LJ Landing

Big Announcement, I'm a CEO!

2010-02-13T16:07:00.002-06:00

Lisa Qualls Named New Fresh ID CEO

Local Kansas City business adds experience and skill to its leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Log (Press Release) – Feb 12, 2010 – KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (February 10, 2010) – Lisa Qualls, an 18-year technology and business management veteran, joins Fresh ID, LLC, based in Kansas City, as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. Qualls will assume 50% ownership of the company while building upon the solid foundation and momentum achieved by ownership partner and Chief Creative Officer Kristi Colvin. Fresh ID will continue to focus on experience design and helping businesses integrate technology to improve operational processes and customer communications. The appointment is effective immediately.

“I’m very excited about this new position,” explains Qualls. “Fresh ID has a long history of success in creating positive user experience and brand images for companies all over the country. This is a great opportunity for me to add my skills and experiences to an already fantastic leadership and team.”

Qualls was previously co-founder and Chief Development Officer for the successful start-up company LightThread, LLC. Responsible for business development, Qualls was instrumental in helping the company achieve profitability within their first year. Prior to LightThread, she held a variety of leadership positions in sales, program management, product development, business integration and executive management. She has successfully built, managed, and consulted on teams with global companies such as Cisco, Sprint, General Electric and John Deere. In addition to her new role at Fresh ID, she is the current President for the Social Media Club of Kansas City and serves as an at-large member on the Blue Springs Officials Association executive board.

Qualls joins founder and current Chief Creative Officer, Kristi Colvin, at Fresh ID, who has run the company as a sole proprietor since leaving PentaSafe Security Technologies in 2002.

“Many experienced business consultants reach a crossroads of deciding between remaining independent, or changing and growing into a larger company in order to achieve more. After working with Lisa Qualls at LightThread on various projects the past year, the synergy and complementing skills between us were too obvious to ignore. I knew she was the right person to take the helm and help Fresh ID grow into the future, so asking her to join me as a partner and take the CEO position made perfect sense. I have seen firsthand how dedicated Lisa is to our clients success and growth... she continually goes the extra mile for our customers, partners, staff and contractors.”

Colvin has created business communications since 1995 for leading software organizations and small-to-medium size start-up companies and worked for many Fortune 500 organizations as a consultant in addition to leading teams at PentaSafe and SigmFlow Software as User Experience Manager. From a foundation in print design and retail visual merchandising, she added web site design, user interface design and human factors research to her creative skill set. She specializes in applying design thinking and intuitive insight to branded online and offline experiences and emerging technologies.

Fresh ID also announces a change of location. The company’s new offices will be located in the Meers Advertising building at 1815 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64108. Fresh ID will officially move to the location on Monday, February 15.
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About Fresh ID:

Fresh ID helps businesses around the world expand their business and reach their goals. By understanding companies from the inside out, Fresh ID designs intelligent solutions and products specific to what clients need in order to do business and engage with prospects and customers. Brand identity and monitoring, social media consultation and campaigns, web design, site socialization, interactive design, application development and user experience strategy are a few of the services offered by Fresh ID. More information about the company is available at http://freshid.com.

Bye Bye 2009 and Hello 2010!

2009-12-31T16:36:00.002-06:00

Wow, what a year 2009 has been! New career, new teams, new degrees, new budgets, and overall a new way of living life. The Qualls family learned quite a bit this year...it was rarely easy or fun but we are blessed so much because of it. We are learning to appreciate the little things...a nice dinner out, time spent together, a new piece of clothing, signing a new business deal, going to a movie or visiting with out of town friends. We have been made very aware of how quickly life changes as we celebrated milestones, were told of job changes and said goodbye to loved ones. We were reminded time and time again...life is about the journey and not the destination. Our purpose? To appreciate each moment, appreciate each other and appreciate the hope for a new day.

As we leave 2009 & for many of us a year of hardship, heartache, & significant challenges, I ask you to consider the following: You have made it to 2010...you are surviving. Do you have someone to hug in your life? You are loved. Do you have somewhere to sleep? You have money. Do you think about tomorrow? You have hope. Find your blessings and embrace them as they will lead you on the path to more blessings tomorrow.

Love those around you, give of yourself, and DO, don't just try, but DO your BEST every day, change from within and watch the world change around you. Learn to love what you have, what you can make happen today and how you can help others. When you find yourself down, dust yourself off and stand up...tall and proud. You may have lost the battle but you are winning the war by living to fight another day.

Before you ask, "why me?" Ask yourself, "what can I do to make it better?" What are you learning, giving, and making happen? You find what you seek so seek with purpose and intention. Be the best possibility not just for others but most importantly for yourself. Find a way to win, even it means fighting like hell before you do.

I wish you the best of New Year's as I know we all need 2010 to have a bit more sunshine than 2009. I wish you and yours health, happiness and mucho love!

Be who you are and learn to be better,
- Lisa

Leaving a Legacy

2009-11-04T17:29:00.004-06:00

We buried my Uncle Don today. Quite a surprise, his death. He was hunting in Nebraska and on his break for lunch took a few gasps of air and boom..was gone. Heart attack. A pretty amazing man he was. He was a fairly quiet guy..you couldn't really tell what he was thinking most of the time. He was extremely smart...probably one of the smartest people I knew. He made a difference..to his family, his friends, and his community. And today, I realized that his greatest gift in his life is the legacy he created that will live on even now that he is gone.

The preacher who spoke about him today had never met him. But you wouldn't have known that had you heard him speak about the legacy my Uncle created in his lifetime. He shared with us the importance of respecting creation and how my Uncle lived his life dedicated to doing so. Uncle Don was a huge conservationist, volunteering his time to teaching hunter safety and the Discovery Center in downtown KC. He was an active community volunteer and fundraiser acknowledged by the key to the city he received from Pleasant Hill. He was a world traveler, sharing time and romance with his lovely wife, my Aunt Marsha. He was a family man, doting on his grandchildren introducing them to the world of gardening, fishing and tractor rides. He respected himself, achieving a highly respected 40 year financial career and taking care of his health as best he could given the illnesses/injuries that was bestowed on him from time to time.

Before today, I'm not sure I truly appreciated the life he led, the legacy he was creating before my very eyes. He wasn't always warm and fuzzy and you couldn't always figure out if he was mad, irritated or simply pondering a thought. But what I learned today, a very important lesson I am grateful to receive, is we need to look past the surface and instead focus on the actions a person takes in their life. We need to open our eyes and look at the results that are produced from what a person does with their time. These results are what creates a legacy..your legacy and mine.

My Uncle Don produced a great many results in his life including some we may not realize for years to come. Think about the hunter who prevents an accident from what he learned in one of his safety courses, to a child who sees the outdoors in the Discovery Center for the first and possibly only time in their life, to a couple who got their start in life from a loan he provided, to a citizen whose life is saved by the defibrillator or heat imagery device he raised funds to purchase, or to his family, his children, his grandchildren that create a legacy of their own based on the amazing time they spent with him. He was a man's man..a giving man..a man who taught me it is the acts in our life, throughout our life, the small ones just as important as the big ones that create a legacy and for this I will be forever grateful and will always miss him.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur

2009-09-15T20:42:00.003-05:00

As I sat down to eat a quick bite of dinner tonight, I started to think about my day and if I accomplished much. As I ran through the events of the day I thought this might make a good blog post to share with you what a "typical" day is like for a business owner who happens to also be a mom, wife, and a daughter amongst a few other descriptions others may give me. I was told in a leadership, entrepreneurial, and innovation program once that to be a business owner requires a certain type of psychology...it isn't for everybody. Boy howdy is that the truth! (yes, I just used the term, "boy howdy" which should be a good indication of the brain function I have left after a "typical day." lol)

I started the day interviewing a University of Missouri "J school" Journalism graduate for a potential position at LightThread. While conducting the interview I received a phone call from my mom letting me know her biopsy results for breast cancer came back negative and all was good...thank you God!

Once I made it in to the office I checked email, picked up the office, started to do dishes (yes kitchen duty is part of my responsibilities and as a side note the dishes never did get finished today and it was only 5 mugs), and read some more email.

I skyped my designer to check in on a website project schedule and a missing email. While talking to the designer our social media specialist arrived at the office who helped track down the missing email and got us back on track.

I work with my business partner on business card design since we both have speaking engagements coming up and it would be good to let people to know how to contact us. I become high maintenance when I ask him to redesign the card not once, twice, three but four times. Ultimately, I love the how the card looks and we end up printing two different cards to appease us both.

Sign some new contracts for a photography project and our new copywriter contractor that will start work in a few weeks.

I check in our checking account to see how our balance is doing and try to gauge a good time when I might get paid next. Good news is balance is positive and we have enough to cover all outgoing bills plus a few months rent...bad news not sure when I'll get paid next. Take a few minutes to strategize on how to get money in the door sooner than later, I then remember we have a blog project that should be done this week that will bring in some moolah. Yay!

I decide to check on the blog project and skype my developer. Seems like we are done with the project but having some wierd technical issues that only one person seems to experience. After checking a multitude of browsers and computers we think the one person's computer may be possessed but can't tell the client we are done until we fix the problem. Needless to say this is an issue that won't be resolved until tomorrow. Keep in mind, we can't replicate the problem so not sure how to fix it and of course we don't get paid until the client signs off so this one has us scratching our head a bit.

I start getting emails from my project team about a meeting scheduled for the afternoon. I screwed up yesterday and was supposed to schedule the meeting for yesterday afternoon but ended up scheduling for today. Too many conflicts for today so I end up cancelling for this week since we don't have many updates or actions to dole out..no need to have a meeting just to have a meeting. Developer is irritated with the late cancellation, I tell him I screwed up, my fault, sorry. I have learned falling on the sword is a much faster route to go and people actually appreciate you more when you acknowledge you made a mistake allowing everyone to move on quicker.

I get notified that a local group I am a member of may be experiencing issues with an election that is underway. I care because I helped instigate said election and happen to be nominated for President. So, after a few emails and forum comments we believe the issue is well in hand and taken care of.

Friend stops by to see if I want to go to lunch. Too busy and too broke I tell him...my social media specialist takes him up on the offer and I have the office to myself. Check some more email while eating a lean cuisine frozen lunch....yummmy.

I check-in on my professional study group that has a meeting scheduled this Friday. I missed our last meeting due to a freaky cornea issue (too much computer and allergies) so wanted to make sure I was prepared for our next get together. We always have prep work to do and this week's topic is our finanical ambition. Found out I need to review 8 research items and update a financial model...hmmm..that one is on tomorrow's to-do list.

The goal for the day is to begin writing copy for a new website that is instrumental in our launch of a new brand. Yes, I realize I am starting the day's goal after lunch, however for me getting started on a daily goal before 5:00 is actually a good day. I realize that to write the copy I need to learn HTML..which is a website code. I ask my social medial specialist to give me a quick tutorial which takes a bit longer than I expected because I learn I need to download a ftp server application, get back-end log-in information and print an HTML cheat sheet to help me remember all the code information. The good news is I was able to accomplish one whole page of copy....bad news I was able to accomplish one whole page of copy when I was hoping to get 4 pages of copy done.

While working on the copy I get an email reminding me that I was going to call someone after two...I get the email at 3:00. Damn. I send an email to the contact letting them know I got caught up with some issues and will call them at 4:00. I finish up the one page of copy and then check on a tradeshow project that started this week.

Good news! We received the tradeshow copy as promised. Bad news. The client's go-to-person notifies us she is going on a week long cruise starting Friday and we were hoping to make this a quick two week project...we get paid the remaining 50% of the project fees upon completion. I put in a request to my designer to see if we can acclerate concept design by 3 days to get the go-to-person's blessing so we can still finish next week. I'm still waiting on designer to say yes..keep your fingers crossed.

Husband emails wanting to know if I have time to run down some softball team issues for him. I say sure no problem. Send some emails and let him know all is good.

I make my 4:00 call that is supposed to last 30 minutes but ends up taking an hour.

When I finish the call I remember I was going to submit our new press release to four online press release sites this morning...and it is now 5:00. Well, better late than never. I start the simple but tedious process of uploading the press release to the different sites. Each site takes about 20-30 minutes to fill-out all the information, configure the text to their specifications and step through their publication process. Of course, the second site does something funky to my title heading and I can't change it. It really isn't that big of a deal but my OCD kicks in and I spend an extra 20 minutes trying to edit so a space can be added between a comma and the word 'to'... let me show you... the site published, Lisa Qualls, LightThread's Chief Development Officer,to present at KC Professional Development Days and I was trying to get it to look like, Lisa Qualls LightThread's Chief Development Officer, to present at KC Professional Development Days. So do you see the problem? I mean it's HUGE right??? Yeah I know...20 minutes of wasted time on something that really has no meaning in the world but was making me CRAZY. I finally gave up hoping that the other three sites will get the visibility.

I do some quick checking on google, yahoo and bing to make sure the press release is making the rounds. Also do some quick posting of the release on my social networks. Of course when you open up Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter you also get caught up on friends, news and check to see how many times your profile has been looked at. Needless to say it's 8:00 before I know it and I find myself starving...the lean cuisine although good doesn't really have a lot of staying power. I also then begin the guilt that comes with being a working mom...no home cooked meal for my kids and I missed my daughter's softball parent practice that I was hoping to participate in. I tell myself it will be ok when I watch every game at her tournament this weekend.

It is now almost 10:00 p.m. I finally did get to eat a quick ham and turkey sandwich with a hand full of potato chips and a beer. Kids and hubby got home from work and practice at about the same time around 9;30. I told them only 10 more minutes on the computer and yet again I guessed wrong and took longer than I hoped. They are now yelling at me to come join them for a quick t.v. show so they can go to bed. I love my life, my family, AND my business and can't wait to get started all over again tomorrow.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

I Miss You!

2009-06-24T21:43:00.004-05:00

Summer is in full swing and with it so is my calendar. We are a big softball and baseball family so ball games, practices and umpiring keeps us on the go. I have a rare evening at home so thought I would write a quick post and share some of the fun stuff going on in life.

Family
This is our first year experiencing competitive softball and boy does it keep a family busy. Samantha is enjoying the experience and has really turned in to a heck of a ballplayer. Zachary is playing baseball and working his bootie off at McDonalds. He finds plenty of time to hang with "his boys" and is a reminder of how summer is a time for fun. Jackie is teaching summer school, helping mow yards for the parents, and being the great husband he always is. I am so blessed to have such a fun and engaged family!

Being an Entrepreneur
I don't remember a time in my professional career where I have been so excited, scared, crazed and inspired all at the same time. Owning and managing a company is as hard as everyone says it is but it also so rewarding, challenging (in a good way) and educational. LightThread has been through some twists and turns as most start-up companies experience but our team is strong and focused. We have started to build momentum and buzz the last few months which has been very motivating. In fact, our CEO Simon Kuo was interviewed on KCTV5 which you can see here:

Our office is located in the Screenland Theater down in the Crossroads district. The building is a renovated fish house with a mini museum dedicated to the early life of Walt Disney. To say it is super cool would be an understatement and is home to many special events including the monthly Legends Luncheon supporting the Negro League Museum. We love to have friends stop by and always have cold brewsky's in the fridge. Work is the priority but if we're not having fun then whats the point? In fact, some of our best ideas are inspired when we are playing around, sharing thought-provoking conversation and laughing. First Friday's are an especially good time in the LightThread office so if you are ever in the area please stop by!

I am obviously focused on family and work this summer so it may be a while before I post again. I miss writing so will definitely pick up the pace come September. In the meantime, you can catch me writing on the LightThread blog, speaking at the KC Professional Development Days or attending SMCKC events around town.

Be who you are and learn to be better!
Lisa

Online Transparency vs. Privacy

2009-05-12T16:59:00.002-05:00

Looking for something fun to do on Saturday while getting educated on the latest and greatest in social media? Check out Chicks Who Click, a one-day Social Media Conference for Women incorporating networking, education and empowerment with like-minded women, achieving great heights in the area of Social Media. I will be serving on the transparency vs. privacy panel that will discuss the challenges to personal security, privacy and reputation that are unique to the online world.

I found a great post highlighting the benefits of the panel discussion that you can read here. How Come Men Don’t Have to Worry About This S**t?

Posted using ShareThis

I hope to see you at the Chicks Who Click event! If you can't make Saturday you may want to sign-up for the networking event Friday night at the GranFalloon.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

Spring Time is Here!

2009-04-25T23:37:00.004-05:00

If you grew up in the midwest, there is a good chance you are a weather junkie like me, especially during this time of year. Tonight was our first significant weather event here in KC and for me it was the first time ever I integrated online viewing with my TV viewing. It was like a 360 degree theater of weather watching and it was awesome! Or like Jim Flink said on Twitter..it's like surround sound stereo! If you happen to be online while watching storm coverage on TV I thought you may find these sites interesting.

First is www.kcweather.org. This site was mentioned multiple times during channel 9 coverage and happens to be ran by a friend of mine. They host a live chat during severe weather situations when Ed Roberts (Ed runs the site) is available, which is most of the time. Ed also posts daily podcasts that you may find helpful. Not only do you get some meteorology education, you also meet some pretty cool people in the room. I had a great discussion with the Yahoo sports writer from Rivals.com and ended up getting into a side discussion about the NFL draft, high school recruiting and appreciation for online communities. Fun stuff!

For those of you on twitter you can follow @kcweather to get live updates. For those of you not on twitter, you can simply go to search.twitter.com and search on #kcstorms and you will see all live tweets that often have weather spotters providing live updates from around the metro area.

I know, I’m a super geek to be doing this kind of stuff on a Saturday night but my daughter had a softball tourney this weekend so was hanging at home. One more thing..in case you didn’t see the live tornado video on KMBC channel 9 it is a must see…a photojournalist and reporter got caught in the I-70 turnpike tornado and had to escape to a ditch…they got it all on video.

Spring is here in KC and I’m soooo happy!

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series Wrap-Up

2009-04-20T21:50:00.004-05:00

WOW! Those 40 days went by fast.....super fast. I had a great time sharing with you just some of the fantastic people I have had the pleasure and honor of working with the last 20 years. I hope you learned something along the way as I know I learned a ton! I need to thank three more people as I wrap-up the series...my parents Tom and Rita Nicholson and my husband Jackie Qualls. My parents instilled in me a serious work ethic to keep going, do what it takes to get the job done and don't quit. They have provided an endless amount of support throughout my career. My ever patient husband taught me how to let go of the tough days and to celebrate the good ones. He also taught me the power of loving the difficult as there have been many days I have been difficult at best and he loved me anyway. I am truly grateful for having their love that inspires me each and every day.

Many people have asked me if I planned out who I was going to write about. I did write a list of about 40 people when I got the idea for the series but I didn't plan on when I would write about them or what I would write about. I also had names and memories that came to me while writing the series. Before I would write a post I would ask God for guidance and it never failed the name would come through loud and clear. Many times I would hear from the person that they had no idea they made such an impact and that I couldn't have had better timing...God works in mysterious ways. Once I figured out who I would write about the story would flow pretty easily. I found it interesting that every post would take a life of its own. What I thought I had learned from the person often times would be something different by the time I got to writing the golden nugget. Ultimately, the experience left me feeling blessed, thankful and in awe of the amazing people who have touched my life.

40-Day Series Review:

Annette Loos Golden Nugget: Don't assume people know when they do good work or are making a difference because more than likely they don't. Taking a few minutes to share a note of your observations can inspire a lifetime of confidence.
Linda Chappell Golden Nugget: Don't be afraid to give the rookie a chance to make a difference. Simply believe in them, encourage them, help them find their way from time to time and then watch them grow as they take your company to new heights.
Tony Painton Golden Nugget: 1) Take care of your team, even if it means breaking the rules from time to time. 2) Laugh the tension away
Victor Alba Golden Nugget: Share your passion and hobbies with your co-workers, you may find a connection that transcends business and leads you to new possibilities in life.
Shushan Aleaqui Golden Nugget: Take the time, show the patience and have the courage to be authentic when coaching others.
Kathy Walker Golden Nugget: Don't forget where you came from and be willing to lead as your authentic self
Claudio Lima Golden Nugget: Don't be afraid to ask the smart guys for help and if you are the smart guy help the student feel smart too. Be kind to those who are on assignment and/or new to the group.
Sharon Williams Golden Nugget: Be a listening ear and know when to tell a joke
Steve Coker Golden Nugget: Find someone who you trust enough to call you a chicken and appreciate it when they do
Linda Sherlock Golden Nugget: If it isn't good do what you have to do to fix it and make it great.
Tim Lunsford Golden Nugget: Foster an environment of debate, challenge the status quo and be wary of the Yes man
Jean Matkovich Golden Nugget: Embrace learning and share what you know with others.
Simon Kuo Golden Nugget: Stay in touch with old colleagues and be open to new opportunities they offer
Craig Cowden Golden Nugget: Ask the tough questions and have your voice be heard
Rebecca Caldwell Golden Nugget: Embrace community service and let others help you to achieve the "impossible"
Tricia Howe Golden Nugget: Energy creates energy..giving 100% is infectious!
George Porta Golden Nugget: Appreciate people for who they are and focus on their strengths
Glen Boney Golden Nugget: Give unconditional help and support
Laurie Halfert Golden Nugget: Listen without judgment
Fong Johnson Golden Nugget: Being a mentor is more about learning than teaching
Francine Ray Golden Nugget: Keep the small stuff small by taking care of the details.
Tony Krueck Golden Nugget: Create a culture of quality and trust by encouraging and accepting candid discussion
Clay Holyfield Golden Nugget: Know what your customer wants and give it to them
Jay Bluhm Golden Nugget: Appreciate the time spent with your siblings
Amy Mahalovich Golden Nugget: Be compassionate with others
Jo Blagovich Golden Nugget: Give people second chances
Fred Harris Golden Nugget: Think twice about how you treat your co-workers
Susan Morgan Golden Nugget: Learn, stand-up, reach-out and lead
Tom Hoskins Golden Nugget: Family First
Jerry Leeper Golden Nugget: Being the best you can be requires practice, discipline & dedication
Lori Ames Golden Nugget: Trust someone to catch you when you fall, they'll push you back up.
Sally Harding Funk Golden Nugget: Provide meaningful training to employees
Tom and Rita Nicholson Golden Nugget: Keep going, do what it takes to get the job done and don't quit
Jackie Qualls Golden Nugget: Let go of the tough days, celebrate the good ones and love the difficult people as they need it the most

If this series taught you something please leave a comment as it may teach us all a golden nugget. Thank you for stopping by and check back again soon.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Sally Harding Funk

2009-04-10T22:18:00.004-05:00

Sally developed and taught me how a long distance telephone call works. Your phone to the end office to the central office to the PoP to the PoP to the central office to the end office to the phone you are calling. There is a bit more to it than that but that is how we started. The diagram is called a call flow. She would teach me the fundamental knowledge I would lean on throughout my entire telecom career.

I didn't realize it then but I was so very fortunate to get such training. Most of my colleagues didn't get an overview let alone a two-week, sit down, white board, deep dive crash course in all things telecom. Sally walked me through a ton of call flows, network diagrams, and telecom definitions. When I started that job I thought ATM was a place where you pulled money...Sally would teach me a whole new ATM, Asynchronous Transfer Mode network. Voice, data, T-1's, OC-3's, and PVC's...a world I never knew existed would become the world I would live and breathe the next 10 years.

I would be exhausted at the end of our sessions from brain overload but she had a way of making it fun and exciting. She was patient with all my questions. She would become a trusted supervisor and team mate who would provide valuable advice through some pretty challenging career events. She helped me establish a foundation of knowledge that was critical to both my personal and professional growth.

Golden Nugget: Provide meaningful training to employees

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Lori Ames

2009-04-09T23:10:00.004-05:00

Lori and I love the MU tigers, love Springfield, MO and love golf. We had an instant connection when we met (which happened to be during a business interview). Our team had all intentions of hiring someone else and then we met her and changed our mind. She had this aura of confidence, calm and intelligence.

Little did I know during that interview just how much fun Lori was going to be. We shared college stories, happy hour stories and made new stories of our own. Lori wasn't just a good time, she was a true friend and confidant. She helped me get through political turmoil, new bosses, and adjust to jobs I thought were over my head. She would stop me cold when I was whining, tell me to get over it and jump back in the fight. She could challenge me like none other and I didn't want to disappoint.

Lori is one of the most courageous people I know. She manages personal challenges that requires the strongest of faith and intestinal fortitude. She knows who she is, gets stronger every day and is full of love, love, and love. We have many great memories that I reflect on often. A born leader, true professional and amazing friend, that's my Lori.

Golden Nugget: Trust someone to catch you when you fall, they'll push you back up.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Jerry Leeper

2009-04-08T23:12:00.003-05:00

A bit of a different twist with this entry..I am going to talk about someone from my junior high/high school days. You may think this is a stretch to connect this experience to making business personal. Bear with me, I'm optimistic you'll understand the connection.

Jerry Leeper was my band and orchestra teacher in 8th grade. We had heard horror stories in the 7th grade which was in a completely different building miles away from the junior high. With the way the first few weeks of 8th grade band started I had no doubt why the stories existed. Mr. Leeper was loud, demanding, and had no tolerance for excuses. He was the first teacher for all of us that set expectations and made sure at you met them. As you can imagine the attrition rate was high that first quarter but if you held on and stuck with it you wouldn't be disappointed.

The junior high band ALWAYS sounded better than the high school band. We would win top awards, get invited to cool places, and would work our butt off to be better than any other band in the area. Mr. Leeper would push and drive us to improve our musical ability with challenging scores and intense practice sessions. He would tell us we only shortchange ourselves if we cut corners. He demanded we be the best we could be as trying to be anything else was simply being lazy.

It may sound like he was this tough mean old guy, and I would be lying if I didn't say there wasn't days when we thought he was a bit scary but I can tell you he really was one of the nicest caring teachers in the district. He pushed because he cared. He challenged us because he knew we had it in us. He was demanding because he wanted us to know the accomplishment that comes from giving it everything we had.

A true testament to the respect we had for him was years later when Mr. Holland's Opus came out and everyone one of us who kept in touch thought of Mr. Leeper immediately when we watched the movie. He was our Mr. Holland, he made his business of teaching personal. He would spend countless hours staying late helping us practice both as a class and individually. He would become a private instructor teaching me the oboe. He taught me that to become great was only possible through practice, discipline and dedication. To respect yourself was to respect your craft...take it seriously, reach for the high bar and be the best you can be..no more no less.

Golden Nugget: Being the best you can be requires practice, discipline & dedication

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Tom Hoskins

2009-04-08T22:00:00.004-05:00

A true gentleman. Have you ever had the opportunity to meet one? I not only had the pleasure to meet one but the honor to work with one side by side every day for almost 3 years. Tom Hoskins was a retired Air Force Colonel and Vietnam War veteran. I remember him telling me about one of his most exciting days when he was invited to fly in a Stealth plane...pretty cool huh? He had quite a few interesting stories and I loved to hear him tell them. I always learned something new and he never got irritated with all my questions (at least that I knew of, I'm sure he had to get tired of them from time to time :) )

Tom was always calm, cool and collected. I on the other hand was the opposite. He was my zen master. He could just give me a look and I knew it was time to take it down a level. We spent countless hours talking. We would talk about meetings, bosses, and colleagues and what we could learn from them. I know I learned something from just about every conversation I had with him.

Not only would we talk about work but also our families, friends and home life. He encouraged me to be a better mother and wife. He would push me to leave the office on time. He would remind me that children grow fast and you don't get a second time around to do it better. My only regret is I didn't heed his advice and wisdom as often I should have. My wish for you...to have an opportunity to have a Tom Hoskins in your life...it will make you a better person.

Golden Nugget: Family first

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Susan Morgan

2009-04-07T22:31:00.003-05:00

I honestly don’t have any idea what kind of career I would have had if I had not met Susan when I was assigned to work network migrations. Here I was this 20-something, high-energy, over eager kid not knowing a damn thing about technology, network or project management. I know there were times she had to just shake her head wondering what in the hell she was going to do with me. She had incredible patience and always took the time to answer my endless amount of questions. She would teach me just about everything I would ever know about managing projects, reporting on projects and dealing with project politics.

She taught me to understand the big picture. Always start with the big picture. If you didn’t understand the why and what you couldn’t develop the when, where, and how.

She taught me the importance of understanding the various team members and their why and what. Always respect your team members. You needed to know where your team members were coming from, what their role and responsibility was and why they may push back (typically because their boss was telling them to, which you could figure out if you knew the big picture).

She taught me the power of the project sponsor. Always treat your sponsor like the customer. Without a project sponsor you don’t have a project.

Finally, she taught me to be a project manager meant you were the leader. The buck stopped with you. If there was an issue, a delay, a quality issue you took the blame…you never ever threw a project member under the bus. You took responsibility; you fixed the problem and ultimately led the team to deliver the project per plan.

She also taught me the importance of continuing your education. Susan was always working on a new degree of some kind. She also taught me to enjoy hobbies and appreciate being good at more than one thing. Most important, she taught me to be kind to the rookies, embrace the challenges and be a real leader who stands up without fear.

Golden Nugget: Learn, stand-up, reach-out and lead

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Fred Harris

2009-04-07T21:42:00.004-05:00

Fred was one of the best human beings I ever had the pleasure to work for. He was so much more than his title. He had lost his son to leukemia, the kind that doesn’t give you very much notice. He helped start the Heart of America Bone Marrow registry to honor him. The lives he has touched are many and I feel honored to have had the privilege to learn from him.

Fred and I shared a passion for quality…we believed company performance was directly tied to the quality of an organization’s strategy, processes and measurements. Sprint at the time was a big proponent of the Malcolm Baldridge Chairman Quality Award. Fred sponsored me to become a certified CQA examiner so I could bring the lessons back to his organization. What an amazing experience! As if that wasn’t enough he then accepted my proposal to create a CQA task force within his organization. He didn’t just ask one of his directors to participate; he requested that they all become involved. Some of my ideas weren’t very corporate…like the toy horns and hats I had the team wear at a milestone meeting but there was Fred wearing the hat and tooting the horn.

His guidance, never-ending support, and encouragement were somewhat rare for a man at his level to give to a junior level employee. But that was Fred, he didn’t try to fit the corporate norm…he was his own man, with his own idear’s, and wasn’t afraid to speak out on what he thought was important. There was one time he even brought up heaven at an all organization conference. His point was to get us to think about how we might be measured at the end of our life. He asked that if we were spending the majority of our life at work shouldn’t we be mindful of how we act to others as well as perform? That moment alone told me what an incredible man he was. I had the pleasure to witness his words in action and I’m a better person because of it.

Golden Nugget: Think twice about how you treat your co-workers

Be who you are and learn to be better,

Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Jo Blagovich

2009-04-07T09:18:00.003-05:00

I honestly do not know where to even start when writing about Ms. Blagovich. Dame. A real life dame. If you asked me one word to describe Jo that is what I would answer. She is smart, fearless, fun, and makes things happen. A leader who does not apologize for her high standards. She can be a bit intimidating when she wants to be. She would give me my big break in the corporate world by hiring me in to my first salary position.

I was assigned to a position that I knew nothing about and I'm not exaggerating...I really knew nothing. Fortunately I had many people around to help me but the learning curve was long. I was responsible for frame relay migrations with my primary focus advocating for our B2B customers. We had capacity issues that kept delaying migration schedules so I came up with a report to track the issues. Typically you have a stoplight report that reflects green, yellow and red issues but Jo was color blind. Now before I continue with this story I have to tell another story to give color (no pun intended) to the situation.

Weeks before I created the report I fell asleep at my desk. I had come off a very long weekend with no sleep and was asked to read some really awful, long and boring requirements document. While reading I dozed off. Of course Jo happened to walk by and busted me. I was still relatively new and was scared I was going to get fired. My manager told me I wasn't going to be fired but that I would have a long road to recover with Jo. Now back to the report story.

So I knew I had this one opportunity to impress Jo. I also knew she was a hard woman to impress and the odds were against me after the "resting my eyes" incident. Knowing she was color blind I made the report in shades of purple. She loved it. She fondly called it the "Barney Report" named after the popular kids dinosaur show at the time. I still had a ways to go to earn her trust but the recovery had begun. To this day she loves to tell the sleeping story.

Jo would become a HUGE influence in my career. She was my Sprint angel...watching over me as I moved job to job. Always answering my call and willing to meet with me when I needed her wisdom. She never held back and if I needed to hear the hard truth she was the one to tell it to me. I love this woman. I can't say it anymore simple than that...I love Jo. I think we are kindred spirits from a previous life...we share a name, work philosophies, and enjoy downtime fun. I would never had the career I had without Jo. I wouldn't be a business owner today. Thank you doesn't come close to representing how much I appreciate her. I thank God often for bringing this dame in to my life and showing me the way.

Golden Nugget: Give people second chances.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Amy Mahalovich

2009-04-06T00:13:00.003-05:00

As I wrote about Jay Bluhm and appreciating time spent with siblings I was inspired to write about my real sibling, Amy Mahalovich. I know it may sound odd that I am thanking my sister for making business personal but trust me she has taught me a TON about making business personal. She is an RN. She has worked on both ends of life's spectrum...she has taken care of kids with cancer through their last days and she has brought new healthy babies in to the world. She takes her role seriously and treats each and every patient with such amazing care and thoughtfulness.

I have spent a fair amount of time in hospitals and I can say with confidence that Amy performs her "business" above and beyond what is expeced. She often gets cards, gifts and many many hugs from her patients...a true testament to the way she approaches her job. She makes it a point to understand her patients, their concerns, and their fears. She answers their questions, teaches them how to take care, and provides them the support they need, regardless if it is beyond her "role." I have had many conversations with her when I was opining about the trials and tribulations of my work. She never trivalizes what I am saying even though she could...my job isn't life and death...hers is.

I have complained about long days...she works 12 hours a day and that is on a good day. She will work both night and day shifts confusing her biological clock. She shares her talent and skill by helping her children's school district with nursing services. She embraces her role with passion, love and joy that many will only ever dream of. She has taught me the power of listening, authenticity, compassion,and empathy to connect with others in powerful ways. She works because she loves it and I can assure you it isn't because of the money. As a fellow professional I have the utmost respect for her approach, talent and skill that she delivers day in and day out. As her big sister I have such pride and admiration for what she does and more importantly how she does it.

Golden Nugget: Be compassionate with others

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Jay Bluhm

2009-04-05T23:39:00.002-05:00

I think Jay and I were brother and sister in a previous life. We had a connection that was rare in the corporate world. I even received coaching one time to be careful with being perceived as Jay's little sister. I understood the concern but honestly thought of it as a compliment. In some ways I really did look up to Jay as if he was a big brother. I only have one sister and always wanted a brother and in many ways Jay served in that role.

He offered support, encouragement, tough love, and even protection when needed. He introduced me to the Business Professional Certification program which would change my life. He coached me, taught me and connected me to new people. He made me laugh...a lot. He drank beer with me, found me a hotel room when I was stranded in D.C., and listened to me. All of this and I never worked directly for the man or even on his team. In fact, there were a few times where I may have caused him some stress through escalations and red risk assessments. And yet, through it all he was there sharing advice and always guiding.

I don't see Jay as often these days since I left Sprint a year ago. He is still there busting his ass to make sure good things happen through some of the biggest obstacles he has ever had to face. His success often times results in additional responsibility, bigger teams and a huge work load. He accepts it all as he believes it gives him more opportunity to make a difference. I can tell you first hand he takes full advantage of every one of those "opportunities" and DOES make a difference. I miss our chats, our weekly beer sessions and his laugh. But as a little sister I am so proud of what he is doing and know that when I need him he'll be there.

Golden Nugget: Appreciate the time spent with your siblings

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Clay Holyfield

2009-04-01T19:03:00.002-05:00

I just had lunch today with Mr. Holyfield and thought what a great person to write about in this series. Clay and I started working together a few years ago and I have had the distinct pleasure in seeing him grow as a professional and as person throughout that time. He is a snappy dresser, terrific husband/father and one hell of a smart guy. He comes from a blue collar background, is a K-state grad and appreciates a well played football game (meaning smash mouth all the way!). He has a sensibility about him that enables him to be great at just about anything he does.

Clay worked his way up from the ground floor so has a unique perspective on what it takes for a company to be really good. He has worked in product management creating the product, in internal operations delivering the product, and has supported sales directly selling the product. He and I worked together on a custom solutions team so he also understands that many times what the customer wants isn't exactly what a company offers so you have to make it up as you go. He knows to be successful requires playing in the gray area and that some lines are meant to be stretched to satisfy the client.

You often hear "customer comes first" but many times the customer gets lost in the process, the reports and the bureaucracy. Clay made sure the customer never got lost..even if that meant working long hours to do so. I was always amazed at his ability to take care of both his external and internal customers simultaneously...a task difficult to do at best and impossible at worse. He accomplished this with his professionalism, attitude, skill and sincere desire to satisfy his customer. That is another thing...he took personal ownership of his customer, he made it his responsibility to not let anything keep him from taking care of what the customer needed to be happy. A class act who took ownership and accountability to do more than give lip service to customer satisfaction, he made it happen!

Golden Nugget: Know what your customer wants and give it to them.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Tony Krueck

2009-03-30T23:43:00.005-05:00

Tony was a key contributor to my project management skills. I learned how to give bad news, communicate program risks, and escalate issues that with some executives may not have been well received. Not that Tony didn't appreciate good news, I can assure you he did. In fact, he would often give public praise to those who kept their projects within control. Unfortunately, I had a very complex program that faced numerous obstacles. Without Tony's support I am confident that the program would have never seen the light of day.

After years of watching others manage difficult programs while leading a few myself, I could understand the fear many project manager's had when reporting issues. Executives could make it downright painful to tell them the truth. So much so in some cases that some PM's would outright lie or water down issues to the point where no action was taken. Delays, quality issues and budget overruns were commonplace as a result.

The culture of fear changed when Tony took the helm. Not that project's stopped having issues but Tony understood facts were a necessity to making quality decisions. He encouraged his PM's to identify risks early, communicate often and share bad news when necessary. He helped teams by removing obstacles, encouraging his peers to get engaged and escalating to his superiors if needed. He applauded truth. He removed the air of fear by creating a forum that welcomed open and candid conversation. In turn, quality decisions were made, risks mitigated and issues minimized.

Golden Nugget: Create a culture of quality and trust by encouraging and accepting candid discussion.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Francine Ray

2009-03-30T23:03:00.002-05:00

Francine...you can't help but smile when you think about Francine. She always had a kind word, displayed sincere care and I don't think I ever saw her without a smile. Come to think of it, I don't recall ever hearing her say "no" either. If you had a volunteer request, Francine would raise her hand. Need a presentation edited? She was your copy editor. Print jobs, copies, hugs, or your sanity checked? Francine was there.

I can't begin to tell you all the times Francine helped me out of a last minute jam, plan a big event or manage an executive issue. As if that wasn't enough, she had a full-time job directly supporting a vice-president and the hundreds of employees within the organization. You could rely on her 100% as she always delivered on her commitments while paying attention to those details that most would overlook. She would happily accept any task no matter the size or visibility. In a big corporation where many people only wanted to work on something that had executive visibility, Francine was a breath of fresh air helping with what needed to get done vs. what was "cool" or "strategic."

Not only did she help me but she helped countless others throughout the entire company and in her community. She taught me the value in taking care of the details. She also helped me realize that much of the big problems would have never gotten big if someone had taken care of the issue when it was just the "small stuff." Last but not least, she taught me the power of the smile. :)

Golden nugget: Keep the small stuff small by taking care of the details.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Fong Johnson

2009-03-25T23:17:00.002-05:00

Fong contacted me more than a year ago asking if I would share a day in the life of a staff manager. She was interested in becoming a staff manager someday and thought I could share insights that would help her create a personal development plan. Our first meeting would lead to a great mentor/mentee relationship and ultimately a friendship that I value very much.

I realized that Fong was much more than a mentee when she posted a recommendation for me on LinkedIn. Typical recommendations are a paragraph or shorter. Not Fong's. She wrote almost a half a page and talked from both a business and personal perspective. She was concerned she didn't write it correctly or said too much. I posted it just the way she wrote it as I had never read something so touching. It completely floored me with how thoughtful it was and is truly one of my most favorite recommendations. I still can't believe someone would take the time and effort to write such kind things..she was another real inspiration to starting this 40-day blog series.

Fong is a first generation Chinese American and has a unique and incredible outlook on life. Even though we started our relationship with me serving as the mentor there are more times than not that I feel like the mentee. She is incredibly bright and can appreciate the more subtle things in life that I think many of us take for granted. She has a proven strength that not only comes from leaving a home country thousands and thousands miles away but also supporting a spouse that has recovered from a life threatening illness. She is the full package and is going to be so much more than a staff manager someday.

Golden Nugget: Being a mentor is more about learning than teaching.

40-Day Series: Thank You Laurie Halfert

2009-03-20T22:28:00.004-05:00

I had the great pleasure to watch Laurie begin her career as a secretary (which she was way over qualified for) and through pure determination move all the way up to a technical program manager. Throughout it all she was always willing to lend a helping hand, would take advantage of every learning opportunity, and instilled a positive energy with any team she worked with. She volunteered often for community service efforts and many times served in a leadership capacity. I think what I found most impressive about Laurie was her amazing skill of active listening.

Laurie and I worked together for many years...we shared bosses, teammates, and cocktails. We experienced career and personal challenges together. We knew how to pick each other up, make each other laugh, and be honest with one another...real honest. She saw me grow from a Jr. level employee to her manager. Through it all she never faltered to listen, regardless of the conversation.

I remember our first performance review. I felt awkward as we had been friends for such a long time and now I was responsible for evaluating and coaching her. She made it so very easy and listened intently on what I had to say. She was a great example of how actively listening can make for great conversation. Actively listening allows you the opportunity to speak intelligently and meaningfully and nobody did it better than Laurie.

Golden Nugget: Listen without judgment.

40-Day Series: Thank You Glen Boney

2009-03-19T22:53:00.003-05:00

The first time I met Glen was when I was part of a team interviewing him. He was so impressive and we didn't hesitate to vote to have him join our group. Glen is from Mississippi, loves fried squid (which has the most "unique" smell), and is one of the kindest men I have ever known. He is also a retired Army Lt. Colonel, smart as hell and can tell a joke better than any stand-up comedian on the circuit. Oh, did I say he is one of the kindest men I have ever known?

Glen would leave our team following a promotion to manager. He could have moved to the executive branch but didn't want to deal with the bullshit. He would end up being instrumental in helping me not get just one job but two. His first effort was helping me get an interview with Tim Lunsford. He really went to bat for me as Tim already had his pick in mind. His second effort was getting my dream job working for Kathy Walker. Glen was working on her presentations and I was always dropping by trying to learn about what he was doing. He would transition the presentation responsibility over to me which ultimately led me to getting the staff manager gig. I never understood why he was always so willing to help me but I am forever grateful for his support.

Not only did he help me get the two gigs but he always provided a listening ear, valuable advice and even a hug now and then to raise my spirit. He had the best stories and wasn't afraid to laugh at himself. He encouraged me to embrace the value of the meeting before the meeting. He knew how to really truly help people in the most unconditional way. He taught me the power of selflessness and how to kill em' with kindness. Did I tell you he was the one of the kindest man I have never known?

Golden Nugget: Give help and support unconditionally

40-Day Series: Thank You George Porta

2009-03-17T16:40:00.003-05:00

George and I worked together first back in the late 90's. We were on the same project that was demanding, revolutionary and fun believe it or not. Even though we worked on different teams I found myself at his desk quite often asking one of my million questions trying to figure out the product and technology we were deploying. George always made time to answer my questions and provide explanations in layman terms. His patience was incredible.

A few years later George would give me a call that led to me working directly for him. Not only did I get to work for him and on a great team but it was finally the job that pushed my overall compensation up to being equal with my peers. I would learn all about sales and have the pleasure of supporting the Northeast division which was a blast. The best part of the job though was working with George...I can't possibly explain all that I learned from him. We had an interesting communication style in our working relationship and if you were to walk in the room you would have thought we were fighting.

George and I were two passionate people which came through loud and clear in our conversations. It sounds weird I know but it worked for us. It was a huge relief to work who could appreciate my passion and learning process. I didn't have to be "careful" with what I was saying or asking...I could be all me and he took it in stride. He knew how to coach me to get the best from me and would challenge me to reach for more. He knew how to take my knee jerk reactions when I made mistakes and would provide the hug of support when I was down. He was the ultimate role model of making business personal and his teaching left me with knowledge that I use everyday.

Golden Nugget: Appreciate people for who they are and focus on their strengths

40-Day Series: Thank You Tricia Howe

2009-03-17T01:55:00.004-05:00

Oh where do I start with my good friend and sister in spirit Tricia? I met her at Western Illinois when I was teaching a cheer camp and she was a coach with one of the participating squads. We immediately hit off...myself, along with the rest of the staff, agreed she was one of us and needed to be on staff. So, we called the owner, Linda Chappell who then came out to the camp on our request to meet with Tricia and agreed with our assessment and hired her on the spot. Tricia was on staff and teaching a camp the very next week.

I would be fortunate and blessed to have Tricia on my staff the following year when I was camp director. I would have never made it that summer had it not been for Tricia and her constant support and laughter. She knew when to pick me up, when to push me ahead and when to tell me to shut the hell up. She was an incredible leader and role model for the campers, the staff and for me. She experienced some pretty significant personal issues that summer and yet you would have never known it as she was always upbeat, positive and full of endless energy.

Tricia now lives in Chicago, is a business professional, has a great family and is still involved in the cheerleading world. I just spoke with her today and was reminded of the powerful impact she has made on my heart, my spirit, and my mind. She juggles what one can only call an insane schedule and continues to live life to the fullest. She continues to teach me that life is about making it happen, giving no less than 100%, and to be an active participant not simply a bystander. My energy level is replenished just by thinking about her!

Golden Nugget: Energy creates energy..giving 100% is infectious!

40-Day Series: Thank You Rebecca Caldwell

2009-03-15T22:21:00.002-05:00

I always admired the job Rebecca had....she was responsible for leading the national community service initiatives at Sprint. Her big time programs were the United Way, Harvesters and March of Dimes. It was the March of Dimes program that would bring us together. My boss happened to be the Corporate Executive Sponsor so I was on point to make sure the effort was a total success and surpassed the company goals. Easier said than done and without Ms. Caldwell leadership we wouldn't have come even close to the goal.

Rebecca had an uphill battle with the campaign. We were coming off a down year with the previous year's campaign missing the goal. We were in the midst of a company lay-off so the environment wasn't necessarily in the mood to give what they didn't have. All this and my boss was adamant that we find a way to help the babies and meet the goal she set which was even more than the previous year. Many would have not accepted the challenge but Rebecca not only accepted it, she embraced it with arms wide open.

We knew we had to find new ways to encourage participation to generate donations. Rebecca was completely open to suggestions, changes in process, and sharing others creative ideas to get the whole company on the same page. She displayed the rare skill of accepting help which is a true character of leadership. She knew the power of appreciation and was constantly sharing her thanks which made people want to do even more to help the campaign. The ultimate proof of her skill and more importantly her heart was the company raising 6X the funds from the previous year and blowing out the company goal.

Golden Nugget: Embrace community service and let others help you to achieve the "impossible"

40-Day Series: Thank You Craig Cowden

2009-03-15T01:45:00.003-05:00

Craig was a big bad director when I met him back in 2003 in Reston, VA. He ran the managed services network team and was kind of an intimidating character. He knew what he wanted and he didn't waste time letting you know if you weren't meeting his expectation. I wasn't sure what to think of him at the time but had a feeling he was a guy that was going places.

Fast forward to 2007 and I would have the opportunity to work with Craig again in a new capacity. I was responsible for coordinating executive staff which Craig had become since the last time we worked together. I began to get to know him much better this second time around and realized he wasn't intimidating...he was just incredibly passionate and sincere about making the business as efficient and effective as possible. He would ask insightful questions, challenge the status quo and wouldn't back down until he got an acceptable answer. This was somewhat uncommon and would make some uncomfortable but that wouldn't stop him as he was determined to help the team evaluate all the facts and assumptions.

Craig would become a mentor to me. He took time out of his very busy and demanding schedule to meet with me monthly. He was open, honest and willing to answer any question I had. He taught me the important lesson that first and foremost you must be yourself at the table and not be afraid to have your voice be heard. He encouraged me to be confident without apology or compromise. He inspired me to reach for more and I appreciate the time he took in doing so.

Golden Nugget: Ask the tough questions and have your voice be heard

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Simon Kuo

2009-03-13T02:06:00.003-05:00

I love telling the story of when I first worked with Simon. It was back in 1996 in the training department at Sprint. He was a Kelly temp helping the training schedulers with overflow work. I should say he was a bio-chem PhD holder who was a Kelly temp. The man was just brilliant and I couldn't freaking believe he was a Kelly temp. Come to find out, he had recently left his academia lab rat gig to try something new. As you can imagine, he quickly moved from temp to leader and would end up becoming a VP in Strategy.

I kept in touch with Simon over the years and we re-connected in person last summer. We wanted to catch-up on life as we both had left telecom and ended up sharing our new found insights and assessments of the world. We would go on to meet again and started to discuss the possibility of working together on a start-up. He was already connected in with a group of people and thought I may be a good fit to help the team. I never thought that our "catch-up lunch" would be the first step towards achieving my entrepreneurial dream.

I officially became co-owner and Chief Development Officer of LightThread late last fall. With Simon's leadership and guidance we are on track to formally launch by the end of this month. We plan on being in our new office space next week. We already have a growing customer pipeline with two beta customers currently enjoying our services. I am still amazed that a "re-connection" lunch ultimately led to my dream gig...I owe it all to Simon and am so thankful!

Golden Nugget: Stay in touch with old colleagues and be open to new opportunities they offer.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Jean Matkovich

2009-03-12T02:19:00.002-05:00

I met Jean 2 years ago at my first Aji conference. Aji offers a Business Professional Certification program that is the equivalent to an Executive MBA. Jean and I are both students in the program. There were 80+ people at that 1st conference so there was a lot of hand shaking and introductory conversations. Jean shined as someone I would want to keep in touch with and get to know...the law of attraction works in mysterious ways.

Jean is an amazing woman and an incredible teacher. I would end-up participating in a study group with her that would be instrumental in helping me get to graduation. She would share these powerful insights that brought instant clarity to the most complex topics. Her calming demeanor helped the team focus and manage their moods. She would share knowledge that made us all smarter by just joining her on the phone 1 hour a week.

I have met many a smart person in my life but I have never seen anyone who had such passion and joy to share with others like Jean does. She studies, reads, and observes the world around her like no other person I know. She relishes the opportunity to engage in new situations so she can continue to expand her thinking. My ability to accomplish new achievement in life is directly related to my knowing and learning from Jean. I am blessed to have met her, know her, and be friends with her.

Golden Nugget: Embrace learning and share what you know with others.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Tim Lunsford

2009-03-09T23:39:00.004-05:00

I first met Tim when I interviewed with him for a manager gig. He didn't have me on his top 3 list but a mutual contact (Glen Boney who I will be talking about later on in the series) encouraged him to give me an interview. I thought he was just doing Glen a favor and figured there was no way in hell I would get the job so I went in to the meeting with a nothing to lose attitude. Tim and I seemed to hit it off from the start and that interview was probably the best one I have ever had. I'm always amazed at how much better we do when we aren't trying so damn hard.

I learned all I needed to know about Tim as we were walking together after the interview was completed. We were engaging in your normal small talk chit chat when he stopped and told me he forgot to ask me something. He asked, "are you a yes man?" I said no and if that was what he was looking for then he needed to find someone else and if he didn't believe me he could just ask around. He said he couldn't stand yes people and wanted people who would challenge him. He wanted his team strong, confident and to have voices that wanted to be heard.

He lived up to that philosophy and often encouraged his team to challenge each other and debate the topic to get to a better answer. He accepted different points of view and not only would he acknowledge he learned something new he would actually show appreciation. He knew how to have a good time while getting real business done. He didn't get caught up in politics but knew how to manage within them. He led by example and encouraged his managers to lead too. He was truly one of the best bosses I have ever had.

Golden Nugget Foster an environment of debate, challenge the status quo and be wary of the Yes man.

40-Day Series: Thank You Linda Sherlock

2009-03-09T00:04:00.003-05:00

The pressure of a big time customer pitch can be pretty intense when it is your first time. I remember the night before a $60M pitch to NASDAQ like it was yesterday. We had executives in town and conducted a presentation walk-through to ensure everyone was comfortable with their part. As we got about half-way done it became clear our story was not clear and there was much work to be done with the presentation. We had a delayed start with the rehearsal so by the time we were done and could start the editing it was already pretty late in to the evening. It looked like it was going to be an all-nighter.

Thank God I had Linda Sherlock by my side. The executives left to get their beauty sleep and the rest of the account team assumed Linda and I were good to go with the "edits." Linda and I were on the same page that the presentation needed a lot more than "edits" and basically needed an entire re-write. We weren't sure where to start so we ordered a bottle of wine and began with slide 1. We would proceed to restructure the entire presentation and finally wrapped up about 5 a.m. with a wake-up call scheduled for 7 a.m.

I can't imagine what I would have done that night without Linda. She was amazing, brilliant, patient and knew when to let us take moment to laugh and decompress. Her strategic insight was critical in weaving a compelling story. The lack of sleep paid off as NASDAQ called the pitch a "homerun" with several members following us out to our car to tell us how well we did. Her experience with big-time accounts would be invaluable to me beyond that one night and had a huge impact on my custom sales success. She taught me how to build a narrative that customers wanted to hear and would find valuable. She also taught me that you do whatever it takes to impress a customer (even if it means little to no sleep), that the story is everything and when your not sure what to do next that a bottle of wine can bring clarity.

Golden Nugget: If it isn't good do what you have to do to fix it and make it great.

40-Day Series: Thank You Steve Coker

2009-03-07T22:11:00.004-06:00

Steve challenged me to make my biggest career decision at Sprint...he challenged me to quit. He challenged me by getting me to admit that the only reason I didn't want to quit was because of fear. Calling me a chicken definitely triggers a button with me and his challenged work...I put in for my volunteer package the very next day.

I knew of Steve Coker years earlier as the projects we worked on would intertwine from time to time but I never really got to know him. Then 2 years ago we both started the business professional certification program with Aji. Steve and I quickly realized that we had a lot in common with our overachiever tendencies being our strongest connection. Aji was teaching us how we were creating our own obstacles most of the time and that we needed networks of help to truly achieve success. Steve and I realized that we would need to let go of our lone ranger behavior (this being one of a ton of things we would learn at Aji) if we were to take our career to the next level.

Steve quickly became a confidant and an important part of my network of help. He would take time out of his busy schedule to meet with me, listen and help me ground my observations and assessments. Most important, he would be honest with me, push me, call me on my bullshit and in turn helped me become a bonafide adult and professional. He allowed me to do the same with him which allowed us to build trust...the kind of trust that you need to have with a colleague if you are going to excel. I am so fortunate to have Steve in my network of help and blessed to call him my friend.

Golden Nuggett: Find someone who you trust enough to call you a chicken and appreciate it when they do

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Sharon Williams

2009-03-06T22:39:00.007-06:00

Did you ever have a co-worker that was just an absolute joy to work with? Someone who helped make work something fun to look forward to? This person for me was Sharon Williams. I can't help but have a big huge grin just thinking about her. We worked together for years and even after we went down different career paths, we would hang out from time to time at our local watering hole. She was always a great source of support for me and helped me through some critical points in my career.

One such point was after my interview for the Executive Staff Manager job. I was giddy, excited and nervous as hell. I went outside and low and behold who should I run into? Well, Ms. Williams of course. I told her about the interview and shared my fears about both getting and not getting the position. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the "big time" and if I was a fool for thinking I had a serious shot at being selected. Sharon listened, nodded her head and then in Sharon style said something freaking hilarious that almost made me forget about the interview all together.

I'll never forget that moment and how I was glad that of all the people to run into that it was her. She had this way of making you completely comfortable, confident, and optimistic that all is good with the world. She also had a way of making you feel as if you could tell her anything as you knew she would hold it in utmost confidence. Sharon was raised in a small town called Marshall, MO which I think is why she was so good at making you feel right at home, even if it was only in her cube. In addition to all the personal ways she supported you, she also was one hell of a business colleague doing whatever the team needed to be successful. Business was personal to her and I'm blessed to have shared so much of my career with her by my side.

Goldent Nuggett: Be a listening ear and know when to tell a joke.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-day Series: Thank You Dr. Claudio Lima

2009-03-05T22:38:00.005-06:00

A man of genius. A description that is simple and yet, commands respect which is exactly how I think of Dr. Claudio Lima. Claudio worked back in the early 2000's at the Advanced Technology Lab in Burlingame, CA. He was responsible for ultra long-haul research and strategy. For those of you not familiar with the term "ultra long-haul," it is the backbone of the telecommunications network...without long-haul you couldn't make a long distance phone call or send an email. I met Claudio after I was assigned as project manager to the lab. Upon my arrival, I received a less than desired welcome from some, however Claudio made sure to go out of his way to say hello and made me feel at home.

Claudio always had a smile and was geniune in his desire to do whatever he could to help you understand what he was working on. Much of his work was a language I didn't understand...lambdas, algorithms, and various computations that made your head hurt just by looking at the drawings and writings on his whiteboard. My job was to help KC engineers back at HQ understand the value of what the lab was producing so they could incorporate it in their desing plans. There was so much to learn that it was overwhelming most days. I also faced an uphill battle with some of the ATL lab leaders as the last thing they wanted was some PM from HQ coming in trying to change things and introduce new processes. I think it was my third trip when I was starting to make some progress but still struggling a bit when Claudio asked me how I was doing.

I was so appreciative of him taking a moment to share concern and offer to help. I was hesistant to ask for an ultra long-haul overview as I was afraid I wouldn't understand it and the last thing I wanted was to look stupid in front of this very kind and intelligent man. He took the time (and we are talking painstaking hours), to patiently walk me through all things long-haul. He could have talked right over my head or down to me and he did neither. He used terms I could understand, he made sure I was following along, and he would check my ability to to apply the knowledge to various design scenarios. I think I learned more about technology in that one overview with him then I did in my 16 years at Sprint. It was like I could literally feel my brain growing by just being in the same room with him. Dr. Lima showed sincere respect for me as if I was an equal even though I was much lower on the academia totem pole.

Claudio always shared a comforting smile and was always willing to chat when I arrived at the lab for my monthly visits. In turn, he made a tough assignment not just easier but a true pleasure and honor.

Golden Nugget: Don't be afraid to ask the smart guys for help and if you are the smart guy help the student feel smart too. Be kind to those who are on assignment and/or new to the group.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Kathy Walker

2009-03-04T23:49:00.003-06:00

As I wrote about Shushan yesterday I mentioned how we both worked for the Chief Network Officer at Sprint. Kathy Walker just happened to be said Chief Network Officer. The first time I worked in an organization ran by Kathy was back in the late 90's...in fact, the first time I met Kathy was when I was asked to play a singing fish over the building intercom system for her as a practical joke. You know....the bass fish that hung on the wall and sang "don't worry, be happy?"...a great way to meet your VP don't you think?

I would work in Kathy's organization's throughout most of my career and always had a great amount of respect for her leadership style. She was that rare woman who could be direct without being a bitch. She was the leader of a male dominated engineering organization and one of the few women leaders in the telecom industry, especially in the technical arena. She never forgot where she came from and was an active alumni of both her undergrad school South Dakota State and her graduate school, University of Missouri-Rolla.

Her passion was teaching, coaching and mentoring others. She was the driver behind Sprint's college recruiting program and between you and I, that program would never have been as successful as it was if it wasn't for her vision and push. Her schedule was insane but she always saved her Saturday's for mentoring sessions. I'm sure she turned some people down but in the year and a half I worked for her if someone asked for time with her she always accepted. As a C-level officer in a 60K person organization you would think she would be intimidating but she went out of her way to make you comfortable.

I had the pleasure and honor of sitting with her on multiple occassions and being the recipient of her coaching. Her world could be on the verge of being turned upside down and yet when I entered her office and the door closed, she made me feel as if she had all the time in the world and would give me complete focus. She didn't rush the conversation and was brilliant in how she would lead you to the lesson while helping you find your confidence along the way.

In my very first blog post I mentioned a quote that I learned from Kathy..."confidence isn't granted by others, it comes from within." I lean on this lesson daily, especially as I start a new company and fight through the fears and doubts that come when doing something I have never done before. I also remember how impressive it was to see Kathy stay true to herself even during the most stressful times. She wasn't afraid to share her own personal experiences and mistakes if she thought it would help someone learn. She was a great example of authentic leadership and I'm thankful to have been one of her followers.

Goldent Nugget: Don't forget where you came from and be willing to lead as your authentic self

40-day Series: Thank You Shushan Aleaqui

2009-03-03T19:32:00.003-06:00

Have you ever met someone that after you met them you wondered how you got as far in life as you did without them? This sums up how I think about Shushan Aleaqui. Talk about a person who has an amazing life story....she was born in Armenia. Her family came to the United States to escape the tumultuous state of affairs and give their children a chance at happiness. They didn't just move anywhere they moved to Hollywood, CA....can you imagine?? You don't know any English, you are not familiar with American customs and the first introduction you have to the country is Hollywood?? Wow!

I'm guessing the big time challenges she experienced as a kid left her with always striving for more. She left a successful design career when she decided to try something more technical and started all over again in the telecom industry. She built her way back up and became an executive at Nextel. I met her fairly soon after the Sprint/Nextel merger as she was then working directly for the Chief Network Officer (CNO). My role at that time was as manager with a side gig creating presentations for the CNO so I ended up working with Shushan quite a bit. Little did I know when I met with her that she would open the door to the biggest opportunity I would ever have at Sprint.

Shushan was instrumental in getting me the staff manager job which was an executive development role working for her but directly supporting the CNO. More important than helping me get the job was all that Shushan would teach me in 3 short months before she would leave to take on a new role. I relished the 1-1 time I had with her and would try to everything I could to soak up all the knowledge she was willing to share with me. She was direct, immediate with her feedback and yet gentle when she recognized I was hitting the overload button. She took the time to truly coach me...not just tell me what I wanted to hear or harp on the obvious but honest to goodness coaching. She didn't tell me what I did wrong but would lead me to realize it on my own which really helped me own it. Even when she wasn't purposefully coaching she was still teaching through modeling the most professional behaviors I have ever seen from a business colleague.

She was proof that you could make business personal and still be professional, fact based, to the point and deliver knock-out results. She was willing to share life lessons as well as business knowledge and would point out how they intertwined together. Her education is never-ending as there are things I have just started to experience that make what she taught all the more relevant and applicable. She pointed out to me that to truly coach takes courage as it has to come from within and many are afraid to be so transparent. I would add not only courage but time, patience and authenticity which makes a good coach that much harder to find. I am blessed to have had Shushan as a coach in my life and forever thankful for the friendship we share.

Golden Nugget: Take the time, show the patience and have the courage to be authentic when coaching others.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Thank You Victor Alba

2009-03-02T17:32:00.002-06:00

If you love anything about Boston then you and Victor would be friends. Victor is a HUGE Boston sports fan. What is even more cool about Victor is he is a rock star soccer player...not just your average club guy, I mean he is GOOD...REALLY GOOD. In addition to his athletic abilities are his brain abilities...the guy is a technical genius, a visionary, a tactical specialist and can communicate the most complex solutions in a simplistic manner to where your Grandma could understand it.

I met Victor when I was on a custom solution sales team. He was a sales engineer (which is a title that completely mis-represents what he brought to the table) for one of the accounts I was assigned to. The account required some creative thinking to meet the demanding requirements set forth by the customer. There are more times than I care to remember where I really felt in over my head. Victor knew exactly what to say to reinforce my confidence and guide me to finding a solution. Little did I know that this was just the beginning of what would become one of my most important relationships in my professional life.

Victor and I stayed in touch after I left sales and started a new job. He became not only a friend but a true and highly valued confidant. I would engage his opinion before any significant decision. His willingness to share, guide, and advise never failed me. He took it upon himself to check in on me from time to time, and he always seemed to know when I needed him the most. Since I have left Sprint we don't talk as much as we used to but I know he is only a phone call/email away and just knowing he is there is a comfort to me.

Golden Nugget: Share your passion and hobbies with your co-workers, you may find a connection that transcends business and leads you to new possibilities in life.

40-Day Series: Thank you Tony Painton

2009-03-01T20:32:00.003-06:00

Every now and then in your career you get lucky enough to get assigned a manager that becomes a friend for life. I had recently moved in to the network organization at Sprint when I was told I would be working for Mr. Painton. I had worked with Tony previously but didn't really know him very well. I had mixed feelings when I initially found out he would be my boss as I thought I would be working directly for the person who had hired me.

Tony made me feel at home right away and his team had more a family vibe vs. your typical corporate team. It didn't take long before I felt like I was just one of the family members. There are soooo many stories and golden nuggets I could share but I know you don't have that kind of time. I'll try to sum up his impact with two quick stories.

After only working on his team for a few months Tony told me he was giving me a raise...now keep in mind the corporate world has a set annual cycle for giving people raises so this act was not a commone one. I was completely shocked and so appreciative as my young family really needed a financial boost. What was so unbelievably cool was Tony took it upon himself to initiate the raise...he thought I was under paid and decided to do something about it. Most managers would simply wait for the normal cycle but Tony thought getting me to equal pay right away was the right thing to do. Golden nugget #1 - take care of your team, even if it means going against normal process to do so.

Humor....humor can make the most stress filled situations bearable and almost enjoyable. One of Tony's favorite tales and one of my most embarrassing is the infamous wrong shoe story. My first business trip EVER was with Tony to San Francisco. I had been assigned to work with the lab in Burlingame so we went out to meet them. It was expected to be a tension filled trip as it was very well known that the lab liked their independence and was not thrilled with the notion that HQ was sending a PM to work with them. The morning of the big meeting with the lab director I was getting ready and realized I brought two different shoes. I must have looked through my bag a million times only to find one flat shoe and one high heel shoe. Keep in mind it was 7:00 a.m. so no stores open to go buy a new pair. Mortified I ride the elevator down to the lobby. I ask Tony to look at me and he says I look fine and I say again, LOOK AT ME! and he gives me a look like I am a crazy chick and says, "what? you look fine." I then point to my feet and he tries not to chuckle. I tell him that if we hurry we can get to the meeting and sit down before anyone notices. We succeed with our plan...or so I thought. Tony takes it upon himself to start the meeting with an icebreaker by sharing the fact that I am wearing two different shoes. Everyone has a good laugh and the tension is immediately lessened. Golden nugget #2...never underestimate the power of laughter.

Like I said, I could go on and on with stories and lessons I learned from Tony. A great indication of an awesome manager? Their people will work for them again and again...I worked for Tony on two different occasions...many of the people that work for him now have worked with him in the past. Some have never stopped working for Tony and probably never will if they have a say in it. Just as important is the fact that his teams have a great reputation for delivering and getting things done...the team members that moved on only did so as they were promoted. I will forever be grateful for his mentorship and friendship.

Golden Nuggets: 1) Take care of your team, even if it means breaking the rules from time to time. 2) Laugh the tension away

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40-Day Series: Day 2 - Linda Chappell

2009-02-28T23:44:00.003-06:00

For those of you that know me you have probably heard me talk about Linda Chappell oh, about a thousand times. For those of you that don't you may have heard of someone else talk about her as she has literally touched thousands of lives throughout the last 40 years. She is a thought leader in the cheerleading industry and was one of the innovators of the National Federation Safety Rules back in the 80's when it was apparent that schools needed to insititute practices to protect their cheerleaders who had moved from pretty girls in skirts to real athletes. Linda was also owner and president of Dynamic Cheerleaders Association from 1972-1993 and hired me in to my dream job right after high school.

A little background to help put her influence on me into perspective....I started going to Linda's DCA camps the summer before my 8th grade year. I would go on to attend 5 years of camps as a "beam" (Linda's nickname for campers as she thought of each one as a sunbeam radiating light). Her camps were different than her competitors as she focused on building people through cheerleading, squad unity, and leadership. We learned cheers, dances, and stunts like the others but they were secondary to her strong desire to help girls become strong teammates and ambitious leaders.

Working for DCA was an absolute dream come true...it really was all I thought about doing post high school. I had the pleasure of being on staff for 2 years and then the honor of serving as camp director my last year. Have you ever read the book, "All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindegarten?", well all I ever needed to know I learned from Linda and my fellow colleagues at DCA. She taught me how to manage budgets, cash flows, and retail sales, deal with crisis management (emergency trips to hospital rooms), handle irate customers (ever met a cheerleading mom whose daughter didn't win?), and lead negotiations (campus rules and contracts) ...all at the ripe old age of 20. I learned the importance of team building as we traveled in a van for 9 weeks back and forth across the country with people I had just met (we were Road Rules before MTV even had the concept). We were responsible for hundreds of pre-teen and teen-age girls at every camp...not just teaching them and serving as role models but also from keeping them away from the football camp boys who always seemed to be having camp at the same time. We learned to not just function but thrive on 2 hours of sleep a night.

I think it is fair to say that most of us who worked for Linda took for granted what we were learning at the time. She didn't hesitate to put her company in our hands and we were just a bunch of college kids. I have never seen anyone who truly empowered people to excel more than she did. Her legacy is that everyone who ever worked at DCA or attended a DCA camp has an immediate bond of family love, even if you have never met before. Her success is marked by the thousands of people who have found success because of what she taught them. Her permanent imprint is proven as everyone whoever attended a camp can still sing and sign the words to "You Are My Friend" (the song that closed camp each night).

I could go on and on about Linda Chappell as she was the queen of making business personal and her impact on me and so many others is proof of the power that comes from doing so.

Golden Nuggett: Don't be afraid to give the rookie a chance to make a difference. Simply believe in them, encourage them, help them find their way from time to time and then watch them grow as they take your company to new heights.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

40 Day Series - Day 1: Annette Loos

2009-02-27T23:24:00.004-06:00

I was somewhat inspired by Annette Loos to start this series. I first worked with Annette back in the late 90s at Sprint. I remember being a newbie PM and her willingness to guide and advise me. She had the experience and seniority but always made me feel as if I was an equal. Our paths would cross at various times over the next decade....I don't believe we ever really worked for the same manager and yet I always felt like I was part of her team.

I always admired the gentle approach Annette used with her project teams, leading them to deliver on-time and within budget. She would use her amazing project management skills vs. a heavy hand or threats. She was comfortable managing up, down and across the organization. Above all of these wonderful things, Annette was gracious and knew how to make people feel special.

When I decided to leave Sprint and sent my goodbye note, Annette was one of the very first people to respond. Her words describing how she felt about me moved me more than any other note I received. I had no idea I had made that kind of impact and to say she inspired a confidence I had never felt before would be an under statement. She taught me a lesson in how one simple note can make all the difference. I will forever be grateful for her kind and giving words.

The golden nugget? Don't assume people know when they do good work or are making a difference because more than likely they don't. Taking a few minutes to share a note of your observations can inspire a lifetime of confidence.

40-Day Series - Thanking Those Who Made Business Personal

2009-02-26T12:32:00.009-06:00

The last month has been a whirlwind of activity...exciting times indeed! The new company is starting to flourish, quality time was spent with the family and quite a few fun events took place celebrating with friends. With so much going on I haven't had much time to write. I have definitely missed it. The last few weeks I have had various conversations that have triggered a 40-day series I plan to write starting with this post. To provide some context as to how I came up with the series title I thought I would share what led me to the 40-day series concept in the first place.

First, I had a conversation with my neighbor earlier this week regarding Lent. For most of those who honor lent they give something up... an effort to honor Jesus's sacrifice I believe. However, I wonder if Jesus wouldn't find it more meaningful for his followers to give during this time of year than give up. I often think about what Christianity means to me and "giving" definitely plays a major part. What would the world be like if every Christian (or even better every person) dedicated them self to some kind of giving every day for the next 40 days? This led me to my second thought....

So, as I began to think about the concept of giving vs. giving up for Lent I started to evaluate what I would give. Considering I am starting a new company I am not in a position to give a lot financially. Kids are keeping us pretty busy running them around preparing for spring sports so committing to volunteering doesn't really work either. I then think about this blog and the possibilities it provides me to "give." This led me to my third thought.....

I have been in quite a few discussions with colleagues and thought leaders in the social media industry as to why tools like Facebook and Twitter are so powerful. I speculate that for many social media is the intersection of business meeting personal or vice versa. I have always held the belief that many in business are successful because they make business personal....they invest all they have in to what they do, their business is their life's passion and they are willing to share to help others get better. This triggered me to think about the people who have inspired me throughout my career and how their impact was made possible by their personal investment and willingness to give. I then think about how so often in our lives we don't take the time to give thanks and let people know how they made a difference in our life. Think about how many times you have heard, "I should have told them what they meant to me" or the amazing feeling you felt when someone took the time to thank you.

These culmination of thoughts has led me to how I am going to "give" this Lent season. I am going to post daily about someone who made business personal by teaching me, helping me, inspiring me and/or leading me. I will end the post with the golden nugget I took away in hopes that you too will be impacted. At the end of Lent I will create a post that will incorporate all the golden nuggets I have shared throughout the series. Hopefully this will provide a one stop shop reference that maybe you will share with others someday.

My objective is to "give" thanks, "give" knowledge and "give" you the ability to "give" to others. I hope you enjoy the series as much as I have enjoyed others helping me learn to get better. :)

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

When Change Occurs

2009-01-16T10:36:00.005-06:00

I have many friends and colleagues preparing to leave their companies in the search for new opportunities. I have been asked more than a few times how I handled my 9 months away from work. I thought what better way to provide my insights than to post an update to my blog. For those of you who have been through a career/job transition, please leave comments with additional insights that I may have missed.

Benefits
Protection of health and life is priority 1 and with job transition your benefits will obviously be impacted. Don't assume your spouse's employer benefits will be equal to your benefit package, get the details so you clearly understand cost changes in plans, co-pays, deductibles and coverage details. Be sure to evaluate medical, pharmacy, dental, vision and life insurance packages. Cobra's are outrageous so if your spouse has poor benefits or if you are single then check with your insurance agent for private insurance policies. You will need detailed medical history for the application so be prepared with doctor visit dates, procedures, prescriptions taken and all family history. Yes, insurance companies are a bear to deal with so better to get this dealt with sooner than later.

Career Search
As the old saying goes, when one door closes another one opens....what door do you want to have opened? This is an opportunity to do some soul searching and figure out what would you love to do, what would you like to do, and what you will absolutely not do. Take a day and list out what tasks you enjoy, previous accomplishments, what tasks annoy the crap out of you, and your favorite life experiences. You may not come up with your dream job, but the exercise should help generate ideas on your direction. You will then want to look at where the job opportunities exist and believe it or not even in this economy there are growth industries. Take a look at the Top Jobs for 2009 according to Fast Company. If you want to test out your dream job, there is a great company (I follow the owner Brian Kurth on witter) you should check out at www.vocationvacations.com.

Once you have your direction set then get moving. Companies are more diligent than ever and the interview/negotiation process can take months and months. You need to be clear with what you want, what you can live with and what will make you walk away. If someone makes you an offer, get it in writing or else, it doesn't count. Be persistent with your follow-up. Focus on what you can do for them and not what they can do for you. In interviews, be prepared as if the job is already yours and describe what you would do the first 30-60-90 days to be successful. Ask questions and be an active listener. Generate multiple job opportunities so you can have choices. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, and stay focused...the quickest way to continued unemployment is self-pity and no action. You can't hit the ball if you don't swing...make offers, work your network and swing the bat.

Some of you may get an opportunity to work with a placement agency such as Right Management as part of a severance package. If you are planning on taking a mental break before seeking out your next job let the placement agency know. Many times they can put your package on hold until you are ready to actively search for placement. As with anything in life, you will only get out of the package what you put in to it so embrace their recommendations and participate fully.

Networking
2008 experienced a significant growth in websites that can be tremendously helpful with building/expanding your network of help. My personal favorite for professional networking is LinkedIn. Not only can you make connections with LinkedIn, but you can also utilize their job search capability that shows if you are connected to a potential employer through your network. You can also reference in cover letters your profile link which includes career history, accomplishments and recommendations. Facebook and Twitter are two additional platforms that can help you engage and expand your network. A note of caution, what is on the web is searchable by anyone including potential employers...if you have inappropriate pictures or statements posted this may be the time to do some clean-up.

I know it is easy to get comfortable with staying in the house and reading the world through the computer and T.V. but you need to get out and meet people face-to-face too. Set-up at minimum one lunch a week with an old colleague, mentor, coach or a friend of a friend who can introduce you to a new industry. Pick up the phone and ask others to help you with introductions. Participate in social groups, play in your neighborhood bunko, join a professional networking group, or attend a community meeting....get OUT there, participate, ask questions, LISTEN, and enjoy meeting people...you never know who will connect you to your next step.

Financial Preparation
It goes without saying even the best made plans may not come to fruition. It is very important to understand your financial situation during a job transition. I suggest you detail your cash outflow down to the dollar and establish a disciplined budget. Save cash where you can and reduce debt to ease the monthly bill burden in the event it takes you longer to get a job than planned. Understand tax implications with unemployment, 401k transfers and stock options. Get help if needed and know the facts, this isn't a time for guessing.

Support Structure
I can't emphasize enough how important it is to have a solid support structure around you. You may ....no scratch that, you WILL experience anxiety, mood and self-esteem swings. Even if you voluntarily left a company for all the right reasons, there is still a psychological impact to not being employed. This is normal but can throw you off your game if you don't plan for it. Know who is in your corner, let them help boost your spirits when needed, and enjoy some extra time with those you are closest too because you will be back to work before you know it.

At the end of the day a job transition can be a scary and yet amazing life changing experience. Approach the opportunity with arms wide open and welcome the growth that awaits you. People will help you so let them. Listen to your heart, use your brain, make a plan, take action and you will find success.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

2008...Life Changing

2008-12-31T17:00:00.002-06:00

As I think of all the December 31st's of my life I have to say this one has been by far the most reflective. To say my life changed this year would be an understatement of biblical proportions. If you would have told me this time last year that I would voluntary walk away from my 16 year career at Sprint, take an 8 month sabbatical from work, turn down job opportunities and then help start a new company I would have told you to take another drink and smoke em' if you got em'. I may have agreed that I might start writing but the majority of major actions I took in my life this year were by and far not even a consideration in my mind just 12 months ago. So, as I wrap-up 2008, I thought I would share those "big moments" that may not have occurred had I stayed comfortable, common, and chicken. My wish for you and me in 2009....focus on ambition, be powerful in action, help others succeed, and design life with confidence.

Big Moment #5
I remember when I made the decision to take VSP....it came after spending a few agonizing schizophrenic weeks going back and forth making my husband crazy as I ran the gamut of "hell yes I'm leaving" to "hell no that would be insane!" My boss was the one who actually thought about leaving first and triggered me to start thinking that life may not only go on without Sprint but would more than likely be a lot better. Then a coffee conversation with my good friend Steve Coker made everything crystal clear....fear was my only inhibitor. So, I grew a pair, told the Chief Network Officer I was grateful for all that I had learned, and then with the biggest cheesiest squinty eyed smile you have ever seen, I pushed the "yes I'll take VSP" button on a Friday morning in February. I'll never forget the emotion and freedom I felt at that very moment...I had grown up and it was time to start a new chapter.

Big Moment #4
This big moment is actually two different days but both of them spent with my son Zachary. Believe it or not he actually asked me to hang out with him at school for a whole day so I could get a feel for a day in the life of a freshman. I only wish I had started the blog back then as that would have been one hell of a funny post recapping what I experienced....let's just say his 7th hour ended up with two girls getting kicked out of class. The 2nd day was a little hiking trip Zach took me on early in summer. I thought it was so cool that a 15 year old boy wanted to take his mom on a trip through the woods to the lake near by. One freaky deer, a mile of chest high brush, a barbed wire fence and thousands of ticks later would provide us a story to share for a lifetime.

Big Moment #3
After lots and lots of discussion and a pretty good softball season, Samantha decided she wanted to try out for competitive softball. Now for those of you with kids, watching your children try-out for something they love and not get picked is as close to torture as you can get. Trying to find the right words of encouragement is more difficult than any writer's block you will ever experience. To watch your child practice, grow, overcome again and again to then have a great performance and finally be selected by an "A" team after all the trials, will fill your heart with unimaginable pride.

Big Moment #2
We experienced a hunting accident this fall that made us stop and realize that life can really change in just a split second. Our friend, Jason Evans lost his eye which needless to say really sucks but considering he had three pellets in his head we are so very thankful he survived with no other life impacting injuries. What is even more amazing is the positive attitude and care Jason has shown for the shooter, which happens to be my dad. I don't think anyone will ever know the pain my dad has experienced since that day but I will tell you that Jason has shown him more love, forgiveness and support than you can imagine and as a daughter who worships her dad as a hero, I am forever grateful. If you are going to hunt, wear your orange, stay in your line and be careful!

Drum Roll.......Big Moment #1
Last night, no doubt about it. The fear was growing, the emotion building, and the reality coming to light that this past year wasn't a dream. I cried. The dam broke and the tears flowed and my wonderful loving husband held me and told me I made the right decision, I was going to be more successful than ever, and that I will make money again, soon. I let the emotion overtake me as I realized how much I grew this year and what I had become....a real honest to goodness bonafide adult woman. I then realized my fear wasn't about if I was going to make money again or being successful. My fear is that as I start making money again will I lose all that I gained this year?

I finally embraced motherhood with both arms and was good at it, I had time to listen to my husband and enjoyed being a "housewife", and I actually started to figure out what I liked vs. what I am good at. I found new interests in writing, community, and connecting. I always told myself and others that I could never be a stay at home mom, that I needed to work, that my work was my identity. What I realized last night is that was bullshit and I cried because I can't get the years back. My fear is going right back to who I was in April and losing all that I have gained. My sadness is I now know when I am back to working I know what I will be missing. In that moment, my big moment of 2008, the journey culminated with a commitment to myself that family is first no matter what and to be in the moment with them every chance I get.

2008 was real and I will forever be blessed and grateful for the opportunity.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

Are we having fun yet?

2008-12-18T15:53:00.007-06:00

I love this time of year....you see friends/family from out of town, have holiday parties to attend and get the chance to cuddle with someone you love next to the fire. The holiday pace can be frantic but I truly love the chaos that comes with last minute shopping. I have always been somewhat of a procrastinator...not sure if it is the adrenaline rush, the challenge to overcome or if I just think I deliver better when I'm pushed but the holidays definitely heightens my sense of urgency as I try to do a million things at one time and typically at the last minute.

This year is no different and in some ways is even more intense as I prepare to launch a new company, transition off of the corporate severance package and figure out how to supplement income so the family doesn't experience a hiccup in lifestyle. As I look back on my year I wonder if I could have "planned" better for this transition and minimized my stress.....after a few moments of reflection I confidently decide, "nope." This is exactly how it should be, how I work best, how I will do what I was meant to do....the pressure is what elevates my game, makes me better, stronger, and uncommon. If you find yourself overwhelmed this holiday season don't get down, find a way to make the pressure work for you and use it to push you...we only call it stress if it kick's your ass ....we call it MOTIVATION if you accomplish something you didn't think possible. Be motivated, accomplish the impossible!

Career Journey
The twists and turns never cease to amaze me and what a ride the career journey has been this month. After months of evaluating, interviewing, and negotiating I have decided to balance my efforts between two paths....launching/managing the new company and to pick-up project/consulting contract work to supplement income. Balance may not be the right word as I am more or less bouncing back and forth between the two paths. I continue to seek alignment between the two so I can take care of my family both in the short term as well as long term. I am aware of many people who are trying to find work or preparing to transition jobs so thought I would include a mashable.com link that includes a list of 100 places to seek employment opportunities.

LightThread
Our website is under development but is live with alpha testers. We continue to develop our launch plan and target a 1Q 2009 launch. Our initial focus is helping businesses navigate the social media landscape allowing them to market their services and engage with their clients in a more cost effective manner than traditional advertising/marketing efforts. We will also offer intellectual venture capital/virtual CXO services to start-up, small and mid-size companies. Application and platform development will serve a third focus area once revenues are generated. We are a very excited team and have already started to meet with potential clients! I am including a few links to articles/case studies that show the power of social media for business.

Dell makes $1M in revenues from using twitter

Future of Business and Social Media

A bmighty.com Q&A with Chris Brogan who is considered a social media guru. The article highlights why a business may need help with developing a social media strategy/approach, it is NOT a one size fits all space and can be risky if the approach doesn't meet the business need.

Please contact me at lisa@lightthread if you know a business that might be interested in our service as we are seeking trial customers to practice our processes for a low introductory rate. Our objective is to deliver results for our trial customers prior to formal launch so we can use their testimonial as proof points and enter the marketplace as powerful as possible!

As I wrap up this update, I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2009! I very much look forward to getting back to weekly updates in the new year and appreciate your patience as I continue to evolve this forum. In 2009, I will also begin blogging on our lightthread website so I welcome your thoughts on what you find valuable and would like me to focus on with LJ Landing. I am open to shifting this blog to a more personal share space (a day in the life of lisa), or career space (what its like to get a biz off the ground), or general technology space (smart grid, gov't focus, etc), or I can continue to touch on all three areas like I have done up to this point. The lightthread blog will obviously focus on social media so I don't feel the need to replicate in this venue but I'm sure I'll reference it from time to time. Please leave a comment with your advice or email me at lisa@lightthread.com.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

Time Flies

2008-11-19T11:08:00.004-06:00

Wow, does time fly when you are having fun or what?? It seems just like yesterday I wrote my first blog and yet almost two months have flown by since my inaugural post. Life has thrown some curve balls these past 7 weeks that have allowed me to experience an array of emotions, learning and ultimately growth. This blog has become a friend to me in this journey and has helped me to stay energized, focused and confident that my next step will lead me towards achieving my ambition. Quite a bit has happened since I last wrote so lets get busy on what has changed in the technology and smart grid world since we last met.....

Smart Grid
The chatter on Smart Grid is getting louder as President-elect, Barack Obama and his transition team work to formulate agenda and policy details. Kathleen Hart wrote an article this week highlighting the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners meeting on November 16 in New Orleans. Given the President-elect's support for energy efficiency, hybrids, and smart grid develoment, FERC commissioner, Sudden Kelly stated there is an increasing interest among state and federal regulators in smart grid efforts. The US Dept. of Energy has agreed to fund a project that will act as a clearinghouse for analysis of lessons learned from smart grid pilot programs conducted in the US and Canada, with the intention of identifying barriers to cost-effective smart grid implementations helping regulators to make decisions on utility applications.

Mr. Kelly stated the key challenge to deployment is interoperability that will require additional push above and beyond FERC influence. Telecom and the Internet have experienced similar interoperability challenges presenting an opportunity for utilities and regulators to engage experts from those industries to help move forward with next generation infrastructure. Check out http://www.naruc.org/ and the http://www.oe.energy.gov/ sites for the latest smart grid information.

Next Generation Media
Exciting action this week in the world of next generation media, aka social media. Motrin launched an ad targeting "mama bloggers" and unfortunately the effort backlashed to the point that Motrin pulled the ad. The situation is unfortunate but is a great example of how important it is to understand how to use social media. The first rule when attempting to leverage the social media space is to understand it is a two way communication vehicle. A company must be willing to engage in conversation and not simply push their message. We are in an age where controlling your message is done through conversation, building a relationship with your customers, listening to their concerns and offering to address them.

Motrin missed out on turning this negative to a positive as they shut down the ad vs. opening themselves up to the conversation. I wonder what the result would have been if they had been actively monitoring feedback and engaging in conversations through the various social media channels such as Twitter. If asked, I would have suggested they open up a forum for conversation on their website so they could understand concerns, offer explanation for their ad selection and share what they were learning and how they might do it different next time. Instead, they shut down the ad, issued a day late dollar short press release and turned off mommies everywhere from using their product in the future.

The good news is there is a new company launching soon called LightThread right here in KC who will offer expertise to businesses to help them avoid a Motrin experience and instead utilize next generation media in a way that makes money vs. losing it. You can follow @LightThread on Twitter for upcoming launch announcements and contact information.

Enjoy your Wednesday and take care til we meet again soon!

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

Love Is In The Air

2008-11-06T13:18:00.002-06:00

My husband and I celebrated our 14th anniversary on election day this week with a great dinner and a fun time at a local casino. We are very lucky to still be together considering we married so young with a family already in tow but we had amazing role models that kept quitting from being an option. Both of our parents were married in 1967 and are still going strong today. They taught us that marriage isn't something that is supposed to be easy but is a commitment that requires persistence, friendship and above all else loving the other person even when you don't feel like it. I often tell people that being a single parent was easier than being married as marriage requires discussion, compromise, and a selflessness that for me isn't always a natural way of behaving. However, the part I don't tell people and probably should, is even thought it isn't easy, my husband Jackie inspires me to be a better wife every day and my life would be empty without him. (all at once now....awwwwwww)

Technology Election Impact
Many are claiming that a critical factor in Obama's selection as President-Elect was his ability to leverage cyberspace and create a grass-roots effort using social media. He generated significant buzz and interest in this election by using online tools such as Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/barackobama?ref=s) and Twitter (@barackobama). The question now becomes will he make technology a priority once he takes office? So far, the answer seems to be a resounding yes...Contactless News (http://www.contactlessnews.com/2008/11/06/obamas-impact-on-federal-it-projects) reports that Mr. Obama plans to select a Chief Technology Officer to oversee government technology efforts including cyber security and improving the IT budget process. This will be the first time in history the USA will have a CTO. In addition, two technology experts, Google.org's Sonal Shah and former IAC exec Julius Genachowski have already been appointed to Barack Obama's transition team. You can read about the President-Elect's technology plan in depth at http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/.

Energy Election Impact
A big thank you to those who voted for the Missouri Clean Energy proposition I wrote about a few weeks ago. The initiative passed 66% to 34% and will require our utility companies to get 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021. The initiative was one of 7 in the nation that was recognized as one of the best statewide initiatives in the country according to www.ProgressiveFuture.org/progress-or-peril. Credit to the initiative author's who had the foresight to write a proposition that was solid and realistic vs. the two California energy initiatives that both were defeated on Tuesday. At the national level, having a democrat majority in both the house and senate along with a democrat president is speculated to have a favorable impact in accelerating the transition to hybrid vehicles, smart grids, and alternative energy sources. Given our current economic and budget deficit situation, I am cautiously optimistic on just how much push Obama and congress will be able to afford.

A great post by my friend, Banky for President this week regarding the election and how we as a people have the greatest impact on this country moving forward vs. any one man. Check it out if you get time at http://www.bankyforpresident.com/2008/11/05/yes-we-can. As always thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at lqualls4444@yahoo.com.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

Brave New World

2008-10-31T12:26:00.003-05:00

It amazes me how quickly life changes. Since I spoke with you last, some significant events took place that will have a permanent impact on the lives of my family and friends. Without getting in to the details, an accident occurred that brought pause and reflection on the realities of life. I continue to digest what happened, the what if, the what now, and how to move forward. A split second is all it takes to make your world a very different place. This situation is a stark reminder that life doesn't stop to let you plan and figure it out, life is happening each and every moment you breathe. How are you making the most of every moment?

LightThread
I took a break from the smart grid/energy world this week and focused on LightThread and the social media space. I attended Highlight Midwest (www.highlightmidwest.org) and met some amazing social media entreprenuers from Omaha, Des Moines and KC. I had never attended an event quite like this one as it was very different from the big corporate conferences from my past. You had the experts, break-out presentations and main stage speakers but it was all in a bar...in Westport! When I first walked in I was asking myself, "how is this going to work?" But let me tell you, it not only worked but was FANTASTIC! The space allowed you to easily move from presentation to presentation while stopping to network or talk business opportunity at the same time. We then moved to the Kauffman Foundation (www.kauffman.org) for the evening event and had the honor of listening to Carl Schramm (Kauffman President & CEO) share his powerful insights. We also enjoyed a great introduction video from some of the true social media leaders in the country and then listened to a panel facilitated by Bo Fishback, also from the Kauffman Foundation. There are some great companies based right here in the midwest, check out the highlight midwest website to learn more!

At LightThread we are finalizing our business model and targeting to get the website up and running in the next few weeks. We are thinking of pitching ourselves initially as an Intellectual Venture Capital company....we provide you the expertise, practices and tools to take your business to the next level. We also have a product arm with applications that are under development and will tie these applications in to our mission of helping businesses connect their ideas and make opportunities happen. We assert that if a company can focus solely on their niche and not have to get bogged down in being all things to all people they can then truly prosper, grow and be successful. LightThread....Connecting Ideas to Light the World. Ok, tagline may be a bit hokey and needs more work but hopefully you understand the goal.

Family
Watch out KC drivers...you have a new 16 year old out on the road. That's right, Zach passed the driver's license test and is enjoying his new found freedom. Now, if he can just find a job.... :) Jackie wrapped up his freshman football season and ended with a 6-2 record. He loves the football season and is still helping with varsity but I have to say I enjoy having him home a bit more now that his head coaching responsibilities are completed. Samantha also wrapped up her softball season last weekend and was able to pitch in her first competitive game ever. Considering they had the pitching rubber 3 feet back too far, she did a commendable job and I was so proud of her as she kept the nerves in check. Hopefully we can start to have homemade dinners now that we aren't at a sporting event/practice every day of the week.

Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to leave a comment or send me at an email (lqualls4444@yahoo.com).

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

Reunited, And It Feels So Good

2008-10-23T11:25:00.003-05:00

I finally caught up with society and joined Facebook earlier this month. I have enjoyed reuniting with so many friends from back in the day and have been surprised by the flood of memories buried deep that haven't been reflected on for quite some time. These memories are a reminder of the joys, laughter and even some sorrows that molded my inner voice of today. I am humbled as I remember the girl of my yesterday and smile as I remember her fears, her confidence, her defeats and her accomplishments. I am proud of how the girl has become a woman and appreciate that even through the stumbles we call growth, she still holds the confidence and yet also the fears as she did so long ago. The reflection of how the past defined the path to today opens up the possibilities for tomorrow. Take a moment to remember, reunite with others and reflect on your inner voice and see what new possibilities exist for you.

Energy - Missouri Clean Energy Initiative
For you Missourians out there, you have the opportunity to shape the future of energy growth on November 4th. The Clean Energy Initiative requires Missouri investor-owned electric utilities (Ameren, Empire, Aquila, and KCP&L) to get 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021. The Clean Energy Initiative defines renewables as clean sources of energy like wind, solar, landfill gas, biomass, and small hydroelectric projects. Often this policy is called a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and it has been passed in 26 other states (sorry Kansas you have some catching up to do). If you are fed up with negative politics and trying to find a reason to show up and vote on November 4th, please consider this initiative as your motivation. It is supported by over 100 Missouri current and former elected officials and community leaders and I have yet to find any negative press or concerns associated to the effort. Please support this initiaitve by providing your YES vote on November 4th. You can read more details at http://www.missouricleanenergy.org/about.asp

As a follow-up to my entry last week, I had the honor of judging a high school debate at Blue Springs South High School this past weekend. I was assigned to the public forum debates and listened to our leaders of tomorrow argue pro's and con's of growing nuclear energy effort in the US. The public forum venue is different than policy cross-ex debate as it flows more like a Sunday morning roundtable t.v. show with two teams (two members each) making their points, questioning those points and ending with a grand cross-fire where all four members discuss/argue at the same time. It was a blast to watch but I'm not going to lie, it was very hard to keep up from a judging perspective. At the end of the day, I was blown away by the intelligence, research skills, communication abilities and out right passion that these students exemplified during the debate. We hear so much negative of our youth but let me tell you, I was more impressed with these leaders of tomorrow than I am with many of our so called leaders of today. If you have some extra weekend time, check out when a high school debate is scheduled in your area and volunteer to serve as a judge. Judges are always needed, the schools give detailed instructions and you might be surprised how much fun you have while you learn something new.

Career Front
Ahhhh....how I love negotiations, let me count thy ways. I continued discussions this past week with the Ireland company and experienced the highs and lows of negotiation. They are evaluating a permanent offer situation for me but at the moment it looks like the consultation opportunity has come to a dead end as we couldn't come to an agreement on a competitive rate. They are fabulous people with tremendous potential and I wish them all the best. I received a permanent offer from a local engineering firm and am patiently waiting as they work with HR to deliver a compensation package. I continue to evaluate consulting opportunities as they arise, in fact I spoke with a New York business owner late last week who presented a unique possibility where I might be able to help him create a new media/entertainment powerhouse. I am meeting with one of my LightThread partners today to review his business plan and design an offer to become involved. Excitement in the air!

Family
Another busy week in the Qualls household with a big addition in the driveway...we purchased a 97 Eclipse for Zach who should have his official driver's license within days. He is very excited and proud of his "new" car and we are excited to have one more taxi driver in the family. This is another moment that makes you pause and reflect...remember being 16, getting your first car and taking that first drive without mom and dad? The feeling of empowerment and independence, it was as if nothing could stop you. We want Zach to embrace this new step in life and encourage him to be responsibile by reminding him, it only takes one mistake to change your life FOREVER so think before you act and PAY ATTENTION!! He probably doesn't know it, but I am reminding myself of this life lesson just as much as I am reminding him.

Thanks again for stopping by and checking in on what's new with LJ Landing. As always, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at lqualls4444@yahoo.com if you want to further discuss any of the items mentioned above. Have a great week!

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

And the wheels on the bus....

2008-10-14T10:01:00.007-05:00

I understand last week's financial wackiness caused many to start worrying about what's next, what does this mean to me, my family, and will I ever be able to retire??? I encourage you to take a deep breath, be mindful of your mood, and think, learn, & be educated prior to taking actions. There are numerous opportunities to be had when many can only see darkness...so ask yourself, what spark can you ignite to help yourself and others find the light?

Energy Developments
You may be surprised but in the midst of congress getting involved to "save us from financial ruin" (scary thought eh?), they added an energy related amendent to bill H.R. 1424, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act 2008 (aka $700B bailout). The amendment calls for Energy Production Incentives which includes renewable energy incentives, carbon mitigation and coal provisions, transportation and domestic fuel security provisions, energy conservation and effeciency provisions (giving credit {$$$$} to early energy efficient adopters), and revenue provisions. In total, bill H.R. 1424 is a whopping 451 pages with the Energy portion noted on pages 113-261. Upon initial review the majority of actions include timeline extensions that were initially defined in various other Energy bills. You can obtain the full text of H.R. 1424 at this link, http://banking.senate.gov/public/_files/latestversionAYO08C32_xml.pdf. I speculate you may be surprised by how much of the 451 pages are dedicated to items NOT related to the $700B. If you are interested in the bills being proposed by your house of representatives and senators please check out this website, http://www.opencongress.org/bill/all.

I'm excited to learn what our youth of today have to say about energy so I volunteered to judge at the Blue Springs South debate competition next weekend. The 2008-09 National High School policy debate topic is timely to say the least, "The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States." Students must be prepared to argue both sides of the resolution so I am eager to hear the research they reference to support their arguments. Check back next week to see how our teenagers of today may save the world tomorrow. :)

Career Path
Tremendous movement on the career front last week. I continue to engage in discussions with top notch executives and look to finalize negotiations as early as this week. I am learning a great deal through this process and have been most surprised that what I thought I wanted in my next job might actually be very different. I am enjoying talking with different companies and discussing the valuable ways I can help them and have come to realize that consulting might be a meaningful path for me. Anyone who knows me understands I have a broad background in various business disciplines from sales to business transition management to operational leadership. Initially, I thought security and fulfillment would come in the form of a permanent position, however I am challenging myself to think beyond my comfort zone. My desire first and foremost is to achieve my ambition (my family and I living a good life without compromise) and I now realize my old ways of thinking may be getting in my way of doing just that. Lots to think about this week.

Family
Not only was last week a bummer on the financial end but also on the sports end in the Qualls household. After 2.5 years of not losing one freshman A football game, the Wildcats succumbed to defeat. Coach Qualls took it like the man he is and displayed great character telling his team the heart of a team is how they come back and play the next week. What made the game difficult to watch for me was the Wildcats were playing their rival the Jaguars which happens to be the same high school my kids attend. Soooo mixed emotions as the kids were happy but dad was not. I was proud of my son who didn't rub it in....too much. Sports are big in this household and we encourage the life lessons that come from playing. Being a good sport win or lose is value number 1 in our family.

Thank you for checking in. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have more to add to any of the conversations noted or have any questions. I am always eager to receive feedback and welcome additional information you may have to continue the discussion.

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

What a Week

2008-10-07T10:41:00.003-05:00

Last week was quite the week on all fronts of life.

Gaining Knowledge
I returned back from San Francisco having attended my third conference out of four as part of my 2 year business professional program. I am in the Business Professional's Course offered by the Aji Network (http://www.theajinetwork.com/) and to say it has changed my life would be an understatement. The course offers uncommon knowledge that helps one observe, learn, coordinate action, build networks and make offers that are much more powerful in the marketplace. As I speculated would occur, the third conference offered many "aha" moments as it highlighted how our biology is the driving force behind everything we do so taking time to learn how biology works is worth the effort. Check out the book, Tree of Knowledge by Humberto R. Maturana and Francisco J. Varela to learn more.

Energy/SmartGrid News
I spent the early part of the week reading blogs from the GridWeek conference that was held in Washington DC, Sept 22-24. I found Erich Gunther's daily blogs at http://www.smartgridnews.com/ entertaining as he gave his personal insights on both the convention speakers and outside the convention wall activities (a guy who likes a good cocktail, my kind of guy). Check out the GridWeek website for presentations, quite a bit of valuable information made available for free! http://gridweek.com/2008/default.asp#home

Career Update
Diligence and follow-up is beginning to pay-off. I continue discussions with various companies and last week met with a CEO from Ireland. Even though there is a great amount of fear in the marketplace, that very fear creates opportunities for companies and professionals who read the world and are prepared. I enjoy listening to executives discuss how their company is riding the roller coaster and what strategies they are considering to address the marketplace drift of today and tomorrow. I continue to refine my offers and narratives based on these conversations and excited about the opportunity I have to help drive profitability, support growth, and make a positive impact in the marketplace.

Business Development
The LightThread crew met last week and we are getting closer to finalizing our strategy. The possibilites that exist are exciting to say the least, we are already having clients engage us and we haven't even launched our website yet! We are taking our time with the strategy and testing ourselves time and time again to make sure we have a clear differentiator that will not only give us a strong launching point but will sustain us over the long term.

Family Front
Another incredibly busy week of fall sports....Zachary won his first high school soccer team (Go Jags!) and Samantha played in her first 12U comp fastpitch tourney this weekend and won third place (Go Elite!). Jackie continues his undefeated season as the head coach of the freshman team (Go Wildcats!). As excited as I am about my professional opportunities, the family is the reason I am on this journey in the first place. My ambition first and foremost is to provide a good life for my family. Our life may be a chaotic one but it is full of love, passion and energy and I wouldn't trade my family for anything in the world.

Whew! I guess my blog title hit it on the head...what a week it was. Until next time....enjoy the fall weather, root for your favorite football team (Go MU Tigers), watch the presidential debate, and pick a world series team to cheer on through the playoffs (Go Cubs...Oh wait, they tanked...i guess I'll pick the RedSox for my friends Victor and the Wise's).

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa

And we begin

2008-09-27T02:41:00.005-05:00

Confidence isn't granted it is found within....

This distinction was shared with me from someone who embodied the very concept, however was humble enough to allow people to witness just how difficult it can be to accept and live by it. I chose this statement to start my blog experience as it is my growing confidence within that enabled me to share my thoughts, experiences and knowledge with the cyber world.

My ambition in starting this blog is to inspire myself and those who join me to grow as we embark on a journey of learning, interpretation and fun. We will discuss a broad path of career, family and world in hopes that each person who stops by will accept new ways of thinking, interacting, and work to achieve their life ambition.

My commitment is to update this blog once a week and offer interpretations of my personal journey as I learn and gain knowledge in the energy sector, business development, managing a family and living a good life. Thank you for checking-in and cheers to starting something new!

Be who you are and learn to be better,
Lisa