Cameroon, Africa Mission Trip

8 years ago June,  I was contacted by a lovely nurse who was heading to Cameroon, Africa on a medical mission trip.  At work, she had received one of our breast health awareness cards and wanted to see if we would donate some to her team.  

Without a flinch, we shipped several cases to her and simply asked in return that she send images from her trip. What we didn't expect was that her mission trip resulted in the creation of a women's health WING and that we actually may have saved a life.  One of the women who attended the demonstration and wellness check-up returned the next day having found a lump while doing her self exam the night before.  I've never been so proud of the work I do - 

So with the official start of summer before you grab your swimsuits... take a moment to do a self exam and learn the topography of your body.  

Back story: 

The Breast Health Educational Card was first designed back in 2001 for Sanofi-Aventis’              oncology product Taxotere. (One of the things we pride ourselves on is doing research to find the not so obvious branding opportunities.) Upon doing research for the Taxotere brand marketing team we discovered from oncology nurses that even patients who had breast cancer were not self examining their breasts each month.  And in trying to determine why, we found the educational pieces currently available were large and intimidating, the size of a toaster, or they had printed shower cards. 

          We spent over a year developing this piece with engineers and designers.  The end result is our lifelike breast model with lumps hidden deep inside to help illustrate how deep you need to press in order to find some lumps; the original order included Susan G. Komen instructions and was branded with the Taxotere logo.  This program was so successful in aiding nurses in their job that SA produced them for 6 consecutive years. 

          Encouraged by an overwhelming public response from mammography centers or individuals who saw the SA model requesting more samples, we produced a generic version.  We get orders from all over the nation, from survivors who want to provide to their daughters, Avon representatives for Breast Cancer Awareness months, Bunco groups, and a bride whose sister had recently been diagnosed and wanted to provide as a bridal party gift.  We have a patent on this piece and it won an award in 2005 from the Summit Creative Group.  

Find the 3 lumps hidden deep inside

Images from Cameroon, Africa

The new Women's Health Wing - learning how to do a self exam!

 

Road Trip Discoveries

I'm an Empty Nester - well newly empty nester.  Both my children are in college.  One is getting ready to graduate and my daughter is a freshman.  Interestingly enough my oldest stayed local to attend a state school.  I believe God's way of helping me adjust to letting my first baby go.  I am so grateful that I could drop by with fresh laundry and warm meals... medicine when the first year was plagued with illness (dorm room life) and a dinner when those heart pangs of missing your baby hit.  We were fortunate to be close enough to go to his lacrosse games and managed well with the beginning of our transition.

Three years later, my daughter selected a college far away - God only gives you what you can handle right?!  Well I keep telling myself that.  She's been my independent thinker from 2 months old - she decided to stop nursing, at 15 months she wanted to dress herself and would fight me every morning as we rushed to get out the door to work and daycare, at 4 years old she cut her own bangs because all her friends had bangs... I vividly remember her coming out of bathroom with a ball cap on to hide her achievement and  her grin when we saw her handy work.  In my deepest frustration, I'd tell myself over and over, in a body hugging rocking chant,  that these were all GREAT qualities to have as a girl.  Strong, determined, knows what she wants and gets it kind of girl!  YUP, that's my girl.  So when she selected to go to college in Milwaukee, WI... I didn't flinch.  Well I did, but knew she could handle it.  With a tearful goodbye's she was in her dorm ready to start her college career as a D1 student athlete.  Dorm life here was no different from my son's... illness after illness plagued her first semester... a cough that wouldn't quit... so much congestion it gagged her, coughing that whooped and caused her to throw up... so hard that she cracked a rib.  The 2am face-time calls with her sobbing after an attack and being 14 hour drive away was brutal.  Fall break doctor visit, thanksgiving break another doctor visit, and finally at winter break another doctor visit that did the trick (either that or her immune system finally figured it out)... plus all the TLC that only a mom can bring.  ahhh... finally relief.  I think I can relax and enjoy the silence of an empty nest!

My husband and I are beginning to figure out the pace and cadence of being empty nesters... enjoying cooking meals that appeal to OUR taste buds, snuggle into the couch for some old time movies like rear window and converse over camera angles and the cinematography.  Dinners out and visits with friends.  All is right with the world!

Then comes our first road trip - 22 hour round trip to my daughter's game.  Now I'm not going to say it was all awful, but you learn a lot about your relationship when you're confined to a vehicle for that long.  He does the driving, I do the air braking and sound the alarm when the car in front is breaking and he's still accelerating. (He knows of course.) I comment on the speed level by how queasy my stomach gets at passing scenery and have noticed the more tired  he becomes the heavier the foot is... I've learned to cover my eyes as we pass tractor trailers with cement medians to our left and barely a whisper between us... I feel like I am constantly reaching back to the cooler for a snack or beverage, providing a scratch on his back or massage a neck as he proceeds.  I do these loving gestures to let him know I appreciate him driving and is secretly my way of keeping him awake and alert.  But, I'd like to know who wrote the rule that driver gets to select the music? and how often you will stop for breaks...  I'm an active participant in this travel and working for my ride... His parents may have provided a jar on their long family trips but that's not going to work for me  - I'm not a 10 year old boy who enjoyed that... and we'll stop in :30 minutes doesn't cut it either, when you gotta go you gotta go!  I try to distract myself with a game of candy crush and liking posts on waze, a drivers best companion, and am thankful that the car needs fuel.  The moans from trying to get your legs to work again and your back to straighten up are tell tale signs that I am NOT that 10 year old little boy.  We repeat the above until we get to see our little girl and all is right with the world again... until the next road trip!

Friendly Fridays

"It's nice to be nice to the nice"  a Joe-ism (my husband has a lot!)

 

"You'll get more with Honey than you do Vinegar" a favorite quote of my dad's...

Is it just me or is the world getting more and more rude, mean and just... not nice?    Stories of on line bullying abound, - have you tried to change lanes on a highway lately or merge ~ Driver road rage has a whole new meaning ???  Does anyone say;  Please and Thank You anymore? ... everyone seems to have a grimace on their faces.  With all the technology of IPhones that supposedly keep us connected 24/7, we're Not "CONNECTED" anymore! 

I would get flustered if I didn't get through the cashier line quickly enough because I had 3 more things on my to do list and would catch myself saying,  "How are you," but not even pausing long enough to hear a response.  I didn't like running through life like this...

So I implemented a personal endeavor: Friendly Friday over a year ago.  On Friday's, I would do something nice for someone, Perhaps I'd send a card, make a call to a friend I hadn't talked to in a while and LISTEN. Bring baked cookies to my office neighbor, go to lunch with a friend (yes, actually stop working and eating at my desk to actually go to lunch!) ...  I would extend to people I didn't know too, like drop off food at the container at the grocer, drop change in a container instead of walking by,  Help someone open those huge heavy doors at a store or simply smile at a stranger. I'd say thank you more often, look someone in the eye when I spoke and paused to be in the moment.  At first  I would write in my gratitude journal the things that I did and smile that no one knew what I was up to... and with each week, the list would increase, then I'd find I wasn't holding out until Friday... a funny thing happened along the way, I was happier, I was more polite, I was more connected.

Oh I get caught in the hamster wheel of life, but I added "Friendly Fridays" on my outlook calendar as a weekly reminder and before too long I'm back to my happy ways. 

Try it...


Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.  ~Leo Buscaglia

 
Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the blossoms,
Kind deeds are the fruits.
~19th century rhyme used in primary schools

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. ~Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

BACK TO SCHOOL ... BACK TO BASICS

Ironically my last post was New Year's related.  I have always looked at September as a time to start fresh... back to school, clearing the clutter and chaos of summer's spontaneity to the structure of the classroom and organization of the day.  I'm not saying I don't totally enjoy the flow of summer, but there's something refreshing about fall calling me with the wisps of crisp air of opportunity.

I think the fall is a great time to get back to basics.

1. DeClutter... I had the pleasure of working with Patricia Diesel a professional organizerhttp://keepitsimplenow.com/blog-2/
and one piece of her sage advice is to find a "home" for everything.  Take the time to cleanse spaces, drawers, closets.  Donate to Salvation Army, Local clothing bins.
 
2.  Learn something new.  I've spent the summer reading entertaining novels and magazines.  The mailbox is brimming with community college classes, Poly Tech courses, Career related or pleasure ... Time to pick one. 
 
3.  Open the windows of your home and your mind.  Like the YES MAN movie with Jim Carrey - Say YES more often.  You'll be amazed at what you've been missing with excuses. 
 
4.    Revisit  your goals from your visualization map.  Have you accomplished what you've endeavored for the year?  Refocus on the one's that still hold meaning to you. 
 
5.  Take time to have Gratitude for what you've experienced, gained and have.  Then plan a way to give back before the end of the year. 
 
6. Look at things as a Kindergartener.  The first time they enter the school all bright eyed full of possibility no expectations, no limitations just ready to explore, learn and make new friends.

So while you may be buying binders, pens, and pencils with fancy calculators or laptops... think about what you want to do this school year!

New Year, New Aspirations.  Part II

For those of us who are just not into cutting out magazine pictures to create a visualization board, you can use a "list making" format worksheet like the one I found on Lululemon, a active wear apparel company's website.

http://www.lululemon.com/files/vision_goals_worksheet.pdf

It's pretty forward thinking on founder, Chip Wilson's part since most New Year Resolutions include losing weight or starting an exercise program.  Kudos!

and to creat POWERFUL goals - follow the instructions on this link:

http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/day-5-how-to-create-powerful-goals/

It's content is applied to Yoga moves, but the formula transcends into any long or short term personal goals you have. 

• Break down large goals into smaller bite sized pieces
• Write in present tense
• Make is measurable
• Use affirmative language
• Be specific
• By when

For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, "It Might Have Been"

John Greenleaf Whittier

 

What are you waiting for... get goal setting.  

New Year - New Year of Aspirations & Goals

New Year - New Year of Aspirations and Goals

One of my favorite Corporate Management Classes taught me how to Create a Visualization Map - A road map for your future. It forced us an individual's to contemplate the question, "What would you do if you knew you'd couldn't fail" It even dared us to think if our 5 year plan included our current employer!!

It was such a rewarding experience. And I continue to do it every year. Admittedly , sometimes even more than 1 x per year. The directions are simple: put visual images that represent your goals for career, personal, friends/family, spirituality, travel, money etc and by starting with you in the center of the poster board paste and attach your deepest wishes for yourself for the coming year. Prominently display it so you see and review every day and let the power of attraction bring it to you - "what you dwell upon comes to you"  Emphasize on selecting colorful meaningful images, with specific results with as much descriptive a possible. Rhonda Byrne's book The Secret also delves into the notion that what we think about with gratitude we bring about.

There must be something to it, because it happens! I went back after that first experience and everything I had posted came true. They say you cannot control the thoughts or influence others and to keep it personal, but having 2 teenage children, I can't help but make my personal dreams for them  apart of MY map. And after all the years of doing it, my kids can't wait to see what I've included for them.  Lo and behold, they've attained them too.  This year I made individual ones for each of them.  They are both at pivitol parts of their young lives and it was consuming my board...My husband, Joe  asked when he saw them "where's mine?"  It is addictive!  Make your dreams come true too!

Grab your scissors and some old magazines, print your own words of inspiration in multi color if you have to, and photographs. Let your mind be free to cut images that speak to you and don't let your fears interject.. It should be fun, not a chore. Here are some examples. Perfection not required. But daily reflection is a must. 

 

Happy New Year - With Gratitude, I'm achieving my wildest dreams!

  Happy 2013

The Six Lessons I Live By: Ari Emanuel

Co-CEO at William Morris Endeavor  with comments by me!

 

1. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and move out of their way.

If you feel like you know everything, you’re wrong. I know what I don’t know and then I find partners who can teach me. A perfect example is my partnership with Patrick Whitesell, my co-CEO at WME. While we take on different roles at the company and focus on different things, we share the same goals and at the end of the day, we’re working toward the same end. That’s been the key to our success. My spin: surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are and move out of their way BUT pay attention to what they do!

 

2. The only constant in business is change. Get comfortable with it.

When I started in the business, there were four broadcast networks and 19 cable networks. Now there are five broadcast networks, 117 cable networks, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, HBOGo, iTunes, Amazon Prime, VOD – the list goes on and on. Next year there will be more distribution platforms, and in ten years the landscape will have shifted another 180 degrees. The business is changing quickly, and the only way to succeed is to change with it. I always tell my colleagues, there is no such thing as a traditional talent agent anymore. It’s about pushing beyond that 10% commission and finding opportunity where it didn’t exist before. My Spin: Change is inevitable and pushes us to our greatest achievements, Stagnation Stifles.

 

3. Fail often, fail quickly.

Nobody f's up like I do, but you’ll never succeed unless you take risks. Big ones. In 2009, we took Endeavor, a company that was doing incredibly well, and merged it with the oldest talent agency in the world. From a cultural and organizational standpoint, it was a big risk. People had their doubts. But we had a vision and a lot of help from very smart people (see #1.) Three years later, our business is stronger, our bench is deeper and smarter, and our deal-making is more innovative. It’s a better company – period. You have to lead by example if you want to promote a culture where risk-taking is rewarded. My Spin: After you "F" up ... always ask yourself what did I learn from this and how would I do it differently.  True Innovation often comes from these introspective moments.

 

4. Your schedule makes you dumber.

Force yourself outside of your daily schedule. Be curious and take time to learn about worlds outside of the one you live in. Watch the news, read the paper, educate yourself. Don’t be afraid to call people you don’t know, start a conversation, and ask for things you need. At the very least, you’ll be more interesting. At the most, you’ll take your business in new and bigger directions. My Spin: Absolutely!! Look through the eyes of a 10 year old but with the wisdom of your years!

 

5. You only get one shot – make it count.

I learned this the painful way. After being hit by a car and lying face-down in the middle of Wilshire Boulevard, I was confronted with a whole lot more than my mortality. Take advantage of each day that’s given to you and do something to move the needle on your business, even if it’s just an inch. You’ve heard it before, but life is not a dress rehearsal. Don’t waste your time (or mine.) My Spin: I'd change the title too much pressure - Do Gooder Every Day!  and maker sure you Reflect on each day with Gratitude and Give more than you take!

 

6. Good ideas rule all.

In the end, it’s all about creative ideas and content – it’s the lifeblood of our business. I’m fortunate enough to work with the writers, directors, musicians and actors who are defining culture with their voices. It’s why I come to work in the morning. In 100 years, when the world looks different, and we communicate in new ways, and we have more devices and platforms and distribution methods, I believe great artistry will still matter most. My Spin: Share your ideas and be willing to modify based upon the thoughts of others... if you've surrounded yourself with people smarter, your collaboration can make a world of difference!

 

Not all New Ideas are Tangible

I work a lot within the Diabetes Therapeutic Category and through my years of experience I developed...

 

A 12 STEP approach for individuals with Type 2:

I think it's very apropos - IF most Type 2 diabetics Walked more they could help control their disease. 

1. Accept that yes, you put yourself here by poor eating habits, lack of exercise, stress...and that you have a problem.   You're at a cross roads.  You can either continue down the path of victim and self destruct or take the path toward living a happy healthy life.  Stop the guilt and decide to do something about it.

2. Forgive your past, yourself and others.  Don't just reside yourself to this is how it has to be.  Don't blame grandma for passing down all those lard laden recipes. Like Rafki in The Lion King said -  "Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it."  and with Diabetes the past can really hurt you... your vision, kidneys ... You can't change yesterday but you can take steps to change your future. 

3.  Write down all the reasons why you Can't do it.  Once you've exhausted all of them ceremoniously shred them or burn them... they can no longer stop you.

4.  Make a list of all the reasons why you want to make this change... Go through magazines cut out images that speak to you about your healthy self.  Cut out words that motivate you to stay the course.  Glue them on a visualization board and hang where you'll see it several times a day... the fridge, the bathroom mirror.  Be inspired by its contents.

5. Make a plan.  Strategies for  success. Journal your food choices daily, your exercise log... there are lots available on line for free.  Remember a 10,000 mile journey begins with one single step.   Meal plan.  Snack plan.  Plan!  When we don't have a plan is when we tend to make bad choices.  Plan, Plan, Plan.

6. Daily Affirmations.  Make them in the present tense and say them to yourself several times a day.  i.e.: I make better food choices and select whole grains.  I am walking 30 minutes.  I check my glucose and I am in a healthy range. 

7.  When you feel a slip or stressor -  Walk away... Literally Walk Away.  Take a lap in the parking lot, take to the stairs, meditate... 

8. Engage the assistance of someone... like an AA sponsor.  Someone who you can chat with when your frustrated, having a bad day.   There are Diabetes help groups all over the internet... link up with someone who has had success and guide you.   

9. Write down your stressors and then solutions as to how you're going to handle them when they come up the next time.  Make sure one it to get up and be active!

10. Expect bad days... but get back on track.  Don't beat yourself up.  Accept, Acknowledge, and Alter the path back on track.

11. Reward yourself.  Remember everything within moderation.  If you have a birthday party coming up have a piece of cake, make it smaller and make sure it's within your guidelines set by your physician.  You can't stop living and avoid everything but you can have a game plan in place that can allow you the occasional treat.

12. Write down questions between physician appointments in a central location like a spiral bound book so you can discuss events, pitfalls and successes without relying on your memory with your physician.  Open up - and be honest.  Dialog with your physician he's your sponsor too. 

Early Days!

One of my earliest inventions was in college. In 1983, I had a broadcasting assignment to write a :30 second commercial.  Instead of story booking one for a product that already existed, I created Fluoride Gum.  I can't recall now what I named my product (too many years ago.)  I probably have an old tape in garage but wouldn't be able to watch it because they don't make those kinds of reel players anymore...

But I do remember how I came up with the concept: Aspergum was popular when I was a kid to sooth your sore throat.    I loved it because, well what kid didn't want to chew gum!  It was the only way to "legally" chew gum in school.  I chewed them probably well more than prescribed, but I loved that orange flavor!   It certainly was my favorite way to get the medicine to go down using the ol' "spoon full of sugar" technique!

Anyway... I got to thinking -  I was already a huge advocate of chewing a sugarless gum after eating on campus to freshen my breath... wouldn't it be great to add fluoride and than it would be just like I'd brushed my teeth.

Then I thought about all those little kids who fight Mom & Dad about brushing their teeth before bed, and how much easier it would be to get them to brush more than just one time a day... and then I thought about 3rd world countries who didn't have fluoride and how this could be a global sensation.... I even sent myself a letter through the post office to date and protect my idea... this was going to be HUGE!

It did get me an A on my project... but it bombed in real life.

Yada yada... too much fluoride can be bad for you if ingested and too much can lead to spots on your teeth or worse and if kids were anything like me with Aspergum and overindulged - well let's just say it's not a good combination.

Fast forward, I still think it's a unique delivery system for certain medications. Who doesn't love chewing gum!!!  I'm not crazy, have you seen the surge in gummy vitamin sales for adults...   Who's on board with me we can create Razzles fluoride gum... Call me!

Really Nifty Idea

In what seems like an endless search for all the "necessities" for college dorm life I came across this really cool gadget.  Totally frivolous I know and not really a necessity, but I bought it anyway.  Got home and tried it on a moving box - WOW - It's crazy how it works. Clarity and sound is amazing.  Actually might not make it into Jake's dorm box after all ...

  The more hollow the object the better the sound quality
  Works with ANY device that has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack: iPods, iPhones, 
  Droids, laptops, blackberrys, etc.  Size: 1 x 2.5 inches 

 Great On: Carboard boxes, appliances, coolers, drawers, cups, bowls, lamp shades,
 tupperware, file cabinets and much much more!

 Product Includes: Rock-It 3.0 unit with built in rechargeable battery, extra sticky pads, and a
 USB charging cable.

 

 

My first Post... Wow I am so not a social media diva... Oh well, Here goes. 

I know I say I'm an inventor, but you have to back it up a bit... I am an inventor because someone has presented me with a problem.  A problem to solve... so really I'm a problem-solver.

Problem:  My son is getting ready to head off to college and since I was a commuter and didn't actually stay on campus at MSU, I feel a bit like a deer in the headlights.  Looking at all the advertising circulars with such intense verve believing he MUST have that little shower caddy... Oh and how cute is that static cling memo board for friends to leave notes on his door when he's at class. 

Process: Then there is a huge wave crashing on me barreling me over, my reality check waking me from my crazy thoughts... First Really???  Jake is NOT going to carry a shower caddy - I'll be lucky if he wears flip flops on his zombied walk down the hall to get to the showers.  Cute memo board, RIGHT... unlike his mom, he is technically savvy and will just get an IM or Text alerting him. 

But, I have to make sure he's prepared right....

Solution:   Boils down to Necessities.  (The mother of invention.)  There isn't much room in a college dorm room.   What he'll need is a really big laundry basket/bag.  The creative solution is to make it smell better.  He's a Student- Athlete and things can get pretty stinky.   hummm... I'm going to experiment with sewing in a pouch of masculine scented deodorizer beads or a bundle of dryer sheets tissue box style (2 fold solution.) so he can use them at the student laundromat.   Oh wait, big crashing wave again... right I'll be doing laundry!