May Victorious Woman of the Month

NAFE Director Honored

Robbie Motter, the Western & Mid Atlantic Regional Coordinator for the National Association of Executive Females (NAFE), is well known in NAFE Circles for her tireless networking and support of women around the country. It is with great pleasure that I’m announcing that Robbie Motter is named May 2008 Victorious Woman of the Month.

During May, International Victorious Woman Month, I had the pleasure of speaking to lots of women who were mentored and supported by Robbie. Not at all to my surprise, each one had such affection and respect for her!

Her story of lifelong victories is one not to be missed…so don’t. You can read it, along with Robbie’s tips for living victoriously, at http://www.victoriouswoman.com/vwmonth.htm. It’s also in printer-friendly format, so you can also print or download it to share with friends.

Congratulations, Robbie! You're a great role model for every woman who wants to be successful and happy. Thanks for teaching us to "ASK" and that "SHOWING UP" is the first step.

In victory,
Annmarie

Memorial Day 2008

This morning I briefly listened to a radio talk show. Unlike many other shows, it was "live" not taped in advance. The host asked people to call in with the names of loved ones who died in the service of my country. He asked them to give their name, the war and say something about the deceased veteran. It was so touching, honorable and fit the meaning of this day perfectly.

As I listened, I thought of my father who was a disabled veteran. Though he was exempt from the draft, he enlisted anyway because he wanted to serve. Unfortunately, he was wounded in battle and lost his left hand and forearm. He received the Purple Heart, was honorably discharged and, since he could no longer do his pre-war work, attended college on the GI Bill. I could tell you many things about growing up with a disabled vet, but what I most want you to know is that my experience makes me ever-grateful to the men and women of the armed services who have served in the past and who are now serving my country. They protect me, my loved ones and my lifestyle.

In this war, women are serving unlike any other time. In previous generations, most women took on caregiving roles, even in the services. Today’s women fight side by side with their male counterparts. Like the men, they leave spouses, lovers and families and go to unsafe places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Also like the men, many have someone on the homefront, caring for houses and children and waiting anxiously for the return of their loved ones. In this war, for the first time, men as well as women are “keeping the home fires burning” and they jump every time the phone rings and live in fear of the dreaded knock on the door.

During this Memorial Day, let’s take some time to remember those who gave their life so that we can have the freedom to live as we want, pray as we desire, and applaud or criticize our government as we choose. And while we are remembering the dead, let’s say a prayer or send a good thought to those who are actively working for our freedom today – on or off the battlefield. They aren’t having a carefree barbeque, and knocking back a few beers or sipping glasses of wine. They are all hanging tough, trusting in our victory, and hoping they will see their loved ones again.

To all of you, I am grateful. THANK YOU!

Mother’s Day and Giftgiving

What Do You Really Want?

If you didn’t get the Mother’s Day acknowledgements from your children, and their father, you’d be upset, right? Yet, if you are like so many other women, as nice as it is getting the flowers, gifts, brunch, etc., it leaves many of you feeling disappointed.

Does that make you sound ungrateful? NO! If, on Mother’s Day, everyone makes a fuss but the next day everyone goes back to taking you for granted, how can you not be disappointed?

Here are a couple suggestions for your kids of things you might really want and enjoy. And you can send them to this blog entry any time of the year: Mother’s Day, your birthday, Christmas, when you don’t feel well…and whenever the people you care for are forgetting how important you are in their lives!

Happy Mother’s Day. May this be the best Mother’s Day for the Mom in your life!

Kids…here are some things you can get your mom that she’ll really like:

Time. Most women fill their waking time with tasks for family, work, school events, etc. As a result, they leave no time for themselves. Pick one time-consuming job that Mom does regularly and take over that chore – permanently. It could be cleaning the bathroom each week, doing dishes or taking Mom’s aging mother shopping once a month. Whatever you pick, follow-through and really make it your job. Extra hint: make sure Mom agrees to use the hour or two that you are giving her each week for serious self-care.

Appreciative Attention. Instead of depending on the card and gift industry to tell you when to honor your mother, start a new ritual called Mom’s Personal Day. Pick one day a month – or even every other month. Mark it on your calendar and hers. Plan something special to let your mother know she is valuable a part of your life.

Need ideas for your Mom’s Personal Day? Based on her interests and age, your Mom might enjoy a mother-son brunch, afternoon at the beach or a museum, a mother-daughter shopping trip or simply a loving visit from you where she is the total focus of your attention. Find out what she would like best, and do it for her. Windfall moment: you’ll be making memories with Mom that will stay in your heart long after trinkets have lost their usefulness. Added benefit: you may discover a whole new appreciation for something you never thought you’d like.

Stress-relief. What’s the one thing you do that stresses Mom out? Is it being defensive or argumentative? Maybe she stresses because you don’t pick up after yourself, or don’t call. Whatever that one thing is, stop doing it. It won’t take away all Mom’s stress, but every little bit has an impact. Side bonus: the effort will build your character – and that will please Mom even more!

Mom will always love you, and these ideas will show her you love AND appreciate her too!!

Victorious Woman Month Starts Today!

May is International Victorious Woman Month.

What will you do to celebrate and make this a victorious month? Here are three ways you can “get your victory on” and make this a spectacularly victorious month:

Focus on Victory
Give up those thoughts that you “can’t do it” or “are too young/old” or “don’t have the money.” Instead, think about end results. What do you want? How will it feel when you get it? How will your life be different?

Visualize Victory
Start making pictures of your victory in your mind. Research shows that your mind doesn’t know the difference between real and fake. It outpictures what you visualize. So, if you are picturing yourself failing or just getting by, that’s what you get. This month, pledge to focus only on positive pictures. See yourself overcoming obstacles and making the victory stretch that leads to success. You can even make a Victorious Visioning Book (for instructions: http://www.victoriouswoman.com/Files/Victorious_Visioning.pdf).

Act Victoriously
There is an old adage: “if you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you already got.” Do something different and better than you did yesterday. Make a phone call that you’ve been putting off. Take a risk. Find a mentor. Reach out and network with someone who is already at the personal or professional level you want to be.

For more Victorious Woman ideas, click on this blog's title for a free download of the Victorious Woman Calendar’08 with thirty-one daily tips for focusing your life on victory.

Wishing you an amazing Victorious Woman Month!
Annmarie