Archive for the ‘Dreams’ Category

Embrace Your Quirks

Monday, November 29th, 2010

The view we see of ourselves is often different from what others see when they look at us. Those little quirks and imperfections that drive us so crazy are rarely even noticed by others. In fact, it is often those quirks that others admire, traits that make us unique and stand out.

Your quirk is your gift. When you next look in the mirror, focus on your “quirky” and give it some love, because it is actually your blessing and a very important part of the authentic you. Look around – the world is becoming a very bland and homogenized place. Franchises and systemized business have created a vanilla business environment without character. Homes are built the same way, with your choices limited to one of five models. And women everywhere will be sporting cobalt blue skinny jeans as their fashion choice this season. This can go on as we take a look at what we eat, how we shop and where we choose to live.

Take an honest look at yourself and acknowledge your traits that do not match the norm. Maybe it’s your physical appearance, or the way you think, your name, hobby, passion or fashion sense. Sometimes these quirks are things we’ve chosen to adopt in our lives and other times they come to us through DNA. Either way I say own your quirk with pride. Your quirk makes you memorable, it makes you unique and it make you stand out in this increasingly homogenized world. If you love your quirks, others will too. And the ones who don’t… well, I say “so what?!” They are most likely jealous anyway!

Here Is To Success on Your Terms!

Love & Light,

Star**

Face Fear Head On

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Spencer and Lily 460My family took a trip up to the Pt. Mugu Navel base and went to the air show last week and it was spectacular.  We saw amazing things: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flying in formation with barely a wing’s span between them, executing amazing aerial flips, turns and choreography timed to the millisecond. There was also a female wing walker – one of only 12 in the world. She braved climbing out of the plane, without a safety parachute, and ascended to the top wing to do handstands, flips and choreography while the plane soared through the air. She faced fear head on, Spencer and Lily 358with clarity and grace. She dared to do what most would not be willing.

TRUST: The analogy of brand was in my mind as the sun was shining brightly on that beautiful California summer day. Trust was number one. The trust between the team members flying had to be of the utmost to achieve success. Literally, they all trusted each other with their lives. Do your clients trust you and your brand?

Spencer and Lily 360EXPERT SKILL: Everyone who participated in that airshow had honed their skill with education, practice and enthusiasm for performing the activity that was most in alignment with themselves, their passion and what they most desire to do.

PRACTICE: These acts of bravery and skill take teams that have practiced and practiced in order to achieve this amazing level of success.

SERVICE: How can you serve your gift to the Spencer and Lily 419world? Not only did these gifted pilots accept and nurture their passion, but they take it and package it in a wonderful day of amazing service in sharing their gifts with the world, inspiring us all.

A trusted brand or team can achieve amazing results and never-done-before feats when the above elements are involved. Trust, skill, practice and service. I ask you to ask yourself does your Brand You do these things?

Love and Light,

Star**

One Person Can Make A Difference

Monday, July 19th, 2010

When I sat down to write to you this morning I was sidetracked by a Facebook message from a friend saying hello. Twenty minutes later I realized I was still engrossed in connecting with friends and decided I would check my Inbox before signing off. I am so glad I did.  Sitting in my Inbox was a message “Ode to a Joy” from my cousin Cara. Today marks the 9th anniversary of Cara’s sister and my dear cousin Rena’s early passing from breast cancer. After reading the message I found myself tearful and melancholy, with that mixed feeling of being both happy and sad. I was missing Rena, but also remembering her kindness, loyalty, friendship and wisdom beyond her years. Cara ended her letter with, “Rena’s joy was a gift. One that she was able to simply open up and receive from the very beginning.”

My mom Roseanne with my daughter Lily at Grandparents Day

My mom Roseanne with my daughter Lily at Grandparents Day

I have decided to take today to celebrate Rena as well as the strong women in my life whose joy and wisdom made an imprint on me and shaped the woman I am.  I would like to share with you four of these women.

My mother, Roseanne, an eccentric artist who has always showed me that having the courage to be myself is the only way to really live. She has shown me that anything is  possible for me if I put my mind to it and just figure it out for myself.

My Grandma Annie, known as the “Cookie Lady,” doled out an abundance of joy and a smile with every tasty treat. She worked at the bakery around the corner from her house for 35 years. Her quotes still ring true to me today. “Choose your friends, don’t let your friends choose you.”

My Grandma Savo was a women of few words who spent most of her time in the kitchen sharing her love through food. She stood all of 4-feet 11-inches tall and never weighed more than 79 lbs. She would tell me “Never do anything you wouldn’t want posted on the front page of the NY times” and “When it’s all said and done all you have left is your integrity.” Small but mighty is the only way to describe her.

My son Spencer with Grandma Annie and I in New York 2007

My son Spencer with Grandma Annie and I in New York 2007

My cousin Rena was wise beyond her years. She was a Love, a Light, and a Joy. Her sister, Cara, writes that she was “the 5 to my 6. Her faith, genuine. Her friendship, true.”

Rena was a musician, a teacher and an artist. Her legacy she leaves behind has nothing to do with business but all to do about her Brand and Imprint.  Nine years later people remember and honor her by sharing stories about the imprint she left on their life and the gifts she left behind.

Are you spreading your joy, your gift? What is your imprint? One person can make a difference.

Love & Light,

Star**

Passion is Contagious

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Witnessing the magnificence and courage of people sharing their gifts with others can inspire our own insight into our passions and our unique gifts that we also are meant to share with the world. This natural and beautiful process ignites inspiration and passes an unspoken permission to look inward for our own magnificence.

By sharing your  passion, desire, gift, magnificence or purpose with either one person or many, you are passing along the permission or encouragement for someone to do the same.

Love & Light,

Star **

Celebrating Women

Monday, March 29th, 2010

star-lee_speaking_chivas-skin-care

Tuesday night was the first night of the rest of my life. Tuesday night was my first “CELEBRATING WOMEN” event, attended by more than 100 people. As I reflect on the amazing people who attended, the inspirational speakers and the sheer energy of the room, I feel joyous, proud and warm in my heart that I did it. I held the space to serve a community that needs a VOICE.  I heard them loud and clear. What I provided for them was what they want more of. I have stepped out in to a new world full of only possibility and collective collaboration among fellow woman business owners. It feels amazing to have a higher purpose or higher YES.

IMG_2125_web small

Debbie Copsey, Star Ladin, Kathy Kaehler, Molly Bauer, Denise Heller

IMG_2022_web small

Guest Speakers: Joanna Garzilli, Star Ladin, Kathy Kaehler

I have clarity. My mission is to show everyone – my children, my family, professional women – how to follow their dreams. To show female entrepreneurs FREEDOM by using their passions and their entrepreneurship as the tool.

The entrepreneurs at “Celebrating Women” are at all levels of their  journey. Some of them have been in business for decades  and some just getting started. What they all have in common is that they feel stuck or unfulfilled. Something has been missing but they haven’t been able to put their finger on it. Or they may have figured it out and want to share their experience with others. Either way both sides need each other.  The one needs to see how far they have come and the other needs to see that they can get where they want to go.

It was a night I shared with our Star Lee Magazine community for heart-centered entrepreneurs to connect, leverage, network, learn and lean on each other. I saw an open community come to life. A community that was once just a vision and now came to life. WOW!

Love & Light,

Star **

In Praise of Seth Godin

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

One of my trusted sources of information, inspiration and mentorship is Seth Godin. He speaks the truth in a candid and frank way that resonates with my conscience and my sensibilities. He has earned my personal trust over years of delivering commonsensical solutions, thoughts and ideas that represent the core. There is a standing joke in my office that “Seth speaks to us.”

What is uncanny is how so often his words seem to coincidentally parallel our work. The most recent example of this happened this week when I opened his blog post titled “We Can do It” and saw the image of Rosie The Riveter front and center.

Only two weeks ago I launched my first magazine, published for heart–centered female entrepreneurs who desire work life balance while remaining true to their values. The cover image for the first issue was an intentional character shot of me dressed up as Rosie the Riveter. My publisher’s letter to the magazine’s readers centered on the theme of courage and was all about “You can do it!”

This image embodies the idea that embracing our roles as entrepreneurs and leaders may not be comfortable and familiar, but is definitely possible. I was so amazed to open Seth’s blog post and see that image only a few days after publishing my magazine with such as similar cover. Once again – “Seth speaks to us,” using the Rosie images to encourage readers that if you take action you are already a step ahead.

I invite you to read my letter from the publisher at the Star Lee Magazine website (www.starleemagazine.com) and to take a look at Seth’s blog entry here.  Both  are well worth your time.

And remember, like Rosie, we did it before and you can do it again.

Love & Light,

Star**

Finding Your Dream In the Doing

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

IMG_1600This weekend was a special time for me. It was the moment that I reached a goal I have been working toward my entire professional life. This weekend, my husband and I hosted more than 100 people at my home for the VIP launch party of Star Lee Magazine.

I had one of those lightbulb moments as I prepared for the event that I’d like to share. I realized that even though I was celebrating the attainment of my dream at this party, having published a magazine that I am passionate about for a community that I viscerally understand, IMG_1744_Mag Covermy dream had already been realized some time ago.

I realized that achieving the dream is all about the doing. My dream was fulfilled when I first chose to act and take the leap of faith to do it!  That is the day that my dream came true. I see clearly that dreams are made of many decisions and an accumulation of all the choices I made to get here. The outcome is inevitable when you make choices that are about the little details that will get you to the result.

You, too, may make your dreams come true if you choose.

Finding your dream really is in the doing, in the small actions, in the everyday decisions. Every thought and  every little deed that I acted upon are what made this magazine and the celebration this weekend be realized.

IMG_1700_web small

Cheers to you and to your choosing your dreams and realizing your best you have to share with the world.

Love & Light

Star**