the next "Friends."

Then I delved into my sensitive side by writing poetry and haiku. My biggest fan, my mom, took one of those poems and turned it into a Christmas ornament for our extended family. Here's a piece of that little ditty:

Writing has always been a release to me. Not only do I feel like I can communicate to others through this medium, but I communicate to myself. Sounds like some new age psycho-babble, right? Not really. Writing allows me to get my emotions out. I have a tendency to keep my feelings bottled up. So, even though I aspire to publish my writing and make enough to purchase more than just one Happy Meal for my three kids, I won't get discouraged. Rather, I'll just pick up the pen and write more because I never know when my dreams will come true!

…..

I originally wrote this piece in 2004. Today, I was cleaning out my computer and found it sitting here. As a testament to the power of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), I am now a published author of an award-winning book, Mommyhood Diaries. I also have four more books forthcoming: Mommy Hullabaloo, Karmic Acts of Kindness, Kindred Generations, and The Chaos and Creativity Connection. I'm also a contributing author to A Book is Born (2007, Wyatt-MacKenzie) – awesome book on the publishing process!

Whether your dream is to scale a mountain, sing a tune, or pen a book, never give up. Write down your goals because you never know when opportunity will come a knockin'!

In chaos and creativity,

Julie

Toxic Tarts

I have two daughters and one son – all three very impressionable. I like that they are impressionable, because it provides me the opportunity to expose them to a variety of experiences, individuals and lessons that will help them find their authenticity. However, than same impressionability is constantly poisoned by today's Toxic Tarts. I know you know who I'm talking about. Toxic Tarts are those celebutantes and look-at-me-I'm-famous gals whose revolving doors with relationships, treatment centers and now jail cells have provided them even more fame and money. (Don't get me wrong. I'm not a purist, nor am I an angel. I've had my share of wild antics – quite a few that I definitely wouldn't want my children to hear about - but through it all I still kept my integrity, authenticity, and values intact. I've also never profited or glorified any of those crazy times.)

Alright, I'm certainly not the first to voice my disgust on the following topic, and I know I won't be the last, but I wanted to have my say. These Toxic Tarts are poisoning the minds of our youth. How do we protect our children from this poison – this debilitating disease on America's morals? Here are a few thoughts we can all use to inoculate ourselves and our children.

1. Open the Lies of Communications: Pose questions about the differences between celebrities. Who isn't in the gossip page and who is? Ask your daughter or son how they feel about the decisions these starlets are making? While you are at, open the lines of communication by having an honest dialogue about what your values are. Ask your children if their values align with the Toxic Tarts' behavior. Continue to keep communication topics and styles evolving and maturating as your children change to stay current with their needs.
   

   
   

2. Be YOUnique: Say to your child, "You are unique and special. You are exactly who you need to be." Okay, it doesn't have to be that overt, but it certainly doesn't hurt. The bottom line is to encourage your children to develop their own style that expresses their authenticity and individualism.
   

   
   

3. Teach True Beauty: True beauty lies from within. My husband and I have always told our children that to be beautiful on the outside; you must first be beautiful on the inside. Of course, this has lead to our 3-year-old telling everyone that she has the prettiest insides because she always says please and thank you. True beauty comes from being confident, polite, brave, respectful and smart – definitely smart. And, doesn't smart scream sexy and beautiful as we get older anyway?
   

   
   

4. X the Sex-y: Speaking of sexy, our children are inundated with sexy images. In fact, sexy images are marketed to children as young as 3-years-old. Don't believe me? Check out the slew of Bratz backpacks in the preschool parking lot. Starting at a very young age, plant the seeds of modesty. Limit – or better – remove exposure to sexy media, toys, and clothes. (Really, does your six-year-old need to be wearing the skimpy bikini at the pool?). Let your children know what is and isn't appropriate. And, for tweens and teens, let know that sexiest thing they'll ever wear is your brain.
   

   
   

5. Be a Reject: Teach children to reject the shallowness of fame and fortune that seeps into their lives. This is another prime opportunity to open the lines of communication about values.
   

   
   

6. Stay in the Know: Stay in the know with current trends by spending more time with your children. It sounds elementary, but the more time you spend with your children, the more you'll know about them. Exert a greater influence on what they watch, listen and read by sitting down to watch, listen, and read with them.
   

   
   

7. Find Positive Role Models: Help your children find positive role models in the media. (Yes, there are some out there.) Let your children know that role models don't necessarily have to be on Hollywood's hot list either. Positive role models can be found in your town, on your block, and even in your house. (Hint-Hint: Parents, your kids are watching you. Be sure to be their best role model!)
   

   
   

Without a proactive stance, the Toxic Tart epidemic could continue to climb. Shield your child as much as you can be stressing that they are exactly who they need to be. Vaccinate them against the poisons of the Toxic Tart syndrome with your love, understand, respect, and honesty.

With inspiration and imagination,

Julie

Inspiring Minds Want to Know...What's your take on today's over-hyped celebutantes?

A Parents Wish...

This morning, my mom forwarded me an email. Not just any email - no funny joke or message to send it to 25 people or else. The email included a link to an online mini-movie called Parent's Wish. I was in my "work" mode so I hesitated clicking on it, but she said that it was very poignant and almost brought her to tears, so I clicked. She was right. It is poignant, and almost brought me to tears as well. Parent's Wish is a mini-movie about aging parents and the cycle of parenthood. As our parents age, they become a little more dependent and in need of our patience - just like when we were toddlers.

Most of you who know me, know that I am a devout advocate for the elderly. Bridging the generation gap is one of my passions. It's why I created Kindred Generations and Karmic Acts of Kindness! Whether you take a few moments to watch the movie or not, I'd like to share this parent's wish for all of us...

1. Respect karma. What comes around, goes around. Respect karma by treating others - your partner, parents, your kids, your neighbors, your business associates, really anyone - the same way you'd like to be treated.

2. Strive for an intergenerational lifestyle. Take your kids to a senior center. Visit a nursing home to sing songs, read books or just have a conversation. Bake cookies for an elderly neighbor. Seek out activities to bring together our youth and elderly. Equip yourself and your family with the wisdom that the elderly can pass on. (Quick tip - One of the things my kids love to do is make cards to deliver to the local convalescent center. They enjoy playing "mailman" to all the residents.)

3. Have a gratitude attitude. Be thankful and say thank you for each and everything always. Even if you are having a bad day, say thank you - thank you for the opportunity to experience life, for the opportunity to grow, for the opportunity for another day.

And with that, I'd like to say thank you to you for stopping by. As always, remember to enrich your life and inspire your imagination.

With tons of chaos and creativity (and gratitude!),
Julie Watson Smith

Lucky 7's of Transforming Mid-Year Resolutions Into Goals

New Years resolutions were a-plenty at the first of the year, and now that spring is upon many of you have said that you feel your resolution expiration date has passed you by. Not so! But first, you need to have to transform those resolutions – or dreams – into goals and then create your actions for achievement.

1. State Your Intention. Writing down your resolution or goal provides a visual confirmation of your intention. It makes it real.
2. Get SMART. Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-sensitive - SMART – goals create benchmarks to track your forward movement.
3. Be Itty-Bitty. Break your goals into a series of small, manageable tasks to jump start your progress. Smaller tasks also help create momentum to pull you forward to the next success.
4. Shout It Out. Announce your goals to others to create a network or support and accountability.
5. Flex-SMART. Flexibility with your goal components is necessary since circumstances change. And remember, flexibility and change do not equate to failure.
6. No More New. Don’t obsess about your goal being a New Year’s resolution. Rather, think of your goals and the goal setting process as your All Year resolution.
7. Recognize and Celebrate Successes. Partial accomplishments warrant just as much recognition and celebration as the final outcome. Appreciate all your victories.

Don't let an arbitrary expiration keep you stuck. Get moving, and just do it! Become unstoppable by creating momentum with daily actions toward your goals!

Lucky 7's of the 30-Second Pitch

As a mom-entrepreneur, I have many different roles: wife, mom, coach, boss, speaker, author, writer, coach, volunteer, mentor, homework checker, chauffeur, cheerleader, short-order cook...the list goes on. As many of you business owners understand - what don't you do, right?

However, I was out a month or so ago, and someone asked me, "What do you do?" And, usually I can roll of a short, sweet pitch, but, oh-no, I bumbled and rambled until this person's eyes glazed over. It was awful. It really made me realize the power of the 30-second pitch. So much so that this became the topic of the Inspired Imaginations MOB (Masterminding on Business) *Silver Club* meeting tonight here in Boulder County.

Really, what would you do if you were riding on an elevator and Oprah walked in? You have her undivided attention for 30-seconds or less. What would you say? Now hold that thought.

What do you say when someone asks you, "What do you do?" And you are completely tongue tied and stumped – worse, you rattle off a five-minute explanation including your services or products from A-Z, your credentials, your education, your clients, etc? By the time you've finished, that other person's eyes are glassy and they are mentally writing their grocery list in their head. Why? Because, they don't understand what you have said, don't need what you have, or are just not interested. So, what do you do? You need an effective 30-second pitch that it distinguishes you in a busy, overcrowded, and at times, indistinguishable marketplace. It must set you apart!

Here's the Lucky 7's for your 30-second pitch.

1. Make it about them: I think it was Stephen Covey who said, "Be interested to be interesting." Apply this philosophy be making your pitch about them – it focus on what you can do for them not just what you can do.
2. Be clear on your niche and specialty. Niche is the who and specialty is the what. Often entrepreneurs think, well, everyone is my customer. Yes and no. Yes, because, technically, you can sell to anyone. But, no because, you will not effectively reach your ideal clients if you are trying to market to everyone.
   
3. Focus on purpose rather than skills – what will the person gain (or in some cases, lose). Too often, an elevator pitch merely describes your skills, as in "Hi, I'm Julie, a coach, speaker and author." Yes, this is all true info, but, well, ick. It doesn't set me apart from the thousands of other coaches, speakers and columnists. It is useless info. What's your purpose for what you do and who you serve – basically, how do you add value. For example, I could say, "Hi, I'm Julie Smith. I launch mom-owned businesses with instant tools to apply at home and in the office to achieve the next level success." Better, right?
   
4. Start with a hook – an intriguing story or question to capture their interest. Kelly Paull, owner of Slumber Parties by Kelly and Internet Marketing Expert, has a great hook. Here it is: "Picture your husband eagerly taking your children out of the house for the evening, your girlfriends arriving giddy with excitement for ninety minutes of side-splitting laughter and adult entertainment with a lady-like twist." At this point, the listener is intrigued and wants to know more. She's hooked 'em. At this point, this listener is either her ideal customer or knows her ideal customer (think referrals!) You can also use a question that addresses your target markets challenge and the outcome of that challenge as your hook. "You know how the day-to-day hoopla in running a family or business can start to stunt creativity and growth?" (This is where you want heads nodding in agreement, maybe someone says, "Oh yeah that's me or my sister, or my friend"…you get the picture). "I give mom-entrepreneurs a boost of instant creativity by embracing chaos with 7 instant tools."
5. Share a resource. I love sharing resources. I have so many fabulous resources that I share in my Million Dollar MOB (Masterminding on Business) Connections and Contacts. Individually or in a group, share a favorite resource and how it helped you. One of my favorite is Vista Print. I think they have impeccable service, quality and pricing. So, I often share this resource with the added reinforcement of a business card or flyer. It shows the quality of the work from the resource and provides a visual pitch
6. Prepare and practice. The big secret to your pitch here is constant preparation and practice. Consider your audience and how you can help them (remember, it's all about them), and what they can gain. Next, write it down, practice it out loud in front of the mirror and with others.
   
7. Practice more! Nothing sounds worse than a poorly prepared or canned pitch that sounds like you don't know what you do or aren't confident in what you do. Keep practicing it!
   

Your 30-second pitch is your one of your most valuable marketing tools for distinguishing and branding yourself and your business. So, keep practicing and perfecting it so the next time, you are on an elevator and Oprah walks on, you'll know exactly what to say to set yourself apart!

Best wishes for continued personal and professional success!

JWS

PS. A quick note - 30-second message can be applied to all areas of your life. Need to share tell your child something, do it in 30-seconds. Gotta ask your husband a favor? Pique his interest with just a 30-second blurb. It works, trust me – succinctly and successfully.

Getting Connected with the MOB

Napoleon Hill, author of "Think and Grow Rich" introduced the concept of masterminding in the early 1900's. He said, "The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony." As mom-entrepreneurs, our definite purpose is growing and enriching our business and family. Additionally, he said "No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible intangible force," That third, invisible force Hill references is the powerful synergy and accountability that comes from a group setting. Paired with that synergy is the combined momentum of experience, skills and confidence gleaned from new perspectives from your mastermind counterparts. Those perspectives allow you to design your business and your life according to what you want – not what you think others want. It provides you more freedom of choice because you are well-armed with a toolbox of info. Additionally, you have an instant support swirl – a whirlwind of supportive resources and like-minded individuals that you feel connected to who provide you with accountability to gauge your personal and professional progress.

I have always loved the power of masterminding. I've been doing it since for several years, but with mom-entrepreneurs since 2004 when I first formed MOB: Masterminding on Business. Over the last year, MOB has evolved into an essential tool to provide that third, invisible force that Hill references – MOB provides powerful synergy, momentum, accountability, connections and more. I'm so tickled to share MOB's evolution with you. MOB: Masterminding on Business has three club levels to meet the changing needs of mom-entrepreneurs and life enrichment professionals: MOB *Silver Club*, MOB *Gold Club*, and MOB *Platinum Club*. MOB Silver are our local chapters that provide face-to-face synergy on targeted topics on a monthly basis (so much fun!). MOB Gold (launching September 2007) is our virtual mastermind with 3 monthly meetings including an entrepreneur interview, a targeted topic mastermind, accountability checks and much more. MOB Platinum is individual coaching and consulting to take your business to the next level. Platinum is available hourly, daily, weekly or more by appointment only.

Whether you get connected with the MOB or another mastermind group, carry Napoleon Hill's wisdom to achieve your next level of personal and professional success.

With inspiration and imagination,

JWS

Inspiring Minds Want to Know: May 2007

In honor of Mother's Day, inspiring minds want to know...

From noodle necklaces, spa certificates to candlelight dinners, which Mothers Day gift captures the essence of you?Also, we're curious, what's the wackiest, craziest, or weirdest Mother's Day gift you've ever received?

I'll get us started. Hmmm...what type of Mother's Day gift is the "essence" of me? While I love massages and flowers, I think the Mother's Day gift that would capture a sense of me would be something that made me think and was homemade - maybe a creative story written by my son, and an interpretive dance by my daughters (their still very young so everything is interpretive) followed by a deep, meaningful conversation with my husband. Yep, that would be the gift that captures a sense of me.

Now, wacky, crazy or weird gift. I'm not sure I ever received one that stepped outside the bounds of normalcy. I suppose it would be a Mother's Day "poem" my son wrote about me that said I was a 63 year-old-women who smelled like vinegar and loved to eat popcorn and pickles. It also said I was the best mom ever so I'll forgive the hike in my age and the vinegar smell (he got the popcorn and pickles right, though.)

Happy Mother's Day,
Julie

Happy May Day!

Today is one of those beautiful spring days that just make you want to yell, "I love my life." And, I do love my life. It is far from perfect, believe me. the laundry is piling up, there is sticky watermelon juice underfoot, a pipe is leaking into my ceiling...I could go on, but it isn't going to change the fact that I still love me life. We all have chaos - expected and unexpected - that fills our days. The trick is to use that chaos to build the life you ant. Don't treat it as a nuisance but embrace it as a tool to be imperfectly inspired!

I have not been the best at writing on my blog, but I vow to get better. Each month, I'll be posting an exercise of a question to inspire your imagination. I encourage you to share your thoughts, feelings, whatever. And, remember, as always, enrich your life and inspire your imagination.

With inspiration and imagination,
Julie

Kelly Paull is...Imperfectly Inspired

Each month, I like to interview someone who I feel is imperfectly inspired. This month, Kelly Paull is Imperfectly Inspired!

Licensed clincial social worker, Kelly Paull, also the owner of Slumber Parties by Kelly and mom of 2, consistently enriches her life and inspires her imaginations.


How do you enrich your life and inspire your imagination?
From educating women about their bodies, creating excitement in the bedroom or teaching somone how to make her own financial impact, Slumber Parties is focused on helping women - and THAT's enriching! I also enrich my life by making my own schedule and being flexible in my priorities.

I'm inspired by the amazing women I meet at my parties. I try to surround myself with other women who are excited about their lives and their businesses.

I inspire my imagination by reading everything. I love motivational books, autobiographies, business book - I love any book I can get my hands on!


As the owner of a company that empowers and helps women, what empowering tips can you share for moms this Mother's Day?
Mothers need to know that as much as they give, give, give to their children, partner and business, they also need to give to themselves. We all know the saying, "If mom isn't happy, nobody's happy." Female relationships are so important and necessary, but often go by the wayside with kids, work and home life. My business is about getting the men and kiddos out of the house for a few hours of laughter, female bonding and empowerment.

So, my tips are (1) Take time for yourself, (2) Nurture you female relationships, (3) Don't be afraid to add some spice back into your relationship, and (4) - this goes hand-in-hand with #3 - it only seems kinky the first time, so try things twice.


What's your personal motto?
If you think you can't, you're right.


Find out more about Kelly!

MOPS and Moms

What a day! Today was a day filled with MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) and more moms at the Mix It Up with Mommy event we held.

This morning I had the privilege of speaking at a Boulder County MOPS group on Mommy Hullabaloo - learning, living and loving the chaos of mommyhood. What else would I talk about but chaos, creativity and being imperfect, right? It was a fun, lively group of about 35+ women.

Later in the evening, after spending the afternoon doing my own mom stuff - taking the kids to the park, running errands and pulling together a "Julie surprise" (my friend, Jax's term for me grabbing random things from the cupboard, freezer and fridge and attempting to make a meal) - Inspired Imaginations' hosted a Mix It Up with Mommy event at Carrabas Italian Grill to support children's literacy in Boulder. It was an awesome evening filled with food, friends, and fun. We collected gently used and new books to donate to The Family Learning Center in Boulder. We also raised funds for literacy through raffles prizes generously donated by the following: La Vie Salon, Wall Chatter, Stroller Strides, Author Jennifer Coburn, Author Paula Schmitt, Author Kathryn Mahoney, Author Caroline Poser, Author Christie Crowder, Haven Interiors, Dave & Busters, Lollilocks, Arbonne with Kristen Bergeson, Slumber Parties by Kelly, Down Dog Productions, Little Princess Jewelry, Old Chicago, Boulder Valley Ice, Jamba Juice, Psychic Channeler Shawna Allard and Island Baby. Phwww...that is quite a list of phenomenally generous individuals and businesses. Love them all!

Anyway, it was just one of those fantastically chaotic, creative, inspired and imagination - absolutely imperfect - just the way I like it!!

JWS

Me discussing literacy Fun and friends!

A Dream...

For days now, I've I have been brainstorming some powerful piece to tie into Martin Luther King Day about how we should rediscover our dreams, when this came across my email inbox. It was written by my friend Malonda Richard, and there is no way I could ever put it better. Thank you for sharing this with me and the world, Malonda. I wish you much peace and respect, my friend~

Today is a very special day. Today is the day that we celebrate the
life and the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - a man who
dared to dream during a time when he was told that he didn't have a
right to dream just because of the color of his skin. Sometimes I worry
that all that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. achieved during his short
life has been in vain because so many of us still refuse to dream.
Oftentimes so many of us refuse to believe that we have a right to not
only dream but to have our dreams realized.

My father, the late Eddie Myers Johnson, dreamed of becoming a
published author but unfortunately he was not able to have his dream
come true because he never found a publisher that believed in his book.
Every since I was a child, I have dreamed of becoming a published
author and fortunately I was able to find a publisher that believed in
me and my book. In less than 6 months my dream of becoming a published
author will come true and my father's dream will be realized through
me.

It is now that I clearly understand that the work that Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr did has not been in vain because the "Dream" lives on
in all of us and when we leave this earth it will live on in our
children and our children's children.

Get my book published is a dream come true and once I get my first
copies I will be able to scream out loud: "Free at last, Free at last,
Thank God almighty I am Free at last."

May God Bless Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all who dare to dream.

Peace and Respect,

Malonda Richard
Author - My Life Isn't Perfect But Thank God My Baby Is
Book Due Date: June 7, 2007

An Imperfectly Inspired 2007

Good morning, 2007!

I can’t tell you how excited I am for the New Year. Each year I am filled with enthusiasm for the upcoming 12 months, but this year is different. I wasn’t filled with as much fear. Rather, I turned that fear into faith by truly believe in my enthusiasm. Okay, the delta is slight, but it is there. (And, no, I didn’t have too many toasts last night). The past 14+ months have been filled with a tremendous amount of change for me and my family – loss of life, a major move, job/business changes, monumental childhood milestones and more. My rating on the “major stress factors scale” is over-the-top. It would have been so easy to become bitter and disillusioned, and, at time, I was. But I harnessed this uncertainty into downtime to evaluate my life, my dreams, and my goals. The result of this downtime was phenomenal. Tuning my thoughts to what mattered most in spirit and self rekindled my belief in the power of a life that excels in the chaos of life – an imperfectly inspired life.

We all can achieve an imperfect life – one that is enriched and inspired by our imaginations. Take time in 2007 to rekindle your belief – belief in your family, yourself, your dreams and your goals. Cultivate your imagination and inspiration to excel in the chaos of life and be the imperfectly inspired person you know you can be!

With inspiration and imagination,

Julie Watson Smith