Archive for Jump for Joy
So You Think You Can Speak?
Posted by: | CommentsI am thrilled and very honored to be representing the D.C. Chapter of the National Speakers Association in a National contest called So You Think You Can Speak?
Here (below) is the official press release as well as my winning video. I’ll keep you posted as to the results. Keep your fingers crossed for me 
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SPEAK? LOCAL SPEAKER SAYS, “YES!”
It’s been said that most people would rather die than give a speech, but not local motivational speaker Liz Fletcher Brown. Ms Fletcher Brown was recently nominated the Rising Star of the D.C. Area Chapter of the National Speakers Association, and now competes for the National title.
For the first time ever, the National Speakers Association, which is the leading association for those who speak professionally, is conducting a contest called So You Think You Can Speak. The winner will have the honor of being awarded the title NSA Rising Star 2011.
Having won the contest on the local level, Ms Fletcher Brown now competes with other speakers from across the country for one of six spots in the finals, to take place at the association’s annual convention in Anaheim, CA in July 30 – August 2nd 2011.
Ms Fletcher Brown is a “thought leader” in the field of personal transformation. She specializes in high energy, motivational, thought-provoking and content rich keynotes and workshops that help participants have the right attitude for success, even in challenging times.
She brings to all of her work an infectious enthusiasm and a unique combination of dance as a dramatic teaching metaphor, engaging stories and practical ideas to enhance attendees working and personal lives.
Will Make you Feel Like Dancing
Posted by: | CommentsWhat a fantastic collection of dance movies… almost 40 in all. It certainly made me feel like dancing. Enjoy!
Sometimes You Need an Adventure
Posted by: | Comments
Yesterday I was feeling somewhat unmotivated and didn’t have my usual energy. The words I used were “like a slug”. Just didn’t seem able to get much accomplished.
By late afternoon my husband, Francis, was done with work. He doesn’t usually finish that early and so he wanted to take advantage of it. His idea was to go for a boat ride on the Chesapeake Bay. And he wanted me to go with him.
I felt I needed to stay home and “be productive” to make up for my rather non-productive day.
But he insisted. So off we went.
It started off lovely and very soon I was so glad I chose to get out of my office. By early evening there were so many boats out on the water. It was beautiful.
But then a storm rolled in. The sky got rather dark and you could hear the thunder in the distance. And it kept getting closer.
We decided to try to get back to the dock as quickly as possible. I have to say, it was rather exciting. We flew through the waves, staying just ahead of the storm, all the while keeping our eyes glued for crab pots. The sky continued to get darker and darker.
We were almost back when the sky opened up and the rains came. And it was heavy. Very heavy! Within seconds we were both soaked through.
Luckily there was no lightning, for which I was grateful. But it rained so hard it was difficult to see. Despite that, when I looked at Francis with water pouring off him I couldn’t help but laugh. He laughed too.
It was still torrential when we reached the dock, so we quickly took care of the boat and ran for the house and dry towels. We both felt exhilarated. I had been transformed from a slug to an energizer bunny. I felt so alive and energized.
It made me realize that we all need a bit of adventure now and then to get us out of our routine. And it doesn’t need to be something huge. For me, a simple boat ride out on the bay did the trick.
Today I still feel energized from it, and, yes, I’m getting things done
So what do you need to do to add more adventure to your life?
Sometimes, it seems like a luxury, but taking time out to renew and revitalize us can actually lead to getting much more done in the long run. And it’s a lot more fun.
National Dance Day: Get Up and MOVE!
Posted by: | CommentsThis Saturday, July 31st is National Dance Day, a grassroots movement that encourages people of all ages to get up and MOVE!
Created by Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer and co-creator of the hit FOX series SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and founder of the Dizzy Feet Foundation, the aim of National Dance Day is to promote health and self-esteem through the art form of dance.
Events are taking place around the country, including flash mobs in L.A., N.Y.C. and Washington D.C.
Wanna take part? Then just learn this simple dance (see video below), and find an event near you.
And if you will be in the D.C area Saturday, see you on the Mall.
Smile…
Posted by: | Comments
I was recently taking a dance class and the combination we had to learn was very demanding. Everyone was having a hard time with it.
Then, just when I was beginning to get the hang of it, the teacher told us to reverse it. Yikes! I barely could get through it as it was, and now I had to switch the whole thing in my head. Every step, every gesture or arm movement that had been to the right was now to the left and visa versa.
I wasn’t the only one having trouble. All around the studio dancers were getting frustrated and there was at least one collision (luckily nobody got hurt).
But then, unexpectedly, and somewhat out of character the dance teacher told a brief but rather funny story of an on-stage collision that happened early in her career. Everyone was laughing.
Then she told us all to try the combination again. This time, everyone did it perfectly…. while still smiling.
Isn’t it amazing how something as simple as a smile can have such a positive impact?
So the next time you are feeling frustrated or stuck, try smiling. It might help you, too.
Let me know how it goes….
No Time For Play? Think Again.
Posted by: | Comments
When you are feeling stressed out, how does that affect your creativity?
And I’m not just talking about the more obvious creative aspects of your work. But also think about your ability to deal with a challenging client or coworker.
Or being able to create enticing win win situations or joint ventures with other professionals.
Or how about coming up with new ways to serve your clients or customers that make you really stand out.
Or thinking up an unusual way of marketing yourself, an idea or a product.
Or even your ability to develop new work habits that make your life easier.
How, well do you do any of these things when you’re stressed out?
One way to open yourself up to being more creative is to simply break out of your normal habits for a short period of time. And a great way to break out of your routine is to bring some playfulness and spontaneity to your work environment. You will find that some of your most creative flashes will come when you are having fun, if you allow yourself!
Ann McGee-Cooper in Time Management for Unmanageable People wrote, “The more we work, the more tired we get, the less creative or open-minded we are, and the less we accomplish, so we get further behind and then we think we have no time for play.”
Isn’t that the truth!
So, think about some of the things that you loved to do as a child? The more wacky the better?
Is there any way you can incorporate any elements of those things into your workday? Especially on days that you know are going to be tough on you.
Taking time out to add fun and playfulness to your day WILL actually re-energize you, and get the creative juices flowing so that you actually get more done in less time. Try it!
Core Brilliance and Joy
Posted by: | CommentsWhen you live life connected to your Core Brilliance you experience tremendous joy.
I believe that’s because joy IS the essence of who we are. It’s our natural state.
People often think that joy is a feeling, an emotion. But I believe it is a state of being. And that you can experience a state of joy no matter what external circumstances you find yourself in.
I was once dancing on a cruise ship, in a very wild storm, and there were two talent scouts in the audience from a national television show looking for dancers. It was the most important performance of my career, but all I could think about was how on earth I was going to keep my balance and not fall flat on my face. Talk about stress!
But then I remembered that all I had to do was breathe, and stay connected to my core and I’d be fine.
And I didn’t just mean my physical muscles, although that was important too. I also had to connect to my sense of purpose, my passion for dance, the things I valued (in this case being the very best that I could be, no matter what) and expressing my gift of dance in order to make the world a better place.
When I connected to that core, balance was no longer even an issue. And I danced magnificently despite the circumstances.
What challenging circumstances do you face in your life? And what could you do to connect more to your core to keep your balance?
When you fully manifest your Core Brilliance in your life you will be amazed that not only will you keep your balance, but you will experience joy and enthusiasm no matter what external circumstances you find yourself in.
The Power of Joy
Posted by: | CommentsRecently my husband I and stopped at a small restaurant in our home town of Annapolis. The atmosphere was very cheery, and we couldn’t help but notice that the three women who were working there all seemed to be having such a good time. Even although the work was somewhat mundane they all had so much enthusiasm and joy.
Since then we have not only returned ourselves, but have told many people about it. And not because the food was so special (although it was quite good) but because it’s the kind of place you really enjoy going to.
Joy has that affect on you!
Sometimes I think that all those customer service trainings are missing the boat. If they just taught people about joy they’d probably save companies a lot of money and be much more effective.
We often think that joy is a feeling, and is conditioned by the situations that we find ourselves in. Yet I’m sure that we can all think of someone who seems to radiate joy, even when in the most trying of circumstances.
I believe that is because joy is not a feeling but a flow of energy that emerges from your inner Core. And even although people, situations, objects or events may evoke joy, they are not the source.
As a great teacher, Torkom Saraydarian said,
Joy is a state of beingness in which your consciousness is not conditioned by the environment or by the thoughts, emotions, and activities going on in your environment.
He went on to say that..
Joy brings vitality not only to your body but also to your thoughts, emotions, actions, expressions. You become full of vitality; you become a source of vitality in your environment.
These three women certain brought vitality to their environment.
So the next time you exprerience joy, stop and take the time to really feel it flow through your whole body. Drink it in. And remember, joy is not just a feeling, but a very magnetic state of being that you can access no matter what is going on around you.
