coaching | Loving Life Blog

Femme Fatale September 29, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:01 am
Tags: empowerment, entrepreneurship, Femme Fatale, Las Vegas, Moscow Rules, shaken and stirred, Stiletto Spy School

Empowered…. well, we know that one size doesn’t fit all. It is always good to be multi faceted. And a little spice in your life doesn’t hurt…

The recipe for empowerment that Laura Guy spoke about in yesterday’s post can definitely bring an edge to the every day living. The edge that Stiletto Spy School brings is… quite different.

I had the pleasure of meeting Alana Winter, the founder and CEO of Stiletto Spy School at an entrepreneur event in San Francisco last year. These are the key rules provided on her business card:

The Moscow Rules

Assume nothing.

Never go against your gut.

Everyone is potentially under opposition control.

Don’t look back; you are never completely alone.

Go with the flow, blend in.

Vary your pattern and stay within your cover.

Lull them into a sense of complacency.

Don’t harass the opposition.

Pick the time and place for action.

Keep your options open

Read her story how her business started as a whisper and turned into a roar. Her mission is to enable women to take control of their lives once and for all, now coming up on their 3 year anniversary of Stiletto Spy School.

“At Stiletto Spy School , it isn’t just the experience you’ll remember. Achieving goals at Spy School is similar to achieving goals in business and life. You will take away skills you likely would never have learned that will translate to your everyday life:

From mind-blowing defensive tactics to high-speed stunt driving; from master mixology to seductive dance, you’ll learn all the skills you need to rock a gown and take a bad guy down – and without breaking a nail.”

Special deal for the 3 year anniversary event if you sign up by tomorrow. It’s in Vegas baby 😉 – have fun! Release Your Inner Femme Fatale! Doesn’t quite fit my schedule – but I think I have found an alternative…

It’s time to shake and stir that routine!

Johanna

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Empowered to Win September 28, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:55 pm

Laura Guy

What does “EMPOWERED” mean to you?

A very good friend of mine, Laura Guy, entered The WE Conference™ Essay Contest on that topic, and has been announced the winning submission. This is her full essay:

“Thank you for the opportunity to consider what being empowered means to me. If you had asked me this question a year ago, my response would have mentioned values such as independence, education, financial freedom and physical well-being. I am a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Panama to create a better life for themselves, me and my sister. Being independent, providing for ourselves, and bootstrapping our way from lower to middle class through hard work and rigorous education allowed my family to achieve a level of financial freedom that empowered us to live a safe, happy childhood where my sister and I felt protected and provided for. Add physical well-being to the list and I make up that one has all of the components to lead a beautiful, powerful life.

While I still think these values are important in feeling empowered, my recent year-long exploration of awakening to unconditional love offers a new definition. Today, I am more apt to choose values such as self-expression, self-acceptance and voluntary vulnerability. In learning to accept people the way they are and the way they aren’t and how to manage and accept my emotions on a daily basis, I know that true empowerment lies in being with what is.

Empowerment means I give myself space to be upset even if my bigger self feels the reason for my upset is petty. It means giving up being right, letting go of pretending and engaging in honest conversations with others about our commitments, whether they intersect or overlap or not. It means bravely announcing, “I failed! And I am still a leader.” And repeating it again and again. It means giving up independence for the adventure of partnership and playing the grander game of community.

What being empowered means to me: trading independence for vulnerability; trading financial freedom for a willingness to receive; trading knowing and being right for the unknown and negotiation. Overall, sounds like a great new way of being to me.”

I would say – those elements would not only bring empowerment but also would make life very rich and vibrant on a different level. What is empowered to you?

Congratulations Laura! Attorney at Google, entrepreneur, Co-Founder Fearless Women Entrepreneurs, awesome singer, dog owner, great friend… thanks for inpiration and food for thought.

To empowerment!
Johanna

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Kaleidoscope Heart September 26, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 10:04 am
Tags: kaleidoscope heart

All the colors
Of the rainbow
Hidden ‘neath my skin

Hearts have colors
Don’t we all know?
Red runs through our veins

Feel the fire burning up
Inspire me with blood
of blue and green

I have hope
Inside is not a heart
But a kaleidoscope

A prelude to the next concert with my a cappella group Keeva, November 11, 2011. Location TBD. [Update: 7-9pm, Unity SF, 2222 Bush St at Fillmore, San Francisco, CA see facebook invite for details.]

Bringing in the symbolism of colors… I wish us all a kaleidoscope heart, filled with growth, abundance, prosperity, hope and playful vibrant green life, blue ability to communicate one’s deepest truths; red physical energy, passion, courage, power, will, and desire – and of course abundant love.

That would be the kaleidoscope of my choice, for all of us.

I have hope,

Johanna

Well, actually – I have expectations. Life is too short not to have a kaleidoscope heart.

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Londoners: What are you listening to? July 10, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 3:16 pm
Tags: ABBA, Finding answers, inspiration, London, Music

Coming back to Sweden and being able to listen to Spotify made me ask around for friends music favorites. I can’t say that I got a whole lot of input. Sometimes it is like that. If you are really curious, and if you really are looking for inspiration or an answer to something – keep looking, keep asking. Ask people you wouldn’t normally ask. You may be surprised. You may get an answer you absolutely did not expect. You may get a very different perspective. You may get to know a different side of the person you are asking.

Listen to the answers people gave in London – would you have expected?

I am just saying: Music rock, ABBA rock, you rock. Go find whatever answer you are looking for. The one who searches he shall find…

Enjoy the process 😉

Johanna

Londoners: What are you listening to?

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 3:16 pm
Tags: ABBA, Finding answers, inspiration, London, Music

Listen to the answers people gave in London – would you have expected?

I am just saying: Music rock, ABBA rock, you rock. Go find whatever answer you are looking for. The one who searches he shall find…

Enjoy the process 😉

Johanna

Which seed are you planting today? June 3, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 8:21 am
Tags: Earl Nightingale, failure, simple truths, success, The Strangest Secret

Sharing the video of the day from Simple Truths.

The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale. I’m wondering though – is it that strange at this point? Either way, it’s a good reminder.

Consciously plant your seed of thoughts and actions. The harvest will be so much more enjoyable…

Enjoy your day,

Johanna

Ahhh – Goosebumps. May 16, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 8:19 am
Tags: connection, Eric Whitacre, global, Internet, possibilities, technology, TED, virtual chois

Goosbumps, for so many reasons. Watch and enjoy.

I had a conversation with a friend this weekend about the very first Internet experience. I remember when starting at Stockholm School of Economics 1995, and a friend had organized a business visit to a consulting firm where her friend was introducing us to this rather abstract concept of “The Internet”. Today, almost all of us are walking around with Internet access in our pockets.

Ponder: Given what you know today is possible with the Internet and technology, knowing what is important to you, and add a little bit of imagination – what would you want to create?

Now – share it!Eric Whitacre didn’t have the right technology to do this virtual choir of 2,000 voices when he started. He got it by announcing his project. Online.

Thank you Chris Kawaja for sharing!
Music moves,

Johanna

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You are invited. March 20, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Social Media — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 4:48 am
Tags: Irish Poem, lead conversion, lead generation, Objective Marketer, S:t Patricks Day, social media marketing, Take time

As I was walking home from the cafe, thinking of the project I had been working on, my train of thoughts relating to lead generation and lead conversion online were suddenly interrupted by painted flowers on the path way.

Unexpectedly they appeared and once they caught my attention, I wanted to know where they lead. Such a great example of a physical hyperlink offline. They spoke to me: “Click here”. “Step here”. “Come, you’re invited”. The flowers led to the entrance with the “Welcome” doormat of the Irish bakery down the block where I live(d).

I am not too sure if the owner actually was aware of how brilliant it was. How would he know, unless people told him, or if he asked? That is the beauty of online hyperlinks and marketing: if you use a proper system you will be able to know exactly which link your customer clicked on before he or she entered your store, from where they came, what time, also in best case what nationality, age and gender, did you buy something, what did you buy and did you share it with or recommend it to others? That can give you knowledge to really drive your business.

Those flowers on the sidewalk by the Irish bakery have made me walk in there more than once. And I’m sure I was not the only one. Last Thursday, I went there twice. And walked away empty handed both times. Two deliveries and sold out within the hour! The flowers were washed away – I guess Saint Patrick’s Day was the contributing factor that day… and I am sure: had the flowers not been there, many clients had not noticed the place to the same extent.

When preparing for my temporary move to Sweden the same day, I came across an old Irish poem called Take Time in one of my books. I think it is well worth sharing:

Take time to WORK … It is the price of success.

Take time to THINK … It is the source of power.

Take time to LAUGH … It is the music of the soul.

Take time to READ … It is the foundation of wisdom.

Take time to DO CHARITY … It is the key to heaven.

Take time to PRAY … It is the greatest power on earth.

Take time to PLAY … It is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to be FRIENDLY … It is the road to happiness.

Take time to DREAM … It is like hitching your wagon to a star.

Take time to LOVE and BE LOVED … It is a God-given privilege.

You are invited.
Be loved,

Johanna

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What’s holding you back? February 4, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Inspiration,Social Media — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:27 pm
Tags: Entrepreneur, Harvard Business Publishing, herringbone, holding back, inspiration, Leadership, motivation, share your story, social media

DON'T GIVE UP!

Coming back from NYC this time I had one new thing to unpack: a package of magnets with the look of iPhone apps. Hm. As I put them up on my fridge, I was thinking – I guess it’s official: I am an apple nurd! Or fan, to choose a more flattering word.

My fridge has a number of photos of family and friends, and a few motivating cards and statements etc. The one card that draw my attention, that got surrounded by iPhone apps, had the message “DON’T GIVE UP!”. They had one thing in common. This very card I got when visiting a friend in London, the summer before starting my business studies at Stockholm School of Economics. I was spending a whole day in the city – shopping – and came home with one thing: this card. Summer of 1995. Since then I have moved more times than number of years that have passed, and it is still with me…

So now it sits on my fridge, surrounded by a reminder of my original business idea of Herringbone. The software – and app – that will support and inspire stories of change and positive impact. Maybe, if the idea still holds, I will get there one day. But there are many roads to Rome.

The main software I use today to get voices heard for positive change is another one. Objective Marketer, the social media marketing campaign manager. The core reason why I am doing what I do is still the same. It’s not about marketing. It’s creating a positive impact by using social media to reach out with your story or offering, making yourself accessible and provide others with something valuable for them to gain from, because they choose to listen. And at the same time reach those who express that they want what you have to offer, because social media can help you find them. Real time. Globally. Or locally. And create a social media community landscape of likeminded where demand and supply meet. I think that is a beautiful way to serve the world.

Now – what is your story? What is your dream to create? And is something holding you back?

A friend of mine shared the video in this link from Harvard Business Publishing on this topic: What is holding yourself back? with special focus on leaders and entrepreneurs. Maybe that will give a kick in the right direction.

Enjoy,

Johanna

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Begin Again January 13, 2011

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration,Loving Life — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 1:21 pm
Tags: authobiography, begin again, change, habits, herringbone, Loving Life, new chapter, new route

1.11.11 Begin Again. If you would write a new chapter in your life…

Herringbone path

THERE’S A HOLE IN MY SIDEWALK – Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
By Portia Nelson

Chapter 1

I walk down the street.

There is a hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless.

It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again.

I can’t believe I am in the same place.

But it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there. I still fall in. It’s a habit.

My eyes are open. I know where I am.

It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter 4

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

Chapter 5

I walk down another street.

…. what would be the different path you would take this year? This quarter? This month? This Week? Today? Starting now? Just do it. Try it. What’s the worst that can happen? Or the best…? 😉

Enjoy,

Johanna

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