Dear Friends,
I love to read. In this issue, instead of my usual letter—a Valentine for you—some recommended favorite reads I know you will love. Happy Valentine's Week!
Love,
Mary
A Short Guide to a Happy Life
by Anna Quindlen
Soul: An Archaeology, Readings from Socrates to Ray Charles
Edited by Phil Cousineau
The
Power of Intention: Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way
by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
And don't miss InStyle magazine's new book, InStyle: Getting Gorgeous!
Mary's Pick of the Month!
Juicy Living Cards
by Sark (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy)
A 50-card deck offering simple steps to greater self-love and "juicy
living"
Click on the button below to go directly to Amazon.com's home page
P.S. Give yourself a Valentine—the gift of inspiration! Personal training with MM+A.
Inspiration
of the Month:
"Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions, themselves..."
- Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Finding the
Fire
By Jenn Holl, Features Editor and Speechwriter, MM+A
Each year on February 14, men and women in relationships will scour their cities in search of the last dozen red roses available. The reason for the mad dash is because no other product has become more synonymous with Valentine's Day. The red rose has come to symbolize what this holiday is all about—passion. It's the one day of the year when we are all encouraged to let loose our passions and express them publicly or privately.
If we could express our passions so freely all year round, studies indicate that we could not only feel more content in our personal lives, but could achieve greater success in the workplace as well.
The fact that we have passions is a given. Passions lay at the center of our being just like the cherry in a chocolate cordial. On Valentine's Day, we think of the passion we feel for a loved one, but our passions drive us in all aspects of our life, toward personal fulfillment or success in the business world. Passions relay themselves to us through feelings—that intense reaction you have, for example, to a work of art; the thrill of a meeting someone new; that deep, gut feeling, that draws you to your work.
But many of us aren't heeding the call of our passions, which can leave us feeling unfulfilled, and even affect our company's bottom line.
A Gallup poll of 300,00 businesses indicates that more than 75 percent of employees do not feel as enthusiastic about their careers as they say they could, and because of that, they say they do not achieve to their full potential. If this overwhelming percentage of American workers felt more "passionate" about their workplaces, Gallup estimates that turnover rates would drop by 70 percent, customers and clients would be 70 percent more loyal, and profits would jump 40 percent.
Why is a more engaged, more passionate, workplace so important to your company's success? Gallup suggests that impassioned executives engender a more passionate following and brand loyalty. As one example, the organization cites retail buying trends: customers who praise a store's retail associates were 16 times more likely to feel passionate about that store's brand.
Studies also point to passion's ability to win out over stress. In short, if we love what we're doing, we're less likely to suffer the emotional and physical effects of stress—even when faced with potentially daunting projects.
So how do we tap into the power of passion? The first step, simply, is
to acknowledge it.
It doesn't matter that many passions, on the surface, don't
seem to fit in with a person's particular type of business. Research
into corporations shows that most business people want a company that
understands their need for development outside of what is considered strictly
job-related. And some companies are leading the way, offering corporate
retreats that go beyond job descriptions, or benefits that allow employees
to develop their bodies and minds in ways that don't directly relate
to the workplace. The result? Happier, more passionate associates, which
results in a loyal, more passionate clientele.
When a corporation acknowledges, even encourages, its executives' passions, it actually harnesses that power. Remember that it is passion from where new ideas spring. Once your and your colleagues' passions are unleashed, there's no telling where the enhanced creativity, enthusiasm, and reduced stress levels can take you all. Passion is what moves visionary ideas into realities. Passion is what launches small businesses off the ground and expands established businesses in new directions. Just like there's no way to stuff the cherry back into that chocolate cordial once you've taken a bite, there's no way to stop passion once ignited.
So go ahead. It's Valentine's Day. Take a bite.
Profile: Putting a Face on One of Our Own
Mariela Hernandez, Senior Associate, Hispanic Market Specialist
"If
you want the Hispanic market, you need Hispanic actions and language.
There has to be direct cultural marketing"– Mariela Hernandez
Mariela Hernandez is a professional public speaker who has created and
developed bilingual media training seminars and business presentations
in the areas of marketing, management, motivational topics, cross-cultural
diversity, psychographics, entertainment, and related subjects for Fortune
500 firms and government agencies.
She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and Women in Film and her talent profile includes spokesperson in the local, regional, and national mainstream and Hispanic media for ConAgra, the California Department of Health Services and the Washington Apple Commission. Mariela also participated in KCET (PBS affiliate) as a co-host for their membership drive; she hosted her own public access show for Buena Vista Cable television and KALI Hispanic radio station; and she has acted in several television, industrial videos, and radio commercials.
In the area of consumer marketing, she has more than sixteen years of experience in creating and implementing successful marketing and direct-to-consumer programs for Fortune 100, 500 and government organizations catering to the rapidly expanding Hispanic market. These successful programs have received national recognition for achieving high brand/service awareness, sales increase, and market penetration at the local, regional, and national levels. These programs have been implemented in health services, telecommunications, packaged goods, and entertainment industries. Her client list is extensive and includes, GTE, the Washington Apple Commission, Proctor & Gamble, Dannon Yogurt, Conagra Grocery Products, Clorox, California Project LEAN, CineLatino, and several State of California agencies.
Mariela is involved in many philanthropic causes, particularly in the areas of education. She received the Friedman Award from the Los Angeles Unified School District for her involvement and contribution to the Adult Education Division in the past ten years. She developed, planned and coordinated the public relations efforts for the 1984 Olympics in Santa Barbara, California. Additionally, in the past seven years, Mariela has been involved in managing and coordinating several political campaigns at the local, regional, and national levels. Her work has been the link that companies need to effectively reach the Hispanic market. Since 1986. she has pioneered many successful community-outreach, grassroots programs across the country, while developing civic, charitable, and political contacts to ensure successful, culturally sensitive programs.
Mariela was born in Mendoza, Argentina. She has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communications and Spanish Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also has done extensive work as a researcher for the Counseling Psychology Clinic at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in the areas of cultural assimilation, acculturation and family interaction among various Latino groups.
Special Announcements
Mary Mayotte + Associates/Speech Fitness® is proud to announce its sponsorship of the inaugural ACG Denver Women’s Forum, in conjunction with the Third Annual Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference. The event takes place Wednesday, March 16 at the beautiful Inverness Hotel & Golf Club in Englewood, Colorado.
The ACG Denver Women’s Forum is a presentation and workshop targeted to women executives, professionals and entrepreneurs. Dr. Jana Matthews, author, CEO advisor, and founder of three companies, will present “Leading at the Speed of Growth” and lead an interactive workshop, followed by networking.
Growing a business is a challenge for many executives; the ACG Women’s Forum aims to help women chart the path from visionary ideas to solid leadership. You’ll discover the three stages of growth that companies face, and how to make transitions between stages.
The ACG Women’s Forum takes place from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Cost for the forum is $50.
Register Online | Download PDF Information
Don’t
let that next speaking or media opportunity pass you by! Join
us for SFI’s new Presentation “BOOT CAMP” + Media “Tune-Ups,”
where we bring the Institute to you!
TA DA!!
Success Stories (yours, and ours)
Happy 16th Birthday to my wonderful nephew, Ian.
The SFI® BEAT
"Your Mind, Your muscles, Your Soul--they all need Exercise"
Kickoff
your spring/summer sales season the right way by leading your team out
of the office and into the great outdoors for The Speech Fitness®
Institute®. Here we blend time-tested training techniques
with a unique performance-based approach. For over 13 years MM+A has helped
prepare some of the most seasoned professionals in every business through
the use of a well-rounded mind, body, and spirit approach to communications,
leadership and team building. Whether you’re looking to re-engage
an existing team, build team strength with a newly formed unit, or just
propel your team’s performance to the next level, SFI can answer
the call through a fully customized experience, designed to meet the specific
needs of your organization and its market challenges, all set in the great
"back to nature" environment of the Colorado Rockies or a location
of your choice.
Booking now for Summer and Fall 2005-06 Retreats
Click here for more information – www.Speech Fitness®institute.com
What is YOUR Biggest Communication Challenge?
Email us your communication challenge, and if we select your challenge
to report on in our next newsletter, you will receive a complimentary,
one-hour Executive Coaching telephone consultation with the Head Coach,
herself: Mary Mayotte.
Click here
Tell A Friend:
If you refer a friend or colleague who books a training or consultation
with MM+A, you will receive a 10% discount toward your own coaching services
with us.
Don't forget to visit our Website for information on
our services and to discover how Mary Mayotte + Associates can help
you to achieve your communications goals at
www.Speech Fitness®.com
Or simply call us directly at 212.772.1275/303-321-8935
We look forward to discussing your specific training needs.
We invite you to communicate with us!—Comments and suggestions
are always welcome! info@Speech Fitness®.com
The Balance Beam is a collaborative endeavor from the MM+A team:
Mary Mayotte, Head Coach; Eileen Winnick, Communications Coach/Account
Executive; and Jenn Holl, Features Editor & Speechwriter.