Knowledge is Power or Mind over Matter?

 https://cid-b8809c502a75f046.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.QuickDocuments  (Family Update)

Knowledge is Power is a very cliche saying these days. Still, there is something to be said for this statement. The more I educate myself with the technology being used today, the more power I seem to have to manipulate the messages being communicated.
To simply put out a family newsletter on a Blogpage, I had to make several attempts and inquiries as to how to make the media work together. Uploading photos and text boxes together is a whole new world for those who are self taught at computers. click above for Family Update 

Mind over Matter is a concept of self teaching that comes from determination to make something work. To understand it or not let it get the best of you. Determination can be a very powerful leadership tool. If it wasn't for this I wouldn't be where I am today.

I met with my first computer when I needed to make sense of my business. As a new owner of Subway, I felt I should know how to work one. I brought the new, very intimidating, device into my home. I looked everywhere on that thing and for the life of me couldn't find the "on"switch. OMG-they didn't put one on my computer??? Could it be? I did what every self respecting, frustrated, determined woman would do. I called the tech guy. We found the magical button together. What a relief!

From this point on, I had no time to take classes, so while running my store and my household, I learnt how to make this overpriced typewriter become useful to me. I learned,

• Quicken, 
• Quickbooks, 
• Simply Accounting, and then
• Excel and made my own Spreadsheets. 

You see, another major learning key is to know where your money is in business. It's like any good story...always follow the money.

I have now entered the big world of Apple. I recently purchased a Macbook Pro for the Program I am in at the U of W. It has opened an entire world. I am taking an Adobe Photoshop course in this Program. I am learning to manipulate layers of photos. It's not important that I know how to do this as an expert, but it is important that I am empowered with the knowledge of design.

Empowering yourself with any knowledge will always be the determing factor in many vital areas of your life. For example, whether you get that job you want, if you can repair something or whether you can speak intelligently on a particular subject.

When you make a mistake in life, it is always a mistake. We all make them, it's how we learn. (at least most of us) When you don't lean from the mistake it remains a mistake. When you learn from the mistake  it becomes wisdom.

Opinions and Empowerement

Opinions, we all have them.

Some of us keep them to ourselves and some of us express them with no looking back.

Opinions are fine as long as you can back it up with fact or feeling.

I used to watch the Academy Awards with my mom and we would eagerly await the Actors and Actresses (as they were called back then) coming down the Red Carpet or did they come up the Red Carpet? Who’s to say?

Glamour and glitz! It’s a wonderful thing. When I was little, I wanted to be the women in the long gowns with their hair all done high. They were bathed in jewels and exuded such confidence.

Giant ballrooms filled with the elite of Hollywood, masters of their craft, and stars that shine brighter than the chandeliers in the room.

At the Golden Globes this year, it was Austrian Crystal. Curtains and backdrops of crystals were simple yet elegant.  30000 Swarovsky crystals set the stage.

As the curtains pull back and the lights dim, you settle in with popcorn, candy and a pop in hand. The lights go down, it’s finally dark and you’re really there. You pop buttery flavored piece popcorn in your mouth and down some cola. Oh yeah, you’ve got to get this out of the way, as good as it is, its only part.

The coming attractions have come and gone and so has your snack. It’s time, the main attraction, it’s going to start, please let it be all you want it to be. There’s nothing like a movie on the big screen…with Dolby surround sound and it becomes larger than life. It sucks you in and you become one with the screen. You’re part of the action. You feel what the protagonists feel. It’s no longer about the movie…it’s about you.

This year, it’s about a King who had to overcome a speech impediment to lead his country. He had to overcome himself. Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter portray Queen Elizabeth’s parents. It is not only entertaining but also historical.

The other movie is a psycho thriller about a prima ballerina

who wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan, but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like the evil twin sister of the White Swan, the Black Swan.

The Fighter is a look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward played by Mark Wahlberg and his brother portrayed by Christian Bale, who helped train, him before going pro in the mid 1980s. 

The Social Network is the story of the development of Facebook. It’s a chronicle of the founding of Facebook, the social-networking Web site.

"It's not a movie about Facebook," Reznor said. "It's about creativity and consequences. It's about people." http://entertainment.latimes.com/awards/2011/01/golden-globes-trent-reznor-on-social-network-its-about-creativity-and-consequences.html

Inception rounds out the nominee list with Leo as the dream stealer. He’s a master at stealing valuable secrets from the subconscious mind. It’s made him a coveted player in industrial espionage. As a fugitive, he needs to do the impossible…inception, plant an idea rather than steal one.

Key Dates for the 83rd Academy Awards

Nominations for the 83rd Academy Awards will be announced on

January 25, 2011 at 5:30 a.m. PT. The Academy Awards ceremony will be held on February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Will you have an opinion, of course you will. But, will you have the courage to express it? Just like at the movies, you have a fairy godmother…me! “I empower you to be strong and come out of the darkness and let your opinion be heard.”

Have a get-together, have a drink, vote among your friends and have a good time. Remember, the movies are truly about you.

Life can feel like a puzzle.

Sometimes you’re the center piece.

Sometimes you’re the corner piece.

No matter what, you are essential.

The center is the main part.

The corner is the support.

Life needs you at all times.

Even if it’s a puzzle, don’t be missing.

A good manager influences with power and grace and leads by example.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

- John Quincy Adams

My management style has always been reflective in the successes of the teams that I have developed throughout my career.

As a manager, I have hired many people and created many teams. One of the most important lessons, I have imparted to them is one of trust. I always would earn their trust and ensure they would earn mine.

Trust in each other is essential in achieving goals. This trust goes even deeper when as a leader; you must guide your team on their own path to success.

 ~Ralph Waldo Emerson said:

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

I found myself in this situation when I came here to pursue this education. My team was a priority for me. One lady came to me very nervous, needy, and quite a people pleaser. This was great for sales, not great for life. She was lovely and still is. The difference is now, she is empowered with self confidence and accountability for her actions. She no longer has low self esteem. She is successful and is in management. Another member is also in management. She has followed her heart and with encouragement she is striving in her endeavors. The others have reported successes and happiness. It helps me to know that they are in good places and are managing on their own.

Teamwork needs to be encouraged in and outside of our business life.

I would like to share an important story with you about teamwork that comes from nature. I heard it years ago and it stayed with me and I hope it will stay with you as well.

Lessons from the Geese

This fall, when you see Geese heading south for the winter, flying along in “V” formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in “V” formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
When the Head Goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Finally, and this is important, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshots and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until it dies. Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.
By Dr. Robert McNeish, 1972

From this story we should derive that if we had as much sense as the geese, we would go with those headed in the same direction as we want to go.

As a team we need to respect each other. We need to manage difficult tasks. We need to work within each others’ talents and skills.

We will stand by each other, in good times and in difficult times. When the team is strong we need to encourage each other and support one another even more when we need each other.

Empowering a team gives them a sense of accountability, pride and confidence. Think back to when your mom or dad finally trusted you with the mixer or the power tool. Remember, when they said” Now go ahead, you can do it”. They may not have come right out and said the words that they believe in you…but they did. From then on, you had a little more confidence…I did.

Individual empowerment results from quality encouragement. The honking we do must be of quality, and supportive. It is reflective on the leader.

A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not. 

- John Quincy Adams

Is Barbie too skinny to be a role model?

Is Barbie too skinny to be a role model? This is a captivating question, one that leaves most of us remembering a rainy day when we were little girls playing with Barbie dolls. Were you sizing her up? Most little girls spent long hours brushing her hair.

Barbie was launched in 1959 and sold for just three dollars. She wore, the now famous, black and white striped bathing suit with her hair up in a ponytail. At the time, over 350 000 units were sold and to date the best selling one was the Totally Hair Barbie. This information is found on Barbie .com

Barbie was named after the inventor’s daughter, Barbara. She has an entire history which includes the following: she came from Willows, Wisconsin, she attended Willows High School and graduated college in 1964. Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. In 1961, Ken made his debut as her boyfriend. She has five sisters, 43 pets and many vehicles.

The main facts about this icon are ones that everyone should know. If Barbie was human sized, she would be five foot nine inches. Her measurements would be an unbelievable 36-18-33. In reality, Barbie is always eleven and a half inches tall.

Barbie’s signature color is pink. She has more than a billion pair of shoes. She also has more than a hundred new additions to her wardrobe each year. The excessive amount of accessories and fashion available reflects a lifestyle that is unattainable.

When little girls play with Barbie, they usually become what the imagination wants them to be. When I was little, my Barbie collection was meant to play with, not to look at. My friends and I would have the Barbie dolls become whatever we wanted them to. We never talked about her size or her breasts. We just dressed her, played with her, and redressed her.  We were led by our imagination; the size of Barbie’s waistline had nothing to do with our play time. Impressed by her hair, we brushed it, and wanted ours long or short, depending on how she wore hers. Her fashions also made us long for mini-skirts, bell bottoms, cruise wear, and ball gowns. Her wedding dress was the fantasy you dreamed of, if you were so lucky.

In today’s society, however, “Barbie" or "Barbie Girl” has become somewhat of a derogatory slang referring to a stupid woman. One of the biggest issues about Barbie is whether she is too skinny to be a good role model. Is it because of the reality of parents' inability to communicate with their children? Young people's decisions regarding self esteem should be based on informed knowledge, not warped ideas made by antiquated toy companies.

Barbie’s message is all about empowering women, and yet she remains controversial in her size and fashion accessories. Her lifestyle is unsustainable. It can be a joy, if left where it belongs, in a young girl’s imagination. A great parenting skill is to know you can’t give your child everything, so you need to give them something in fantasy or imagination. A sort of “what if " scenario is appropriate to get to know your children’s needs, and then give them what they want. Imagination, playing dress up, letting them play with Barbie dolls and having a fulfilled childhood is a gift you shouldn’t take away from your kids. A good parent sits and plays with them. Teach your kids about good play and what Barbie is about. Knowledge is Power. Empowering young women is the ultimate gift!

Who am I

I am from my sisters, from love and encouragement.
I am from the hearts of a family with every day challenges.
I am from the Azalea flower and the young Willow tree,
who stands alone and bends for all and finds others in it's maturity.
I am from warm applecrisp and French songs from Gabe and Lucille and
from Lagimodiere and Lavigne.
I am from Catholicism with all it's fear and guilt, to a loving God filled
with respect.
I'm from St. Boniface and French Canadian, Sucre a Creme and
Tourtiere.
From the knee of a great uncle, telling stories of the depression, while
a great aunt bakes warm cookies, and the nattering of a sister that she knows
I can do it if I set my mind to it.
I am from gathered photos in storage bins sugared with dust, trinkets of importance
bought of love, and time that passes too fast to spend with those who matter most.