When I am away from my usual work distractions, I am able to hear myself think. As an example: While I was in Antigua for a month with family and then to work, I had a conversation with a friend and said that I was ‘living the life I am meant to have’. This was an Aha moment for her and me, which I have reflected on and wanted to share with you here.
Living the life you are meant to have is about embracing your true self, following your passions, and creating a life that aligns with your values and aspirations. It’s about being authentic and making choices that bring you joy and fulfilment.
Imagine life as a journey (I know, cliché); you are the captain of your ship. To truly live the life you are meant to have and do the work you are here to deliver. You must set your course based on what resonates with your heart and soul. Don’t let the expectations or opinions of others dictate your path. Instead, listen to your intuition and inner wisdom.
Often, fear of the unknown or fear of failure holds us back from pursuing our dreams. But remember growth and transformation can only happen when you step out of your comfort zone. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. Keep expanding your knowledge, honing your skills, and staying curious. You learn more from the setbacks. I have reframed failure as feedback. Sometimes, unexpected detours lead to the most beautiful destinations.
Always surround yourself with positivity. Connect with people who uplift and support you, and let go of relationships that drain your energy. Your environment plays a significant role in shaping your mindset and outlook on life.
A life well-lived is rich in experiences and meaningful connections. Practising gratitude can transform your perspective. Focus on what you have rather than what you lack. Gratitude enhances your happiness and helps you appreciate the journey you’re on.
Living the life you are meant to have is embracing your uniqueness, taking bold steps toward your dreams, learning from every experience, nurturing positive relationships, and finding happiness in the present moment. It’s your journey, so make it purposeful and delightful.
I had a wonderful time with my family, but
The family holiday was delightful; our villa was spacious and could entertain all family visitors with quiet corners you could escape to. If you follow me on Instagram, you will see the stories and reels of our adventures. I visited over 20 different beaches in two weeks.
In Antigua, I was becoming extremely irritated by my brother’s constant alerts on his phone. Even when I am working, my notifications are all turned off; if I want something, I have to go and check my phone, usually between tasks. I pay the bill, and my phone serves me rather than I am serving my phone.
WARNING: Setting alerts on your phone can have both physical and mental adverse effects.
The Physical Effects:
Physiological Response: Alerts can increase heart rate and adrenaline release, causing heightened alertness or stress.
Tension: Anticipating alerts can lead to muscle tension and a sense of unease.
Impacts on Sleep: Frequent alerts, especially at night, can disrupt sleep patterns and affect overall rest.
The Mental Effects:
Disrupted Focus: Alerts break concentration, making engaging in deep or focused tasks difficult.
Stress and Overwhelm: Constant notifications contribute to feeling overwhelmed by managing multiple information streams.
Notification Fatigue: Over time, excessive alerts can lead to decreased responsiveness and missing important messages.
Anxiety: The fear of missing out on alerts or urgent messages can heighten tension.
The Positive Aspects:
Organisation: Alerts can help you stay organised and remind you of important tasks or events.
Timely Information: Notifications provide real-time updates and inform you about news, events, and communications.
Selective Usage: Mindful management of alerts for crucial matters can mitigate adverse effects.
It’s a Balancing Act:
Mindful Approach: Choose which alerts truly matter to maintain a healthier relationship with your device.
Scheduled “Quiet” Times: Designate periods without alerts to promote relaxation and focused work.
Notification Settings: Customise settings to manage notifications that warrant alerts and can wait.
I recorded 6.0 video tips for October.
I have a birthday celebration in October and wanted to share some of my insights, so I recorded thirty-one 1-minute videos for every day in October. I discuss some of my No Sh.t Philosophies and my thoughts on modernising B2B sales teams.
Ensure you follow me on LinkedIn to get notified.
Four intensive work weeks before more travels.
I am excited to see my Women Sales Pros community of elite women in sales controlling their destinies. I love the can-do attitude of my American cousins. I have the most existing year celebrating my birthday with friends and family. Antigua was just the start, and Japan is not the end, with lots in between, so stay tuned.
Pardavimų formulė was my biggest speaking event with 1800 delegates, so I can tell you I was nervous.
Three months before the event, I would think about it and get nervous; all the ridiculous what-ifs were racing in my head. But the closer I got to the event, my nerves relaxed, and it was all about the logistics.
I was grateful I had my good friend and colleague, Bev Hancock, with me; speaking internationally may seem glamorous, but it can be a lonely affair.
I remember reading Patricia Fripp Presentation Skills Expert newsletter about dealing with nerves before a presentation, and now I always stand on the stage, ideally the day before my presentation. Knowing what it feels like and making the stage your friend is essential and one less thing to deal with on the day.
🚶🏾Once I waited so long for my turn to present, my legs felt like lead, and my energy was low. I never make this mistake and now walk around before going on stage.
Here are six tips to ensure your nerves do not control you during your presentation:
Picture yourself rocking that presentation, feeling like a total superstar. I imagine I am Oprah!
Take deep breaths to let that tension melt away.
Pump yourself up with positive self-talk, reminding yourself how awesome you are.
Connect with your audience by making eye contact with the whole room and consciously remember to smile.
Kick off your presentation by opening with something attention-grabbing and captivating.
Spruce things up with engaging visuals that fit the size of the audience, and less is more on a slide is more powerful.
If you are not nervous, you are either dead or as bored as the audience will be. Embrace your nervous energy and convert it into enthusiasm and energy you give the audience. 🤸🏾
The venue was excellent the calibre of speakers too. Dainius Baltrušaitis and his team do a fabulous job in staging and hosting. I have never met any conference organiser so calm and relaxed at an event, and Danius made it all the more fun.
It is a relief to be able to be myself and have fun, and I certainly did at Pardavimų formulė. I love getting into the audience and talking to as many delegates as possible, and I loved the warm reception and conversations during the breaks. My social media engagement demonstrates this and went nuts😊.
In my keynote – What can you do to be the best choice in the eyes of your customers, I shared three practical strategies and three stories:
1. Priority
2. Simplicity
3. Futureproof customers.
The feedback was delightful; I was quoted on LinkedIn, “Price is what customer pays. Value is what your buyers must buy. Simplicity earns a Premium.” Another messaged, “Thank you for inspiring speech😊”
The programme of Speakers at Pardavimų formulė in Vilnius, Lithuania, was impressive:
Balys Virsutis – Aka Malcolm Gladwell, 10,000 repetitions to mastery.
Dr Loreta Vaicekauskiene – Sociolinguist, delivered a very humour presentation.
My absolute highlight was meeting and sharing a hug with Chris Gardner, who oozes leadership and charisma. Sharing many lessons from his Mother and insights from his books Start Were You Are and Permission to Dream.
I always learn a lot from watching and listening to other keynote speakers’ presentations.
Two tips Sales professionals can learn to enhance their sales presentation skills:
I continue to improve my storytelling engages my audience. The more salespeople can incorporate storytelling into their sales presentations to create an emotional connection, framing the products or services within a story that resonates with the buyer’s needs, priorities, and aspirations will increase success.
I aim to deliver impactful presentations to capture and hold the audience’s attention. An effective using of body language to convey messages with clarity and confidence is a technique that will enhance salespeople’s communication and presentation skills to be more engaging and persuasive.
This trip was an experience. This is why I love to travel the world and share my content with the sales community. I believe it is the highest honour to educate others and learn from shared experiences.
Travelling with my friend Bev Hancock, who supported me during the event and took many of the photos that captured the experience. After the fabulous event, we explored Vilnius’s old City further with a walking guided tour and visited the Museum of Occupation and Freedom Fights. I love the history and the pride in the culture.
I am grateful for the welcome and warmth; it was a delight to gain access to Lithuanian humour and experience so many delightful people.
🚗Thanks to Mindaugas Reinikis, GTD recommendation, we even got a lift to see Kaunas, met professional basketball players, and joined a motorbike convention. 🏍
You never know whom you will meet and what you will see when you are open to experiencing everything :-).
