Lauren Card Live

Last Thursday I had the privilege of attending the Orange County Business Journal awards for the Fastest-Growing Private Companies. The judges highlighted 100 of OC’s finest companies, and the Gala recognized the top 10 finalists.

I was very impressed with Point 1 Technologies, and it’s president Vikas Vanjani. Point 1 Technologies focuses on “green” products benefitting the environment. The Anaheim based company is a wholesaler of overstock, refurbished and other consumer electronics with an impressive two year growth of 637% , and 12–month sales of $168.6 million.

Congratulations to all 10 winners and their never ending quest to strive for entrepreneurial excellence. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from them in the near future!

L.

Do you have a daily routine that seldom changes? If so, you’re not unusual, we are all creatures of habit. We tend to do the those everyday little things the same way , never thinking about alternatives that might make our lives better, or just more interesting! Consider that habits are not necessarily bad or good, they are just habits.

Problems can occur however, when we get too comfortable with our habits. We stay on auto-pilot and we may not be actively observing or enjoying our surroundings or the moment.

What would happen if you change some of those routines, how would your day look then? Would you feel different? Would you act different with just a little twist? You won’t know until you try! Switch it up, write down 10 things you do on a daily basis that you can change and NOTICE how you feel? What’s going on around you?

Here are a few ideas to get you going:

1. Brush your teeth and hair with the opposite hand – How does that feel?
2. Stop watching the morning news and do one of the following – stretch, meditate, or read.
3. Look at yourself in the mirror consecutively for 10 minutes for 3 days – What do you see?…this one isn’t easy but very powerful!
4. Don’t make your bed - I’m wondering how many of you will find this a great challenge?;)
5. Take a different route next time you’re going to work, school, shopping, etc – how are you feeling?
6. Back away from the computer and go take a hike …literally – Notice your demeanor and productivity when you do go back
7. If you always buy your lunch, pack it and if you pack it, buy it – What did you notice about the taste?
8. Button your shirt or blouse the opposite direction. If you always start on the top head to the last button – What’s your experience?
9. If someone asks, “how are you?” refrain from the standard reply of “good” or “great” - Try using an alternative such as inspired, grateful, touched, happy, peaceful, curious, mellow – What is the reaction you get from others?
10. Take a camera with you where ever you go and take at least 2 photos a day of something that you think is beautiful or fun – We see many things daily without really seeing them, capture them on camera and create an album

I’m halfway through my studies with Sensei Ron Thomas and one of the homework assignments we have is to watch the movie the Peaceful Warrior. It’s a story about a young gymnast Dan, who struggles with the illusion of having to always remain in control. With the help of his mentor Socrates, he learns to surrender that which keeps him from attaining his goals and dreams.

At various times during the movie, the viewer is asked to consider if Socrates is real or manifestation of Dan’s consciousness. The movie leaves this question unresolved. For me Socrates lives in all of us, and the wisdom that he brought to Dan is alive in all of us at birth. The sunlight of happiness is brightest when we are children and our experiences as we grow can act as clouds to obscure that light.

When we most need and are ready for a lesson, we are presented with a teacher that can help us to understand and accept what we already know… that we must live in the moment and that the past and the future are creations of our imagination. This teacher can be a mentor, a situation, an adversity, loved ones, etc…even ourselves. Our challenge is to remain open and to see these lessons as gifts. Only then will the sunlight return.

Nick Nolte did a wonderful job as Dan’s mentor …I invite you to watch this movie and to find your own Socrates.

Presence- “I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.” – Albert Einstein

I’m grateful I had the awareness to create space for self-care, I was really needing it today and now feel energized and ready to go…

Presence is about being in the now whether you are with another or with yourself, a challenging feat at times I admit! Benefits to being present:

1. Improved Social Skills. – You are in the zone. With your attention focused outward towards the person(s) you are interacting with. You let things flow out of you without story…His Story or Her story
2. Better Listening Skills. – You naturally limit the tendency to think to much about the future and what you should say next while trying to listen. When another is sharing their story it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to share yours.
3. Improved creativity – If you write or do some other creative work you may have found that your best work flows out of you when you are not thinking that much. You just write, paint, or play. You enter a state where things come naturally to you. Later you can choose to edit your work. I do this when I’m creating logo art or a painting.
4. Greater Life Appreciation – One of big advantages of becoming more present in your everyday life is that you are less likely to analyze and label the world.
5. Being More Open – This is perhaps the best benefit. Being present opens you up to see and experience things without preconceived notions.

These are the ways that being present helps you in conversations and with your creativity. You are open to new things as you are without many of your barriers within your mind. Things can flow easier through you without all that stuff in the way…trust me this works! Less worry-warting and over-thinking.- Being present if just for a little while can help you.

Be NOW!
L.

Tonight I had an opportunity to celebrate the success of some truly exceptional entrepreneurs. The setting was the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, and the event was the Orange County Business Journal’s Fastest Growing Privately Owned Companies for 2009!

Each year, the Orange County Business Journal does extensive research to identify and acknowledge firms with exceptionally high growth rates, profitability, and year-over-year success. While 100 make the list, only ten are honored at a gala event that is sponsored by firms like Stradling Yocca Carlson and Rauth, Rothstein Kass, and Cox Business.

We arrived a few minutes after the schedule 5:30PM start, and the hall was buzzing with the excitement. Great food, drink and conversation flowed as the guests speculated on who would win the awards…as it turned out, our table-mates turned out to be one of the top honorees!

Rick Reiff, host of Inside OC, was Master of Ceremonies and opened the event with kind words about the honorees and the sponsors. Each sponsor was given an opportunity to highlight their business and then present an award, starting with number ten.

The winners were humble and authentic…some had come from modest beginnings. They spoke of their businesses, their employees and the trials and tribulations of being entrepreneurs. I was truly inspired and couldn’t help but imagine that someday I might be up on the stage accepting an award. What an honor that would be! Please check back tomorrow to meet one of OCBJ’s Top 10 Honorees, Vikas Vanjani and his company Point One Technologies!

Many thanks to the Orange County Business Journal for creating an event that was fun and inspirational. If you’re interested in the stories of the winners, please click here. My blog will feature a video and blog on one of the winners!

Defining our goals and dreams

The universe is completely aware of both the existing goals we actively pursue and our across-the-board dreams we have not yet begun to refine. Neither of these two things are beyond the scope of universal perception. However if we want to create our objectives, we not only need to have an idea about what those look like; we also need to clearly articulate these aims to ourselves and the universe.

When we create a list of what we want, referring to each item in as much detail as possible, our goals take on new essence. What was once only a wish becomes real and achievable when put into words. I invite you to pour the contents of your heart and soul into your list, and as you do your well-defined ambitions become a part of you, and the universe responds to your new determination by placing opportunities related to your objectives in your path. The list you create should not be a record of your individual goals, instead it should be a comprehensive and through index of each goal you want to reach and your reasons for aiming for them. This can mean that your list will include many pages of copy, since when you write down and review your ambitions, you empower yourself to be razor sharp in your goal-realization efforts. Doing this will help you understand your successes from setbacks and keep your list where you look at it daily. You will be reaffirming your conviction to your aspirations, demonstrating to the universe that you are truly devoted to your chosen path while keeping your objectives fresh in your mind. Try not to edit or judge what you have written, be authentic. Some of what you want may seem over-the-top when considered where you are now, it’s okay! Be free with your ideas and understand you may not bring everything into reality for some time, but your list will attract the universe’s compassion even as it energizes and inspires you.

Past-
• Born in eastern PA, the fifth of six children.
• Graduated St. Joe’s University and began life’s journey geographically independent from my close knit family. Held careers in Accounting – 5 years; commercial commodity sales – 3 years; and finally medical equipment sales – 20 years.
• Opportunity to experience life in Phila. area, Midwest – NE Wisconsin, and Southwest – AZ. Happy to finally call San Diego home.
• Realized success includes many facets; financial independence, recognition, sharing with someone special and family and friends, and
blending career with passion.

Present-
• “We” based life. Happily and lovingly sharing our lives for 8+ years.
• Retired 1/30/09. Now referred to as a sabbatical since becoming a member of Quattro University.
• Integrating passion with spirit. Choosing to live an authentic life with integrity.
• I, we, family, friends, health, light, balance.
• If not I then who? If not now then when?

Future-
• Radiating from my heart the highest level of my spirit.
• Goal: Create a center for the “Evolution of Thought”, dedicated to bringing the internal peace of a mountainside meditation to everyday existence in downtown USA.
• Connecting with and motivating every generation to live their dreams and passions tapping a tremendous wealth of potential.

Julianna’s past -

• Julianna grew up in Pacifica, CA, a beach town 10 minutes from San Francisco, CA. Upon graduating from the University of San Francisco in May 2009 with a Master’s degree in Business
• After graduating moved down to Orange County her fiancé, Zach, to be closer to his family
• Worked for one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, where she managed clinical trials
• She has looked for work in her field since moving to the OC, but has been either overqualified or under qualified, a conundrum resulting from the down economy

Julianna Today -

• Went to Quattro University this past August 2009. And realized with her fiancé Zach that he was not doing what he was most passionate about, speaking and training. They decided to launch their own speaking and training business
• Created business plan for new business and became an entrepreneur overnight
• Now in the process of product development and getting ready for the launch for their new venture

Julianna’s Future –

• The future is very bright for Julianna and she plans on building this company along with Zach to become a multi-million dollar organization.
• Would love to write a cookbook, one of her tips on cooking: never make the same dish the same twice, keep experimenting with different ingredients!
• Has a passion for fitness, animals and connecting with people