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Jan 15 2015

5 Ways to Make 2015 Your Best Year Yet!

sandra

It’s the start of a New Year. Time for goal setting, setting intentions and putting a plan into action! I love the New Year because I always feel like it’s a fresh start, a clean slate to do things differently, better, than the year before. I would love to hear your tips to make this year better than the last. Here are my 5 suggestions to make 2015 your best year yet.

  1. Celebrate your accomplishments from the previous year

This is something that I started to do several years ago. On New Year’s Eve, before any festivities begin, I grab my journal and list all of the things that I accomplished during the current year. They don’t all have to be monumental goals, but you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by all that you’ve done, even if you think you didn’t have such a stellar year.

  1. Review what worked and what didn’t

We’ve all heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. If we don’t take the time to look at the systems and strategies that worked and evaluate the ones that didn’t we might end up making the same mistakes again next year. Don’t beat yourself up about the failures, but do learn from them. What can you do differently next time?

  1. Identify at least 3 things you intend to accomplish this year

What would an article about the New Year be without talking about setting goals? They don’t all have to be about your business. Throw some personal goals in the mix too. When we’re at our best, we do our best. Achieving personal goals can help you be more effective in your business as well so don’t forget to take care of yourself when setting your intentions for 2015.

  1. Choose at least one skill to upgrade or learn

If we’re not learning, we’re not growing. I’m a firm believer and strong supporter of continuing education. We can never possibly know all there is to know, even in areas that we’ve mastered. Whether it has to do with your business or not, learning a new skill or learning how to do something you already know in a different way, expands our minds and opens us up to new opportunities that we might not have known existed otherwise. My 9 year-old lab/border collie mix is a constant reminder that you’re never too old to learn and you actually can teach an old dog new tricks! 😉

  1. Create a 90-day action plan

If you work out regularly, I’m sure you’ve witnessed the popularity of your local work out spot in January and the decline in attendance as we head into February. It’s why I no longer believe in New Year’s Resolutions. We can’t just say we’re going to start doing, or stop doing something; we have to figure out how we’re going to do it. In addition to that, we have to make sure we’re committed to our goals and make sure that it’s a goal that is important to us, and not something someone else wants us to do. The action plan doesn’t have to be perfect, but it definitely helps to have one. If you want to increase the effectiveness of the plan, share it with someone you know will hold you accountable.

Reflecting on the previous year can be a bittersweet time for many of us. It’s easy to focus on the things that didn’t go the way we hoped or expected rather than on the things that worked out, sometimes even better than we had planned. Whether last year was phenomenal or lack-lustre, celebrate the fact that you survived another year and know that this year can always be better, it’s all up to you!

Sandra Dawes is a certified life coach specializing in helping women who feel unfulfilled with their 9-5 follow their dreams and pursue their passions. She holds an Honours BA, an MBA as well as a certificate in Dispute Resolution.She has completed her first book,Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve!
Connect:
www.embraceyourdestiny.ca
www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestiny
www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestinythebook
www.twitter.com/sandradawes

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: 2015, 90 day, Accomplishments, action, Action Plan, Canadian Small Business Women, coaching, Embrace Your Destiny, entrepreneur, fresh start, goal setting, new year, New Year's Eve, personal goal, personal goals, plan, Sandra Dawes, skill, small business development, small business owners, what didn't, what worked

Nov 01 2013

Gabriella Mammone – Canadian Small Business Woman of the Month of October 2013

gabriella-mammone-gaby-divirgilio-motivational-speaker

“One of the greatest goals I ever achieved was learning how to make myself cry of laughter”, says Gabriella Mammone.  Gabriella has faced that awkward moment of laughing hysterically and unable to control her authentic sobbing.

Gabriella is a devoted wife, a loving mother, a serial event planner, a public speaker, a motivational ambassador and an active volunteer.  She has a zest for life and appreciates the small things that life has to offer – hot apple cider, an orange gerbera daisy and a warm blanket.

Gabriella lives daily with multiple sclerosis.  She experiences extreme lethargy, cognitive issues, numbness, loss of balance, weakness and extensive itching/tingling.  She has over 16 lesions in her brain and 2 in her spinal cord.  Despite her innumerable daily challenges, she attacks each day with a smile and successfully reached her goal of inspiring others.

As an active volunteer with the MS Society, Gabriella helps with the MS Walks, golf tournaments and other fundraising initiatives.  She is also an Ambassador with the MS Society of Canada, advocating on behalf of people living with MS.  Annually she visits Queen’s Park to raise awareness with decision makers about select priority issues for people living with chronic conditions and disabilities.

Gabriella is a serial philanthropist and event planner.  She is the Event Director of Family Jingle & Mingle, a shared Christmas celebration for companies and families in support of The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.  www.jingleandmingle.ca

An entrepreneur, Gabriella is the Passionate Owner and Gift Guru of Occasion Giftware, www.occasiongiftware.com, an online gift store catering to weddings, showers, and religious events including baptisms, first holy communions and confirmations.

Gabriella is also the Managing Partner at Senso 3C, www.senso3c.com, an organization that helps companies source, develop and retain their people.  Gabriella actively develops their business resources division assisting companies with training, development and the planning of their corporate events.  She also provides operational support to the talent division that assists companies find staff for their organizations.

She was featured on CBC’s hit TV show, Dragons’ Den and although she didn’t expect the unfavourable outcome, she quickly bounced back and has become an excellent guest speaker.

Talk about an inspiring woman!  Gabriella continues to motivate people and is truly an inspirational presenter and keynote speaker.  She believes that volunteering adds to her life.   In 2013, she earned a Community Civic Award, presented by Mayor Hazel McCallion and members of council for her positive contributions to the City of Mississauga, ON.

Is she a busy gal?  Yes she is.  Gabriella’s passion is built on her personal experience of living with MS and finding the humour in her ‘interesting’ life.  She is enthusiastic and relentless in her message that success if available to anyone, even for those that have an illness or disease.   We will encounter many defeats in our lives, but Gabriella strives to never be defeated.  She encourages you to find the humour in your situations and sends you this message:  “make yourself cry of laughter”.

Our Q & A with Gabriella Mammone

What inspires you?

There is nothing like positive thinking to get me psyched!  I am inspired by my son’s mind – he’s only 5 and yet he is completely logical in his own passions and interests.  I am inspired by the progression of people – I very much enjoy spending time with colleagues and seeing them grow as their confidence increases.  I am inspired by driven and passionate people – seeing others achieve their goals empowers me.  I am inspired by people that have strong ethics and go out of their way to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  I am inspired by volunteers that selflessly donate their time and exemplify the spirit of giving back.  I respect and honour my inspiration for I am grateful that I am able to make changes, not excuses.  Here’s to inspiration!

As a small business owner, what achievements make you most proud?

I remain strong in the face of adversity.  I am not afraid of a challenge and have an uncanny ability to bounce back after a setback.  I was on the television show Dragon’s Den, for example, and truly felt humiliated by one of the Dragons.  Looking back at the video, I felt that I handled the situation with grace and professionalism and didn’t let the comments bring me down.  I was grateful for the opportunity and thankful that it opened new doors for me…new doors that I created.  I am most proud of the leadership that I provide to the MS Society of Canada and those affected by illnesses.

What advice would you give to other aspiring small business owners?

Make an action plan to achieve your goals.  In business, we make action plans for marketing campaigns and projects.  Why not create a detailed step-by-step plan for achieving your own personal goals?  The steps that you take will help you keep focused on achieving your goals.  ‘Action planning’ your goals will help you focus on your ideas and decide what steps you need to take to achieve your milestones.   Each step you take is a journey and will create new priorities and keep you organized.  As you achieve your personal goals, the passion and success will translate into your business and objectives.

What new things can we look forward to from your business in the upcoming year?

Family Jingle & Mingle 2013 will have an awesome silent auction and fun surprises in store.  Next year we will work with another charity to help them raise valuable funds.  I personally plan to do more public speaking and motivate those faced with adversity.   I am working on a book and am excited to learn more about the publishing process.

Contact Gabriella (aka Gaby) at:

 

www.gabriellamammone.com

www.jingleandmingle.ca

www.senso3c.com

www.occasiongiftware.com

twitter.com/gabymammone

YouTube: Gabriella Mammone 

LinkedIn:  Gabriella Mammone 

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: A&W, Action Plan, adversity, advocate, ambassador, aspergers syndrome, autism, Canadian Small Business Women, Carassauga, Children’s Wish, christmas, civic award winner, corporate events, Costco, CSBW, debilitating disease, dragon's den, em09 Media Group, emcee, entrepreneur, event planner, events manager, Family Jingle & Mingle, Female Author, festivals, FJAM, Gabriella Mammone, Gaby DiVirgilio, inspiration, Italian, keynote speaker, Mayor Hazel McCallion, motivational speaker, Mr. Lube, MS Society, MS Walk, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Occasion Giftware, public speaker, Queen’s Park, Rogers TV, selective mutism, Senso 3C, Sheridan College, small business woman of the month, small business women of the month, television, The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, volunteer

May 23 2013

Creating The Perfect Picture

anna

Many of us have developed idealistic pictures of our lives.  I remember seeing myself as a popular chick in the “in” crowd with incredible long dark hair.  I have the perfect cheerleader body and was full of pep and vigor.  All the girls wanted to be my friends and all the jocks wanted to date me.  Later I decided I would make an incredible rock star.  I was going to change my name to something exotic, like Monica. That’s right!  I thought the name Monica was exotic!  Later I thought I was going to meet a prince who would love me and take care of me and our family forever.

I created a vision and then sadly found myself disappointed over and over.  I was far from popular and labelled myself a loner.  I was okay with that because that means I didn’t have to be disappointed anymore. I cannot hold a tune and I certainly do not have the cheerleader pep!  What happened to me?

Creating a vision is healthy and creating a positive and realistic goal is important.  I did neither. I simply dreamed for things to come true.  I did nothing to set my dreams into action.

So now I write out my dreams.  Who I want to become; how I want to accomplish this; when I want to have this happen.  I am specific! I have a detailed outline of the entire plan. This next part is VERY important!

TAKE ACTION!!

Everyday do something to move towards your purpose. In business it may be cold calling or getting caught up on your administration or networking and connecting with others that may be great contacts for you and your business.  In your personal life it could be setting a daily menu to ensure healthy eating, setting your organizer to have quality days and times with your family or simply setting alone time to reinvigorate yourself.

Be realistic and know that wanting to make a huge change in your life could take a long time and to set timeframes to ensure your success. Also be brave enough to push yourself so that you don’t lose sight of your end result.

YOU CHOOSE!  You get to set your dreams and turn them into an action plan!  I look forward to hearing all your great accomplishments.

Anna Ottaviani is a Board Certified NLP Master Practitioner & Master Coach, Board Certified Master Hypnotherapist,Creating Your Future® , Time Line® Therapist Practitioner and Reiki Master. Her methods are unique and tailored to each individual client. She can be reached at www.sucessfullyyou.ca or by phone at 289-221-5772. You can follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/successfullyyou?ref=ts&fref=ts

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Anna Ottaviani · Tagged: Accomplishments, Action Plan, Anna Ottaviani, business, business development, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, career coach, coaching, Creating The Perfect Picture, Dreams, Purpose, small business, small business development, successfully you

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