Wisdom from Steve Jobs

A brilliant and generous man died today. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple and Pixar, was a hero to many. I didn't idolize him, but I can see why many people did. He was a visionary and a maverick. I haven't used anything but a Mac since 2004...and like millions of Americans, I rush out to see everything Pixar puts out.

Steve died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer...but, he lived like he was dying. Here's part of what he told graduates at Stanford University in 2005:

Death is very likely the single best invention of life; it's life's change agent. It clears out the old to make room for the new. 

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone elses life.

Most important, have the courage to follow your heart and your intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Rest in peace, Steve. You certainly lived a good life.

The Job I Love

I recently made a job change and it was pretty big. I'm sure there are those who thought I was crazy to leave a job that might have appeared to be the stopping place in a career. But, looks are often deceiving.

I'm now the marketing director for Steal Network. "Founded by Jana Francis and Rett Clevenger, Steal Network is an interactive marketing company that delivers top quality brands and products one-day-at-a-time to their communities of women through the websites BabySteals.com, ScrapbookSteals.com and KidSteals.com, KidCrawl.com and many more to come." This exciting company is a little over three years old and growing rapidly. I love being part of the team.

Here's the short list for why I love Steal Network:

• Everyone plays to win. Employees have their eye on making the company better and more profitable. Imagine that? How refreshing.
• No micro-managing. This is incredibly liberating. Everyone is in charge of where and what they spend my time on. Results are expected and everyone delivers.
• Family values. I don't feel looked down upon when I mention I have to leave to pick up children or attend a softball game.
• Opposite of corporate, but completely professional. 
• They love babies and kids. I have been in more meetings with where co-workers have their baby or small child with them (or I can hear their baby or small child over the speakerphone) than I have been in without them — and no one rolls their eyes or acts like it is out of the ordinary or unacceptable. That is a totally new world for me.
• Listening. They are open to their employees input and suggestions. They don't just say they listen, they actually do! In the past few weeks the owners themselves have conducted the yearly reviews, sometimes spending upwards of an hour with each employee.
• Approachability. My bosses are extremely intelligent, but never intimidating — plus they're innovative and hardworking.They're authentic and fun to be with, which makes our meetings such a pleasure to attend.
• Their motto is: We Send Joy — and they mean it. The women they serve are overwhelmingly delighted with the service, product, and experience. Amazing.

If you haven't checked out the steals they offer daily, head over and sign up for their email. You'll thank me later for all the money saving I'm helping you with here.

BabySteals.com - This is the place to get all the latest and greatest baby gear for tots under 2. If you frequently go to baby showers, but don't have any kids under 2, this place will help you get the perfect shower gift every time.

KidSteals.com - This site showcases everything your preschoolers and school-aged children need. Every day is different with kids. This site keeps you ahead of the curve.

ScrapbookSteals.com - I'm not a scrapbooker, but I enjoy this site for the creative mama moments I often have with (or without) my kids. Need something to make those invitations stand out? This is the place. Looking for an idea for a summer craft? This place has it all.

KidCrawl.com -  If you're a bargain hunter and you're looking for a specific baby or child product, check this site first. You'll be able to see thousands of mom reviews on products, where to get the best price (with links to those sites), and when the product typically goes on sale. You'll also find a community of moms eager and willing to answer your questions about anything and everything relating to raising babies.

Disclaimer: The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent Steal Network’s positions, strategies or opinions.

Qualities of a Good Leader

Last week I had the opportunity to speak to a room full of women at the Women in Leadership conference for the Sandy Chamber of Commerce. I was both surprised and honored to be asked. However, the week before the speech, my schedule was so crammed with work, I barely had any time to give the speech a second thought. The night before, I sat down, jotted down my ideas of what makes a good leader and said a prayer for God to help me.

He did.

I have never felt so relaxed and so much a conduit for inspiration as I did that morning. God was there putting the words in my mouth. I shared experiences from my own life that I would not have thought to share. I got laughs, tears and applause. I was humbled by the power I felt was not my own. I learned that He knows how to help you if you just trust Him.

Here's some of what I told the women in attendance about the qualities of a good leader.

1. Listen and be a good follower. Learn to be obedient to the sound advice and direction from your mentors, your parents, your peers, and even your children. Find a mentor, if you don't have one and learn from them with an open mind and heart. Leaders are willing to do the work they ask others to do. They aren't too proud to ask for help and to listen to the advice of others.
2. Remember who you are. My parents told me this all the time as a teenager. I know they meant for me to remember I'm a child of God. I know that to be true of all of us. I also know that when we are real, we're not trying to stand out or be unique. We all have the potential for greatness and when we remember that, we act in accordance with that potential. If you're familiar with Marianne Williamson, you know the quote Nelson Mandela borrowed for his inaugural speech about shining as a child of God so others around you have permission to do the same.
3. Be kind. Help those around you. By treating others with kindness and respect, you raise them up to their potential. Water seeks its own level — why not lift someone up when you can? Someone once said you can only be successful by helping others to be so, too. I believe that is true. Start with your family. Treat them like you treat those you've just met as an experiment and notice how much more patient, kind, open-minded and tolerant you are with them. Kindness takes work when you're tired or frustrated, but you'll never regret showing kindness at those times when it's hardest to show.
4. Know you can' t do it all or be everything to everyone. If you're committed to setting your priorities and living  your priorities, you'll shine as a leader for others to do the same and you'll all be empowered to live a more peaceful life. This is especially important for women as they become mothers. The demands on a working mother's time are often overwhelming. I've learned from the 14 years of being a working mother to act as if you'll never get any time back — make the most of it, because you won't get your time back. Your children will grow up, your deadlines will pass by and your house will need to be re-cleaned. Don't regret the time you spend on things by deciding to spend your time on what is important at that moment.
5. Don't take counsel from your fears. I believe Eleanor Roosevelt said that. She didn't allow her husband to shrink when he could have as a polio survivor. I had to tell myself that story when I really felt like backing out of the upcoming XTERRA triathlon. I am scared of crashing on the mountain bike — I'm a newbie to that sport and tremendously frightened of getting hurt. But, I will not be conquered by my fear. True leaders often do difficult things. Challenges may scare them, but they push through that fear and do it anyway. 
6. Stand for something good. Make your work something you love, something that moves you. My purpose is to lift and inspire women. I hope my work continues to be just that: moving and inspiring. For me, writing and creating are conduits for good. I echo Jane Austen, "Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery." I choose to write about the good in other people — and there is so much of it. I strive to spread that feeling of positive potential to everyone who reads my words. Inspiring others to be the best version of themselves comes naturally to the best leaders.
7. We are all leaders.  Whether we embrace it or not, we all have people around us that look up to us and follow us. If you're a mother, you know that to be true. The mother sets the tone of the home. Women set the tone when they're in positions of leadership — even if they're not the "boss" in a work environment. We are more gentle and nurturing and therefore have a lot of power to influence. We don't have to change ourselves to be more like one of the guys. We can embrace our natural femininity. We can know that our actions within our circle of influence set the tone for future generations. That's power. That's leadership.