Genuine Insights

The 40 greatest lessons of my life

Ok, so today is the day I turn the BIG 4-0 and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by sharing the 40 greatest lessons of my life with you. Have a laugh, get inspired, and, most importantly, know that GENIUS does 40 well.

• Life at the fringe is the only way to live it.
• The prosperity of your ideas can withstand any economic crisis.
• Dancing never gets old.
• Ignite your craziest ideas—they may not be as crazy as you think.
• Marriage is only hard if you make it hard.
• Design each day just the way you want it.
• Exercise, acupuncture, and sleep are mandatory for sustaining genius.
• You are an original. Be distinctive.
• Men who love powerful women and support them have invisible wings.
• In relationships there can only be one frame and one picture.
• Time is your greatest resource—use it wisely.

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Posted Aug 16, 2011 Tagged under: celebration, genius, inspiration, lists, motivation

Practical Genius Top 10 Lessons of 2010

1. Shut down.

The greatest lesson I’ve learned this year was the power of granting myself time for mental stillness. Carving out time to shut down for 30 minutes and tune inward does small wonders to sustain a healthy mind. Turn off the television, radio, and hand-held devices and allow yourself to physically and mentally chill. What you will quickly notice after doing this for 10 consecutive days is you will be sharper because of it. Solutions to problems will take shape in your mind, new ideas will reveal themselves, and you will also begin to enjoy greater intuitiveness. Remember, in order for your mind to create meaning it needs meaningful rest.

2. Find what you LOVE.

One of the greatest aspects of self-discovery is finding what you love. Many of us have ignored the yummy places within our hearts and minds and I have learned that if you commit to finding what you love and decide to make love to it, life as you know it changes. Ask yourself: what do you love? Is it innovation, fitness, technology, dancing, literature, travel, discovery, ideation, the environment or something as simple as food. What ever “it” may be, find “it”, act upon “it” and honor your love of “it” by investing the time to explore and enjoy “it.” As with all matters of the heart, you will know it when you find “it.”

3. Change it up.

Change is powerful and not as hard you think it is. This year I changed how I managed my time and what happened was life on every level began to change because of the direct impact of just shifting one particular aspect of it. So I want you to change it up a bit. This could mean changing how you manage your time, changing the furniture in your family room or changing what you eat – or even when you eat. It doesn’t matter which slice of your life you decide to change, just pick one aspect and commit to making the shift. When you commit to it, a domino effect for the better will happen. I promise, its powerful.

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Posted Dec 28, 2010 Tagged under: inspiration, lists, reflection

39 biggest lessons of the year

Today’s my birthday and rather than writing a cheesy birthday blog message I’ve decided to share the 39 biggest lessons I’ve learned this year.

1. Intuition is your life vest.
2. Your bottom line measurement should always be happiness.
3. F.E.A.R is false evidence acting real.
4. Rebellion works.
5. The bigger the risk the greater the reward.
6. Patience is golden.
7. You are what you eat.
8. Cats’ rock!
9. Passion is infectious.
10. Vision boards work.

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Posted Aug 16, 2010 Tagged under: celebration, lists, reflection

What gets you into the Genius Zone?

While on a flight to Dallas last week, I was sitting in seat 2B (G-O-D, do I love upgrades), enjoying my standard iPod, reading my favorite monthlies (HBR, Fast Company, Entrepreneur), when I realized I have a few brain tasers (that’s tasers, not teasers) that I really can’t live without. They’re tasers because they give me a genius jolt every time. I’m not kidding. Give a few a try and tell me what my brain tasers do for you.

Brain Taser #1: Think differently.

Like many entrepreneurs, I am an Apple evangelical and didn’t realize how much so until this morning I found myself admiring the perfect bite I took out of an apple in the cab on the way to the airport. I had recreated my favorite genius logo and at 7:15 in the morning was laughing at my emotional connection to this brand and its message to think differently. I’m sure it sounds crazy but it’s true. You marketers reading this, I know you will appreciate this confession.

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Posted Jul 5, 2010 Tagged under: art and music, genius, lists

5 Easy Steps to Making Change Work for You Instead of Against You

This week my husband and I made a few life-changing decisions and rather than becoming paralyzed by the fear of change we chose to face it down and make it work for us. I hope the following steps help you, too.

Step 1: Learn the mantra.

First, address your fear with the mantra, “Fear is only false evidence acting real.” If you repeat this to yourself while you are experiencing the emotional influence of fear those manifestations of fear begin to abate. I have battled with anxiety most of my life and let me tell you, I know a thing or two about fear and this mantra works.

When you are confronted with a life changing opportunity and you begin to feel the fear rise within you, tame it with this mantra and remember the sooner you calm down the sooner you will actually be able to carry on with clarity and purpose. And at the end of the day isn’t that we all want, to just be able to carry on with what we were doing?

Tackle the fear that comes with change, dilute it with self-affirming inner talk and remember what my dad always says: “This, too, shall pass.”

Step 2: Realize that change moves you forward.

Change has many faces. Whether its relocation, changing careers, becoming a parent, reinventing yourself, getting through a divorce or becoming a vegetarian, although it’s never really comfortable and almost always difficult, change is the only way to move forward. Literally.

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Posted Jun 15, 2010 Tagged under: creativity, fear, lists, motivation, overcoming obstacles