How Others Perceive Us Determines Our Bottom Line This week I’ve been thinking about the perceptions we all have... about other people, a specific book, a course or product, and about ourselves. While I was working as a classroom teacher and in real estate, my perception of myself was mostly negative. I believed everything I wanted in my life was difficult to achieve and out of reach for me. Others picked up on this and formed their own perceptions about me by reflecting what I gave out in my … [Read more...]
Humble Beginnings Lead to Success
My Humble Beginnings Helped Me Later On It took three people to teach me to drive. Three brave people. It was 1971 and I'd turned 16 that summer. I was so ready to trade in my blue Schwinn Stingray for something more befitting a mature, sophisticated young lady I could talk of nothing else. Little did I know that humble beginnings lead to success. My mom didn't drive, but my uncle offered to teach me in his '67 Ford Fairlane 500GT. Do you remember that model? Saturday finally arrived and … [Read more...]
New Year… New You in 2022
New Year... New You in 2022 The past two years, beginning in March of 2020 have been challenging for all of us. My first name, Connie, is taken from the Latin and means constant; never changing. For years I said that this was the reason I did not care for change and took my time adapting to almost anything new in my life. But over the years I reframed that in a way that better served me: I welcome change into my life and acknowledge that I have control over most of the changes that occur. If … [Read more...]
Believe in Yourself to Live the Life You Love
Throughout my years as a human in training, I can recall and count on one hand the times I've been asked my opinion that led with "and what do you believe?" from the person in authority at that moment. This includes my two decades as a classroom teacher, even longer than that as a real estate broker and residential appraiser, and all of the interactions in my professional and private lives over the past half century or so. When you believe in yourself, everything shifts focus and you create … [Read more...]
Tuesday Morning Choices
Tuesday Morning Choices Become Tomorrow's Reality It was a Tuesday. He'd dropped me off in the parking lot just as they were opening. I didn't look back after I heard the car door shut behind me. I heard my mother's voice in my head... "You come in to the world alone and you go out alone." It didn't feel like anything, as I lay sprawled out on the table. Legs akimbo and me staring at the ceiling so as to avoid the bright light shining overhead. Then voices, and a very tall man is standing … [Read more...]
They Vaccinate Dogs, Don’t They?
Two decades ago I had a very smart boyfriend. He was the smartest person I'd ever met, at that time. He was also aware of how he was perceived and often stated matter-of-factly that he was typically the smartest person in the room in all settings. He insisted that I be included in his Saturday night Poker game, even though I hadn't made that request. Winning more often than the rest of the guys put together made him something of a legend. So I showed up and took my seat at the opposite end of … [Read more...]
Tale of Two Cities: Choosing to Live a Unique Life
Tale of Two Cities: Why I Choose to Live a Double Life When I started my online business in 2006, I moved 30 miles north of where I'd been living for much of my life to a newer city called Santa Clarita. It was the northernmost suburb of Los Angeles and in the TMZ - the 30 mile zone - making it popular for film and television production. That first summer brought record-breaking heat and I decided to drive to Santa Barbara to spend the entire day a couple of times each week. It took about 80 … [Read more...]
Getting Involved
Getting Involved Is Life Itself Life is to be lived and loved and experienced, I firmly believe and practice with each breath I take. It's not possible to achieve these goals unless and until you are willing to go all in, and that means getting involved. Be vary of those around you who prefer to take the opposite path, as they are the people who have voted to take rather than give. Getting Involved to Connect with Others I'm an introvert. But somewhere along the way I made the effort to … [Read more...]
The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
Today could be the first day of the rest of your life. Have you ever thought about that? In the spring of 2005 I woke up in the wee hours of the morning in a cold sweat. Jumping out of bed and startling my little dog in the process, I went to my desk to write down what I was experiencing. It was as though all of my senses were enhanced, with colors brighter, sounds more defined, and even the feeling of my pen touching my notepad was a new and exciting experience. I wrote for over an hour and … [Read more...]
The Prescience of Choice
The Prescience of Choice In the beginning of the year he had promised to visit as soon as his schedule would allow. It was the last Saturday in January when he arrived on the afternoon train, carrying the baggage of a hundred years in a brown canvas duffel bag. He almost missed the last step as he floated onto the platform and met her gaze. She reached down to offer assistance, but he gently guided her hand up to his face. Taking her outstretched fingers into his palms, he covered her face with … [Read more...]