Leslie Stein
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Super Truth: Life Just Ain't Fair...DEAL WITH IT!

12/18/2015

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I just did something that made me inexplicably happy!! A friend asked where he could buy a copy of my book for his mother who had found a penny in an unexpected place after his dad passed away earlier this year. Penny related stories like this always touch my heart, so I insisted he let me send her a signed copy so I could include a personal note.
 

When I FINALLY got around to doing this item on my 'TO DO' list, my first thought was, "I hope the book gets there in time for Christmas" followed soon after by, "I am NOT looking forward to the lines at the post office this time of year."

Sure enough, the line today was out the door & had people with literally grocery carts full of gifts. And there was only one teller window open. Seriously?! This would be at least a 30-45 minute wait. Ugh.

I picked out a cute mailer (cost: approximately $3) & proceeded to address it. When I was done I pulled $15 out of my wallet & asked the lady closest to the table if she would be willing to mail the package & keep the extra money (it would be less than $8 with shipping). 

"Um...no way!" she said as she shook her head a firm no.

Before I had the chance to feel defeated, the woman ahead of her (who, by the way, was having a grand time in line...chatting away with her friend) said, "I'll do it!! Does it need to be rushed?"
 

I told her there by Christmas was preferred but not mandatory. And to enjoy a nice holiday latte on me with whatever was left over. I handed her the package + $15...and that was that! She was all smiles!
 

I left feeling beyond delighted that I had bought my way out of a 30-45 minute wait for just $7. My time is WAY more valuable than that!

In reflection, I am also not surprised that the person having fun in line was the one open to doing something nice that benefitted me, the package recipient, & herself. Win-win-win.

I'll never know what the other woman's objection was. Probably something about it not being fair that I didn't have to wait in line like everyone else. 

But you know what...I'm finally owning the fact that I'm not like everyone else. And for as many times as my mom's "life's not always fair" speech has played in my head after life kicked me in the ass...it was nice to hear it playing after life high-fived me for my brilliant $7 purchase of freedom.
 

Fair is a place with Ferris wheels & cotton candy. Life, on the other hand, is exactly what you choose make of it. And today, I chose to make my life AWESOME (for the low, low price of $7)!
​ 

What are you making of life today?!


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Ready to  own the fact you are NOT like everyone else?!  To find freedom in your life for as little as $7 (maybe less if you're creative & brave enough to try something new!)? Click here to learn more about Leslie and how she can work with you or your team to find the freedom just waiting for you in your life, work, relationships...and just about anywhere else you seek it!

Want your own copy of Penny Perspectives? It's available on Amazon!

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Unplugged & Unreachable...

7/17/2015

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PictureIt's vacation time, baby!!
One of my favorite parts of going on vacation is writing my out of office (OOO) reply.  Why?  Because it's someplace I can really live my philosophy, "When everyone else zigs...ZAG!!"

I've gotten enough OOO replies to know that most people give the necessary information regarding how to cope with their absences...in the least entertaining way possible.  So...I ZAG!

My out of office replies have become so popular that I am starting to think my clients like it better when I'm away than when I'm here.  People purposely write to me when they know I can't answer...just to see what kind of shenanigans I have pulled in my OOO.  I've even been introduced when speaking, by having sponsors read my OOO to the audience.

This time, rather than creating a pile-up of e-mails from people inquiring simply to get my OOO, I thought I'd share it as a blog post (do feel free to leave comments if you are amused or want to share your own clever OOO!).  I did take out my dad's cell phone # since I thought he'd like to enjoy the vacation rather than getting dozens of calls curious about our silly family game!  Hahaha!

Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it (really...I crack myself up with these things!).  Without further ado...

My latest (& possibly GREATEST) out of office reply:
PicturePrevious family fun includes our annual holiday "Naughty vs. Nice" debate.
My name is Leslie Stein...and I am an electronics junkie.

They tell me the first step to solving any problem is admitting you have one.  Well, I am not sure if I have a problem or not (yes, I like to take pictures of my food & never met a selfie I didn't like...is that so wrong?) but I am doing a detox to check it out.

July 16-28 I'm traveling back east to have a Griswold-esque family vacation with NINETEEN family members ranging in age from 2-69.  For seven of those days I plan to be COMPLETELY e-free.  Yes, you read correctly...no phone, no laptop, no connection with the outside world.  That's kind of the point of flying cross country to spend time with the people I never get to see, isn't it?!  

I'm actually leaving all my electronics at my sister's house while we venture to Cape May, NJ for our week of family fun, 


But I know emergencies come up, so if you absolutely MUST get ahold of me, there is a way.

In case of urgent situations requiring Leslie-magic, you can call our family's equivalent to Clark Griswold (aka my dad, Jerry Stein) on his cell @ xxx-xxx-xxxx.  If you play our family's version of the 6-degrees of Kevin Bacon game (we believe you can connect any person, place or object to Chevy Chase in 6 steps or less) & can adequately connect the item my dad gives you with Chevy Chase...then you may speak to me.

If not...see you on July 29th.

Need your own little burst of summer road trip fun?  Click here for a Griswold montage to the classic "Holiday Road."  You are welcome.

Cheers,

Leslie

PS--This message is an auto-response...apologies if you get 
it more than once.  My settings say you won't...but the technology gods 
don't always follow the rules of google mail!


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Are you ready to ZIG while everyone else ZAGS?!  To create success on your own terms & have a little fun with ordinary, every day  things like out-of-office replies?

Click here to learn more about Leslie and how she can work with you or your team to turn old, boring ways of doing things into new, engaging versions that will surprise & delight the people you serve.

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Super Truth:  Free Spirits Are Not Free of Problems

7/14/2015

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PictureFree spirits sometimes feel compelled to jump on the bed.
Someone called me a strong free spirit the other day like he thought that meant I could deal with anything. Well, yes...I can. And I have. But still, I am human. 

I get scared more often than people think.  
My heart breaks easier than I am likely to admit.  
I'm free but sometimes lonely in that freedom.  
I fear I'll disappoint people if I ditch my free spirit ways to try something else. 

Not that I would change any of this. 

Getting scared & moving forward anyway has shown me just how true that old fear acronym is:
  • F--False
  • E--Evidence
  • A--Appearing
  • R--Real 
It only takes a few seconds of extreme courage to move past the false evidence & see what's on the other side. And almost without exception, I never regret it.

Heart break hurts like hell...but my heart has healed stronger every time. And what I've noticed is that I am much more compassionate with people experiencing their own kind of heartbreak because I remember what it was like when people tried to motivate, cajole, or just plain old force me out of mine. Well intentioned acts that just weren't helpful. 

The best advice came from an acquaintance who was perhaps the best listener I could have asked for in my moment of gut-wrenching grief. She said I could sit still with it as long as I wanted...but I'd probably be happier if I started to move forward...even just a little. She gave me another acronym...she said when I started to move it was fine not to run...I could just LIMP:
  • L--Lean 
  • I--Into 
  • M--My 
  • P--Power 
It took me a year to LIMP back to my full strength. And when I didn't have any of my own power to lean into I leaned into strong friends, family, & communities I am blessed enough to be part of. It wasn't sexy...but it worked. And now my heart is stronger, happier, & more open than it ever was before it's first, second, fifth, or tenth heartbreak. It just gets better & more beautiful with every crack & dent.

Freedom is an amazing gift...and also a somewhat lonely one. There have been times that my work-for-myself, freedom-filled (yet very busy) life have led to friends saying, "We didn't invite you because we didn't think you'd be free." Oh, the irony.

My freedom to say yes at a whim & run off to exotic places for work or fun left my home front untended & sometimes empty of community in the one place I wanted it most...my own backyard. But hey...I didn't have an over scheduled calendar & could still say "YES!" if my dream opportunity popped up!

Only...what was that dream I was waiting for? The more I waited, the less I could recall. Until one day I looked up at the tumbleweeds blowing thru my social calendar & thought, "My freedom & the adventures it brought made me interesting...but rarely free to sit down & share stories+laughs over a cup of coffee. Could I have a little TOO MUCH freedom?!"

And so here I am, pondering whether I'd disappoint anyone if I traded in my free spirit moniker for a less exciting, more predictable version of me. One who isn't on a plane 2-3 times a month & has time for afternoon coffee, regular weeknight yoga classes, & Sunday night dinners with my parents.

Can I be a free spirit who finds joy in the weekly grocery shopping instead of far off lands? Might I prefer the state of calm a predictable routine could give me to the excitement of not knowing what state I'll be working in three weeks from now? Is it anyone's business but my own? Would people even notice or care?!

I don't know the answers...but I am loving the questions. Maybe it's time to redefine my version of a free spirit. It's hard to pack my tiara + cape when I travel...so maybe the answer is more time at a home. A free spirit certainly spends as much time as possible in a tiara + cape, right?!

What needs redefining in your life? Won't you play with me & turn the old version on its head...free spirit style?! 


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Are you ready to redefine your life?!  To create success on your own terms?  

Click here to learn more about Leslie and how she can work with you or your team to turn old, ineffective ways of doing things into new, engaging versions that best utilize your skills & talents.

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Super Truth: Follow Your Own Formula...It's The ONLY One Right For You!

5/20/2015

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EEEK! After weeks of stress + anxiety (T-minus 9 days until my TEDxFremontEastWomen​ talk...a huge opportunity I am super excitd about, but oh, the pressure!!), I FINALLY had a breakthrough toady. And you know what brought it on? Giving in to the fact I just didn't feel like working on the dang talk today...and climbing back in bed!

Yep. I laid in bed for an hour, curled up in the fetal position asking my mind & body what they needed in this moment. Over. And over. And over. Sometimes it was just a deeper breath. Other times it was to move an arm or a leg. Then finally, it was to admit that I am super scared about standing up on stage & sharing my stories for the TED talk. Yep. Scared. Everything from "what if I forget what I was going to say?" to "what if my mentors & coaches are disappointed in how I deliver the talk...not polished enough, not professional enough, not informative enough...just NOT ENOUGH?!"

Holy crap...isn't this what my talk is supposed to be about?! That we are ENOUGH! That there is no right answer or formula in leadership that works for everyone...just the one formula that works for each individual, leading the life he or she is meant to live?! The mix of lessons learned, mistakes made, questions asked, insights gathered, & a dash of curiosity about what's around the next corner on life's journey that makes us chose our next steps. We must each be the alchemists of our own formulas, learning from others but ultimately becoming our own best teachers about who we are, what we stand for, & how we want to show up in the world.

And as if by some lucky stroke of Universal approval in the midst of my angst, I got a request for 10 quotes to be part of an e-book being assembled for the cast of my upcoming movie, The Secrets of The Keys, the second film in The Key Movies​ series. I recalled that a reader had once taken words from one of my blog posts and turned them into word art. When I went to find the quote for inclusion in my 10 quotes (because really, who quotes themselves?! Is there a clever way to do this without feeling like an arrogant know-it-all?! Most of the good stuff I say just falls out of my mouth by accident. When I try to be brilliant, it's hilariously disastrous!), I figured it was one of those moments of divine timing when I needed to hear my own advice from days gone by.


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And so there it is...in case anyone else is stuck in a moment when the overall journey is actually going quite well. Take this as your invitation to get unstuck. I did. And all of a sudden, everything seems right with the world.

Or maybe that's just the coffee kicking in.

Either way, it feels darn good to feel inspired again. Darn good.


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Are you ready to let go, step back, or even take a nap to experience your breakthrough?!  Click here to learn more about Leslie and how she can work with you or your team to get unstuck & start moving in the right direction!

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Super Truth:  Destruction Is Part of Creation... EMBRACE IT!

3/2/2015

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I get to meet some of the coolest people!  A recent blog post from my friend Joseph Stoddard​ of Anjo Body Massage Therapy had me laughing​.  We met in my yoga training & I kind of feel like the Universe delivered me my own personal Zen Buddha Master...so awesome!   So I am not surprised when his posts make me think, reflect & ponder...which is exactly what this one did!
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I laughed as I read his blog post because it wasn't too long ago that I blew up my own life in search of something different.  One of my teachers had taught me about the concept of a "controlled burn."  PURPOSELY setting fire to something for the sake of its long term growth.  It turns out some seeds, the Sequoia seed for example, actually cannot germinate until a fire breaks down their protective coating.  Controlled burns are also a tactic for fire prevention.  By burning a small fire periodically to eliminate fuel such as dead leaves or fallen branches--a high volume of which could cause a fire to burn long, hot, &/or do massive damage--foresters can actually prevent more catastrophic fires from taking place.   

Huh.  

So what does that mean for us as humans?  Clearly we don't want to go around lighting ourselves or our stuff on fire to promote growth.  But couldn't we do a better job of letting go of the things, people, places, or situations that are no longer serving us?  Don't these things sometimes become the fuel that lead to a massive destruction we would rather not have experienced?  

And what about the destructive times in our lives?  Aren't they often the catalysts to better things on the other side...perhaps the heat generators for those dormant seeds of what we REALLY want?

I tried not to employ this tactic at first...because frankly the idea of burning down a life I'd worked so hard to build sounded a little crazy.   But the Universe had other plans...and kindly helped me along a bit by orchestrating a lay off in 2008 when the economy was wobbly.  I didn't so much WANT to start my own business, as much as I needed to if I wanted to continue doing things like eating & having a roof over my head.  At some point the stress of a big mortgage in a big city AND trying to start a new business got to be too much.  So I did what my teacher had said.  I lit the match.  I burned down a few things that I really, really loved.

I sold my amazing condo in DC, which broke my heart...at first.  In the long run, this was the beginning of the realization that I don't need as much stuff as I always thought I did.  I sold every piece of furniture I owned & downsized as much as I thought I could at the time.  This still entailed 44 boxes I had to ship across the country AND a carload full of art, clothes, kitchen supplies, & a vacuum cleaner I just couldn't live without (it's a Dyson.  I hated vacuuming until we came together.  I stand by my decision to hold onto it).  

Somewhere in the 2 months I didn't have access to those 44 boxes of random crap, I felt how lovely it was to have space in my life instead of stuff.  And when I finally got settled in my new place, I got rid of many things I had shipped to Las Vegas because I thought I couldn't live without them.  Turns out I could.  

Then my body was apparently ready for more space, because I lost 15 pounds I didn't think it possible to lose & got to a weight lower than what I had weighed in high school.  I also dropped something else I'd been lugging around along with those 15 pounds...the limiting belief that I am not an athlete.  The 4 years I spent as a cadet at West Point & the 7 years on active duty in the army were a little rough on me in this department.  I constantly heard the message that I was "too slow & too fat."  I heard it over & over & over again for 11 years...long enough that even after I left the army, I continued telling myself the same thing.  

Until I read somewhere, "A belief is simply a thought you keep thinking over & over again...which does not necessarily make it true."  Since I no longer struggled with weight, maybe I wasn't actually too slow either.  To check it out, I decided to train for a half ironman triathlon.  Turns out I actually was slow...but I had endurance!  I finished the race & went on to run a 50K later that same year.  I may not be fast...but my legs had a message for me:

"You just ran 50 kilometers.  In a row.  All at once.  Speed is not the only metric one can use when deciding athletic prowess.  Anyone who moves as much as you do is an athlete, okay?!  Hear it & believe it, sister!"
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I choose to believe THAT instead of the old story.  Feels much better! 

Fast forward 2 years.  Running has become a little tiresome & I have a hip injury.  Being that I'm an athlete (thank you for the message, legs), I needed to find something to replace running while my hip healed.  So I decided to go back to an old form of exercise with some good healing properties...yoga.  Just a few months on my mat & I started to feel better...physically & mentally.

So I decided to take it a step further.  I enrolled in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program.  Mostly to deepen my own practice...NOT because I ever planned on teaching yoga.  No way.  Not this girl.  My whole life people have been telling me to slow down & be quiet...which does not sound like the makings of a person who should instruct yoga.  Besides, I may be some version of an athlete...but the little voice in my head said, "You can barely touch your toes, smarty-pants.  Isn't that sort of necessary to demonstrate yoga poses?!"  

But I love doing yoga & wanted to learn more about the philosophy, so I signed up for the class with the intention of learning how I can incorporate yoga "off the mat" in my corporate classrooms.

But wouldn't you know it.  There is a piece of me wondering if that little voice is wrong again.  I mean...it's been wrong about a million times before.  

So I have been wondering...do I REALLY need to touch my toes to be a good yoga instructor?!  My ego & the voice in my head would like me to think so...but I do not believe they are correct.  Maybe...just maybe...having a teacher that is only a few steps ahead of you instead of miles & miles down the path you are just starting on can be a good thing.  Maybe it makes the learning more accessible.  Maybe knowing the teacher struggles too will inspire students to take on yoga as a life long practice instead of a few classes to fix an issue (stress, injury, etc.).  Maybe, maybe, maybe...

And so I stand on the edge of my life ready to light another match.  To burn what I need to so I can make space for this new adventure that may not fit into my life if I keep all the old adventures on my schedule as planned.  Even though I have burned parts of my life down before (selling homes, purging closets, changing jobs, ending relationships, parting with friends) it still makes me hold my breath every time.  

Thankfully, I'm studying yoga & have learned the importance of breathing.   In fact, some believe that yoga poses are simply a way to access & become conscious of the simple act of breathing.  Just like lighting the match is a way to help me feel what I DON'T want to burn.  That list is actually relatively small.  Everything else is lovely...but can be replaced.  

What about YOU?!  What is ready for a "controlled burn" in your life?  Sometimes thinking of the seeds it can unlock is just the thing to help you light that match.  So...what seeds are just DYING for you to do some burning?  Letting go?  Moving on?  Making space?  

Let me know if you need a match...


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Thank you for reading!!  If you enjoyed this post or think it might help someone you know do a much needed "controlled burn." please share!!  The first one is always the hardest...and sometimes knowing you're not alone makes all the difference.  If you're ready to light that match & find out what seeds it will open up for you (it's usually something you REALLY want but are too scared to hope for),  click here to connect & find out more about how we can work together!

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Super Truth:  You Will Hurt People...And That’s OK

1/18/2015

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As much as I HATE to let people down, disappoint them, or hurt them (like really, really, hate it...this is my absolute biggest fear)...I know I often do.  At least, more often than I’d like.  Friends, family, lovers, colleagues, clients, strangers.  I’ve hurt them all at some point or another.  Not intentionally...but unintended hurt is just as painful.

But I realized something tonight.  Trying so hard not to hurt people, especially people in the “I really like you & would love to date you if you are inclined to give it a try” category, ends up being hurtful in an especially painful way.  Someone gets REALLY hurt by trying to avoid the pain, wriggle out of the disappointment, & remain “nice” in someone else’s eyes.

Me.  I end up getting hurt.

It wasn’t until I lost someone I cared about for reasons I still do not understand that I realized how incredibly large my own capacity for hurting someone is.  Without even knowing what I did, I hurt her so much that she blocked me from her life.  In what felt like an instant, our 10-year friendship was all but over.  Forgotten.  Erased.  I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it.  Because a tie severed that completely must’ve stemmed from a deep hurt.  Whether I actually did something or simply triggered a defensive response from a previous hurt, I was still the catalyst to causing pain in someone I care about.  And that sucks.

The truth is that we ALL have such a capacity, whether we want it or not.  

The deeper people let us into their lives, the less it takes for us to emotionally devastate them.  The more we know about their fears, their vulnerabilities, & how they’ve been hurt before...the easier it is for us to cut them to the quick without trying very hard at all (consciously or unconsciously).  
The deeper people let us into their lives, the less it takes for us to emotionally devastate them.  The more we know about their fears, their vulnerabilities, & how they’ve been hurt before...the easier it is for us to cut them to the quick without trying very hard at all (consciously or unconsciously).  
And if we’ve let them in too, the reverse is also true.  Vulnerability & connection don’t come with a guarantee.  Being open with people can often deliver to them the very means with which to absolutely crush us later on.

But it also comes with a few other things.  Like being really, deeply understood.  Being seen in a way you never knew was possible.  Finding safety & comfort just sitting silently together...without having to try.  Creating inside jokes that generate laughter with only a glance, a word, or the right emoticon.  

And who doesn’t want more of those things in their lives?

Back to not wanting to hurt people...I think I shut down a lot of potentially great relationships before they got too deep.  I could sense when we got to an emotional edge.  One that if we crossed it, one or both of us would have the ability to hurt the other.  And I did NOT want that kind of power!  Ironically, I was less afraid of giving that power to others because I trusted my own resilience.  My ability to bounce back no matter what.  Which in retrospect was kind of arrogant.  
“Hey, if you accidentally hurt me, I can totally take it.  But you...well...I am not so sure you could survive me hurting you.  I’d rather not take the chance.  Nice knowing you, but the depth & connection stop here where I feel safe.  Thanks for playing.”
Talk about a control freak?!

But here I sit on the other side of a painful experience where I both hurt someone & got hurt.  Not gonna lie...this particular hurt flattened me for a good long time.  Not as bad as my first big break-up which, because I was young & stupid, I allowed to suck the joy out of my life for, oh, about 2 years.  This time around was more like a few months.  After that I was unwilling to wallow in my hurt.  So, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, & started moving forward again even though I didn’t feel ready.  Eventually the forward motion worked its magic and life started to feel normal again.

Except...it wasn’t the same kind of normal.  I felt a shift inside of me that I couldn’t explain.  Something opened up.  Maybe it was new found strength.  Maybe it was a sense of vulnerability that made me more approachable.  I am not 100% sure what it was...I just know I am allowing people into my life more deeply than I’ve ever allowed them in before.  Sharing myself in ways I didn’t know I could.  Being trusted more deeply and learning what it means to receive in that way.  Accepting the fact that I may hurt these people, or they may hurt me, if we decide we don’t want the same things...but knowing that we are both strong enough to recover, especially when we allow ourselves to develop connections as real & deep as the ones I’ve been feeling.

Now I see that all the years I kept people at arm’s distance, trying not to hurt anyone, or maybe even trying not to get hurt again myself, actually hurt me in the long run.  It kept me from the richness that comes with a deep connection.  The aliveness that comes from exploring an unknown way of being.  The joy that grows with wondering “what if” instead of knowing the answers that will keep me safe.

It’s happening more often now than I imagined it ever could.  Long wandering conversations over late night pancakes.  Meandering phone calls about music, books, & the art of a life lived without rules.  Collaborative partners that inspire within me ideas I cannot wait to bring to life in the coming year.  Mentoring calls about how to take life to the next level by pushing the boundaries of what it means to be professional.  I cannot thank the people who have gone to these new places with me enough.  You have filled me with a kind of desire I always wanted but never knew how to find.

Turns out it was there inside me all along.  I was just too afraid of hurting you to see it.  

But I’m not afraid anymore.  

Because hurting is part of living.  In fact, it is the thing that lets us know that what we had mattered.  And if there is ANYTHING I want out of this life, it is to say I lived with every ounce of my being and didn’t miss a damn thing...including the hurt.  

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Thank you for reading!!  If you enjoyed this post or think it might help someone you know learn to be okay with letting the walls down to allow in the good stuff (because we know they don't just keep out the bad)...please share!!  I once heard someone say "Your heart can be open & bruised or closed & safe.  But you can't have it be open & safe."  If you're ready to risk the bruises (they really are survivable...not necessarily fun, but not as bad as we imagine them to be!),  click here to connect & find out more about how we can work together!

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Super Truth: The World Is Listening

12/3/2014

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PictureYou may call me Princess Leslie.
Sometimes life absolutely blows my mind.  Since I often dance around in a tutu & tiara, one might ask, “How hard could that be?  I’m not sure she’s playing with a full deck to begin with.”

Fair enough.  But in the case of a recent “mind = blown” moment, it was the tiara & tutu that may have been the very thing that led to an evening I’ll never forget.

Awhile back, I wrote about a tutu-&-tiara kind of morning spent singing & dancing around the house (and eventually out to the mailbox) to the soundtrack from “Beauty & The Beast.”  The lyrics helped me realize that despite the Hollywood fairytale of “love at first sight,” falling in love slowly is an equally beautiful thing.  I was so moved by this realization that I plopped myself down in front of my laptop & gushed about the lyrics & their impact on me.

Pretty soon I had a nice little essay, so I hit the “post” button on Facebook, delighted with my own happiness in sharing these thoughts.  I then went back to my chores, thinking nothing of my silly little story.


PictureTiaras make everything more magical!
Until a few days later when a friend of mine said she’d passed on what I’d written to a friend of hers who happens to know Paige O’Hara (the voice of Belle from Beauty & the Beast), who happens to live in Las Vegas.   AND who happened to actually READ THE PIECE!!!

Holy guacamole…are you kidding me?!  This woman whose voice I’ve been listening to for as long as I can remember actually read my story about how the songs she sang impacted me?  WAY COOL!

But wait…it gets better!  Not only did she read the piece…I also received an invitation to come see her perform in the show she’s currently doing in Vegas (Menopause the Musical, which is hysterical!)…and to meet her!!  All because she read & liked the piece I wrote.   Was this for REAL?!

A few weeks later I found myself chatting with Paige, snapping some pictures, sharing a lovely dinner with my friend & her friend (the one who had set up the meeting), all in my favorite dress & of course…the tiara (because what else would a girl wear to meet Disney royalty?!).


PicturePoof! Like magic this book appeared!
As I stood there soaking it all in, a question occurred to me: “What if I had chosen to spend my time writing about what scares or frustrates me instead of what delights me?   Would this moment have ever happened?”

The day I posted my essay on Facebook, my news feed was full of articles, comments, & nastiness about the Ebola outbreak and how crappy both political parties are at dealing with our country’s issues.  In fact, I notice there’s a lot of complaints & “if it bleeds it leads” kind of news on Facebook most days.  Whether posted in agreement or outrage, people apparently love to engage in debates about the things that frighten or infuriate them.  They must love it…because they keep doing it.

But like I said at the beginning…the world is listening.  More importantly, the world is giving you back exactly what you spend your time talking about (or posting about on Facebook).  While I can’t prove a concept like “Law of Attraction” is real, I can say with certainty that what I talk about gets reflected back to me…ALL…THE…TIME.

I talk about Wonder Woman & superheroes.  A LOT.  Over the course of the last year I’ve received cards, action figures, mugs, glasses, pajamas, stickers, books, gorgeous pieces of art, DVDs, a Wonder Woman USB drive & most recently a one-of-a-kind handmade WW sweater.  People know I love her…and so they share what they find (or make!!).

A few weeks ago I posted a hysterical “Text From Dog” picture on my wall & by the end of the week had the full book of Dog Texts (which I didn’t even know existed) waiting on my doorstep after my Saturday morning yoga class.

I wrote about Belle & how the lyrics of her songs affected me…and then I got to meet the woman behind the voice. 


Given this trend, why would I spend ANY time talking about what I DON’T want more of, when talking about what I DO want more of seems to help those things find their way to me?  Really…WHY?!

(Side note:  I really, REALLY want to cook with Gordon Ramsay someday making delicious food that is athlete friendly.  I mean, he DID run an Ironman, and he clearly did not eat crappy, boring steamed chicken breasts while he was in training.  I need to learn what he cooked!  So, if you know anyone…)

Back in the day, I spent some time working in TV news (I produced 8 shows a week for WTOC in the local Savannah, GA market).  I was on top of things when it came to what was going on in the world.  I knew the name of every hurricane & the damage it caused, how many were killed by tsunamis on the other side of the world, & the violent crimes committed in the various neighborhoods of my city.  I was ON IT!

Part of me feared that letting go of that knowledge & the conversations about current events would make me look ignorant.  And maybe it does.  But it also made me something else.  It made me HAPPY to let it all go.  It opened up time to talk about possibilities, goals, dreams, & things we WANT in our lives instead of dwelling on the situations or circumstances that keep us too afraid to try.

I’m not saying I never check out a news site or that I don’t get annoyed by some of the things happening in the world.  I am saying I’ve found that the best way for me to deal with it is to exercise my choice muscle & focus on something more positive. 

It was hard at first.  It’s always hard to change a habit you’ve had for along time.  But eventually I not only stopped watching the news…I gave up having a TV all together.  Soon I was checking news sites less & less.  And eventually I strengthened my choice muscle to the point of being able to pass right by the sad stories in my news feed.  Sure, I still see them…but it’s rare that I chose to click on something I know will upset me instead of something I know will put a smile on my face.

Nowadays, I don’t worry about what other people are posting at all.  I simply get up, put on my tiara, write about what I LOVE in my life, & put more of THAT in my newsfeed so people have something positive to hold onto.  I figure news media has the negativity base covered.  Maybe social media can be our positivity base.  Or at least that’s how I’m using it.

You’re always invited to play along with me!  For the next week, whenever you feel a complaint coming on or feel the urge to repost a nasty-gram about an opposing political party, different race/religion/sexual orientation, or something upsetting…post a positive comment or happy thought instead. 

Spread joy. 

Create laughter.  

Dress your dog like a bumblebee. 

Anything that makes you SMILE!   And just notice the difference it creates in you & those around you… 


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Thank you for reading!!  If you enjoyed this post or think it might help the beauties & beasts  in your life talk more about the positives & less about the negatives...please share!!  It's never a good feeling to dwell on what's not working.  We're all doing the best we can...and we need to celebrate that!!  If we can believe in bright future, we are MUCH more likely to make it happen!!  If you're ready to vision your future in a healthier, happier way,  click here to connect & find out more about how we can work together!

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Super Truth:  You MATTER!  Just. As. You. Are.

10/14/2014

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PictureJust another day at work. With JAZZ HANDS!!
I am in a state something between giddy laughter & tears of gratitude. 

I am incredibly blessed to do the work I do...but it is the people I get to work with that make my job the most amazing one on the planet!!! 

Although I often get positive reviews following a class or applause after a key note, I sometimes wonder if I really make a difference. After all, I am but one girl (usually wearing a cape, tiara, "no bullshit" hat, or doing some other nonsensical thing that seems incredibly wrong considering I am working inside Corporate America). 


I am silly. I am awkward. I talk to much & have a story for everything. EVERY. THING. Last month I had to come running out of a session in search of stain remover for the coffee I spilled all over myself & my WHITE skirt...and again 10 minutes later when I STILL hadn't tightened the lid on my coffee cup and spilled on myself a 2nd time. Good grief!!).

My family knows these things...but they are stuck with me. 

My friends know these things...but keep me around anyway (for entertainment purposes, I suppose). 

Even my housekeeper knows it. She showed up one day with what she believed was the perfect gift for me...one she couldn't resist buying. It is a sign that reads: "I don't need to flirt...I will seduce you with my awkwardness." 

Yep...she nailed it, alright.

But these people are with me for the long haul. Day in & day out. They know I mean well, even if I execute my intentions rather poorly sometimes. So they are gracious. Forgiving. Loving. Again...I am lucky.

But what about the people I meet who don't know me all that well. The ones that spend an hour with me in a keynote or a few days inside a tiny corporate classroom. Sometimes I ask myself, "Can who I am possibly matter or make a difference to them?"

Well, today I got my answer. 

PictureWhat's life without random push-up contests & lunchtime runs?
A participant in one of my 2-day classes last year sent me the most thoughtful message. It caught me completely off guard & gave me the strength I need to do the next leg of a marathon work season. It means so much because I was in a marathon work season when his class happened. I showed up jet-lagged, over-extended, running on fumes...but apparently I still did an ok job. You know...in the sense that I wore a cape, made toys part of the learning, had a push-up contest with one of the participants, & probably told too many stories.

But that's how I roll. 

And you know what...that's how I'm going to keep rolling. Because this man took the time to let me know I made a difference. To let me know that the material was good, but that my joy is the real gift. To share that my passion had more of an impact on him than my knowledge. And for that...I am so grateful.

Someone in your life has had an amazing impact on you. Why not take 5 minutes to write a note letting him or her know that?! Or better yet, take 10 minutes & tell TWO people! We all need to hear that we matter. Because in the chaotic mess that we call life, even if we knew it at some point. We forget. 

So let's help each other out. A few words can have a powerful effect. And not just for the person who reads them...but also for the person who writes them!! 

I'll share the note that made me giddy + grateful in the first comment below just in case you need a little inspiration. But really...you got this. You are perfectly smart & wonderfully talented. You know exactly what to say & who needs to hear it. So start there. 

Because YOU matter. And when you know that, it's so much easier to tell someone else that they matter too.


THE ORIGINAL  INSPIRATION MESSAGE:
Hi Leslie, 

You may or may not remember me, but you taught me in an agile facilitator class in 2013. While your class taught me new ways of thinking and some new skills, the class in itself did not have the largest impact on me. Let me explain…

I have recently been asked a powerful question; “the job is yours, but what do you really want?” I started a list and the funny thing is, you were the second list item I thought of. I wrote down; “to be like Leslie Stein, in her joy of life and work”. I was actually stunned that came out of me…

Your pure joy and happiness was awe inspiring for me and a year later that is what remains with me… Thank you for being you, at least in those 2 days you spent with me! After reading Penny Perspectives, I think you are like this more often than not….

Please-Please don’t change, your true gift is the joy you freely offer to the world.

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Thank you for reading!!  If you enjoyed this post or think it might help someone you know he or she matters...please share!!  Because the truth is, we ALL matter!  Some days simply because we help one other person remember he/she matters too!  If you're ready to about what makes you amazing and why YOU matter, click here to connect & find out more about how we can work together!

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Enjoy Your Body

10/7/2014

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PictureI may not be the best yogi...but I sure love it!
It's probably the sexiest thing a man has ever said to me. He said it as I left for yoga class.  I remember it every time I step on my mat. 

And then...I DO enjoy what my body is able to do. Thru every torturous twist, challenging stretch, & impossible posture. In the middle of each moment where I am uncomfortable, but also aware I am capable of what the instructor is asking me to do. And in those edgy, uncomfortable moments I find the thing I can enjoy. The new openness I am creating in that moment. The old boundary I blew past into new territory. The possibilities I discovered exist for me. 

And then I take those discoveries off my mat & back into the "real world" where I smile when things get uncomfortable...because I know that means something amazing is about to happen if I am willing to enjoy the ride, discomfort & all. So grateful for those brilliant words & all they have given me over the last few years!! What seemingly simple words have changed the trajectory of your life?


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Thank you for reading!!  If you enjoyed this post or think it might help someone you know enjoy her body...please share!!  Our bodies are the very best tool, resource, & vehicle we will EVER have the privilege of owning.  They work HARD...right?!  What if we loved on 'em a little more & complained a little less?  What kind of possibilities could we open up for ourselves!  If you're ready to think differently about YOUR body, click here to connect & find out more about how we can work together!

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Super Truth: Life Is a Fairytale...You Just May Not See It Yet!

10/6/2014

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PictureBelle daydreaming. Photo from fanpop.com.
All morning I've been sauntering around the house singing ballads from "Beauty & The Beast"...one of my all time favorite Disney movies. And I finally realized as I took my singing outside to the mailbox (to a few odd looks from neighbors) why this story appeals to me so much. 

I am a dreamer, just like Belle. I don't even need books to dream...because I see stories & magic in all parts of the world around me. Every found penny is a possibility. Each meal I cook becomes an epic adventure in my kitchen. Give me a tutu & a tiara and I'll rule the world (or at least my living room whilst I organize my work space!).

Just like Belle in the opening sequence of the movie, I am quite happy dreaming in the small world I live in. I love sharing the magic I discover...even though it often makes people think I'm a little (or a lot) weird. Like the villagers say: "What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle!"

PictureA princess in my own home-office castle!
But I also dream of more than I have now. I just KNOW there is an enchanted life with an amazing man waiting for me out there. I can feel it like I can feel my heart beating. And what I realized today is that as much as I'd love to fall instantly head over heels in love...that's just not how I'm built. In all likelihood, I won't recognize my Prince Charming right away (I'm a little slow to catch on to things sometimes...especially when it comes to love). Like Belle sings as she picks up her favorite book: "Oh, isn't this amazing?! It's my favorite part because you'll see...here's where she meets Prince Charming. But she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter 3!"

I've noticed lately that the guys I appreciate most are the ones that DON'T try to grab me & kiss me at the end of a first date, forcing something that isn't there yet. And perhaps they may not even try at the end of a second or third date. Not that I don't want them to kiss me (I really DO want to kiss SOME of them), but there's an anticipation that builds before a first kiss that can never be replaced once its gone. It's that, "she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter 3" kind of feeling. Isn't it nice to leave a little room for that discovery?! 

And that's where the ballad I've been singing all day comes in. 

"There's something sweet...and almost kind. But he was mean & he was coarse & unrefined. And now he's dear. And so unsure. I wonder why I didn't see it there before. New...and a bit alarming. Who'd have ever thought that this could be? True...that he's no Prince Charming. But there's something in him that I simply didn't see..."

I love that feeling of discovering the amazingness inside another person...and discovering some of my own amazingness through their eyes. As I think about this song, I smile remembering what I've discovered about some of the people in my life this year. Some of it was obvious, other parts took time before they were revealed. And as time passes and trust builds...the revealing gets better & better. I don't know if my chapter 3 is right around the corner or not...but I do know that my heart is full and my soul is nourished by the incredible "Beasts" who have allowed me to know them better this year. 

Because I know that under every Beast is a Prince Charming. And one day the trust, discovery, & slow revealing will lead me & my tutu-tiara wearing self to MY Prince Charming.

Maybe we are all just a little unrefined and there are parts to us that others simply don't see. Our job isn't to fix or change anyone...simply to be the best version of ourselves we can and hope that as we polish & refine who we are, we reflect back to the people in our lives the qualities in them we love most. Maybe that is how we help each other shed our "Beastly" protective/outer layers...to reveal our inner Prince (or Princess) Charming. 

And then we live happily ever after.

The end.



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Thank you for reading!!  If you enjoyed this post or think it might help the beauties & beasts you know feel more understood...please share!!  It's never a good feeling to think you are misunderstood.  We're all doing the best we can!!  If we can believe that about ourselves...maybe we can believe it about others too!  If you're ready to be understood (starting with understanding yourself!!), click here to connect & find out more about how we can work together!

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    Ok...it's my site, so I suppose it's ALL my corner!!  But this is the space where I will share what I'm up to in the moment.  You might find entries on anything from my fitness routine (I'm currently an ambassador for the Boudoir Body Challenge & am SO excited about it!!) to recipes (I loooove a good recipe that is both healthy AND yummy) to penny-inspired wisdom from The Penny Project.  It's my place to just be me.  No labels.  No rules.  No one to please but myself.  Everyone needs a space like that!  :-)

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