Category Archives: Meaning

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Creating Cheerio Castles From a Mom’s Heart

Every Business Owner Has a Personal Story

As an Executive Consultant there are several questions all clients ask. The first being, “how do you know”. My response, “I am an observer of others, experiences, and learn something from all of it.” Our knowledge, experiences, and actions within and beyond those give us an extraordinary gift of intuitive education.

As stated by Colin Powel once said as Secretary of State (United States) you have to make decisions quickly and at times you may only have 80% of the information the rest you go from what you know.

I decided to share this story with all of you as last week was a particular tough one. Some dear friends of mine sent a care package with Cheerios. Below is one of my stories and from working with executives to raising a kiddo from hard places just as I do; you too have the ability to build Cheerio Castles.

Creating Cheerio Castles From a Mom’s Heart

What does a mom’s heart have to do with Cheerios and creating a castle? Cheerio castles are those little round bits of cereal you find on the floor, car, and craft projects. My imagination builds beautiful castles with cheerios. I am sharing one of my stories of being careful what you pray for and second, finding God’s answer daily.

I do believe God answers prayer in His timing and not our own. As humans we make prayer and answered prayer more complicated than God intended. Many years ago someone told me: “God’s ‘no’ or unanswered prayer is not a rejection but is for our protection.”  There are many variables to unanswered and answered prayer; when we are present, allowing God to lead the way, we find our prayers are heard and answered daily. This is one of my go-to scriptures for prayer: There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven… He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.- Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11

This past year my husband I opened our hearts and home to a beautiful 12 year old boy. We became parents for the first time by becoming Foster Parents. Becoming a parent found daily there is a learning opportunity about myself and heart. 

Unanswered Prayer | God did not answer our prayer through creating our own family.

Answered Prayer | God brought a beautiful boy to us. This boy is made for us and fits in so many ways we would never pray for; God knows.

Our morning routine settled in to my husband and son waking and getting ready. I tend to stay out of the way. My husband is better equipped to keep our son on track, getting him out the door on time, dressed, brushed, and in a joyful mood.

When the guys are busy I stay in our bedroom and use this time to pray, meditate, and wire my brain for what is on the schedule for the day. One morning during prayer I found myself grieving experiences we as parents would not have, bringing an older kiddo into our home and hearts.

 Prayer: Give all you have to God for he knows what burdens our hearts.

 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. – Romans 8:28

My prayer this particular morning went to my mind making a list of those things we will never experience such as:  quirky toddler moments, elementary school art projects on the refrigerator, mommy and toddler groups, little guy soccer, peanut butter and jelly faces, to our car would never have the cheerio chaos on the floor and seats, macaroni art, our dogs would not experience food on the floor or from a hand of a little one. My imagination spent more time creating cheerio castles, macaroni jewelry, what containers would store these amazing nutritious rounds of awesomeness, and so forth.

This prayer and meditation continued for about an hour and my logical brain hit me hard; almost an audible slap across the face. I said out loud to myself, “I do not have patience to clean up Cheerios out of the car.” My prayer took me from building Cheerio castles to the reality of patience.  I wrapped up this grief prayer session, not hanging onto what we will miss but considering the joy of messes a pre-teen and teenager brings without pretense.

The guys left for the day so I headed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. As soon as I entered the kitchen my eye caught the dining room table. There were three Cheerios on our son’s placemat.  This has never happened before and my heart went directly to thanking God for answering prayer. My logical mind and temperament has no patience for such things as cleaning up Cheerios. God knows my heart yearns for Cheerio castles and that left me blessed with an answered prayer.  

God continues to leave me reminders of answered prayer as I continue to find Cheerios in unusual places. Sometimes I am not too keen on our beautiful boy and his shenanigans. God delights in my heart’s desire by leaving remnants of a Cheerio castle built in grief. God truly delights in our heart’s desires and I pray you too find God delighting in yours.

Be careful what you pray for: God knows what is on our hearts and delights in our joy.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37-4

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

 

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Building Community Legacies With Meaningful Conversation

Connection Collaboration Community

Have you heard “this is business, there is no room for feelings in business“, or some other derivative of it? Well, there is room; people remember how you made them feel over all else. Yes, they remember how they feel over you making them millions, cured their cancer,  or helped them solve a large issue.

All relationships in life, “people remember how you made them feel.” As I traverse from coaching executives to corporate teams the common denominators are “feelings” and “communication”.

Join me and others to build your legacy model with the 5 L’s. Legacy is building your sustainable growth model of how you show up in community, connections, and collaboration.

Legacy: Love, Listen, Lift, Link, Lead

Few Things To Consider:

  • Can you listen without bias or judgment?
  • When did you lift some one else to promotion?
  • Can you identify the last time you invited someone to an event; introduced them to people they need to know to grow?
  • Are you leading from behind the curtain or in front of the curtain?

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR HERE

 

What people are saying:

  • Thank you for the reminder of showing up with intent. It changed my conference and connections. JB Entrepreneur, Helena
  • I want to let you know your break-out this morning was excellent and on point to connecting and influencing my end in mind. IP Entrepreneur, Great Falls
  • I’m super excited to know that you are available as a resource just downstream from us! JW, Butte
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Fire It Up Friday | 7

Summer 2017 Series Episode 7

Adventure Entrepreneur

Are you packed and ready?

Life is an advance and ordinary life has a way of sweeping us away into schedules where we are over-booked!

We end up over booked and in the “acquiring things” race. Do not get me wrong “things” are great, a privilege, and makes our lives more comfortable.

Adventure is:

  • Finding new ways to connect
  • Going to a new restaurant (change of environment)
  • Taking a new route to work
  • Stepping out of “normal”

Find adventure in the adventure in the messiness of your life. An example is my messiness of area’s of too organized and unorganized. There is adventure in both; choose adventure!

Find adventure in everything, everyday, making the ORDINARY an ADVENTURE!

Embrace  your own adventure, choose messy hair!

CHALLENGE: step out of your “schedule” and pack a bag to find adventure in  your daily everything’s!

Thank you for joining me on our Summer Fire It Up Friday Series.

Look Up & Out, 
Tracy Worley
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Fire It Up Friday | 5

Summer 2017 Series Episode 5

Are the cool kids holding you back? Is comparison robbing you of joy?

You all have unique gifts and talents from your experience, knowledge, education, community, and so on. Your voice matters!

I challenge you to tap deeper into your hearts desires.

  • What is your heart yearning for?
  • Do you feel there is something else?
  • What do you hold back and/or not speak up about?
  • Are you stuck in comparing where you to where others are?

If you answered even a “maybe” it is time to dig deeper into your hearts desires and re-set your own course to joy and a fulfilled life. A known truth is your heart is never wrong.

Still not sure where to start? Join me here every Friday or contact us for resources for your unique need to step on out with your crow bar.

Thank you for joining me on our Summer Fire It Up Friday Series.

Look Up & Out, 
Tracy Worley

Thank you for joining me on our Summer Fire It Up Friday Series.

Look Up & Out, 
Tracy Worley
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Fire It Up Friday | 2

Summer 2017 Series Episode 2

How did you do last week implementing a few words, keeping the main thing the main thing, and creating measurable goals?

Here are a few things to consider to create a circle of sustainable referral sources:

  1. Connect & Serve
    • By phone, coffee, lunch, golf; whatever or wherever you are connecting with people ask them deeper questions about them.
    • Where ever you show up, show up to serve.
      • What are they most passionate about in their career?
      • What are they most passionate about at home?
      • What are they most passionate about in their community?
        • Listen to case study on video.
  2. Add Value
    • Now you have gleaned a few nuggets of passion from those you are connecting with, follow up with some of these ideas.
      • Send an article of interest (mail, email, or drop off in person).
      • Tag them in social media on something they are passionate about.
      • Special event, surgery, or milestone; send a card, call or text.
      • Invite them to an event to introduce them to people they need to know.
  3. Law of Reciprocation (Circle Of)
    • Connection and adding value ALWAYS brings something of equal or greater value to you.
    • Timing of reciprocation is unknown and it is measurable.
      • Referrals are reciprocation.
      • People sharing your name and/or brand.
      • Opportunities to serve is reciprocation.
        • Tight Circle: I call this the quick turn around reciprocation.
        • Wave Circle: Longer to accumulate but higher dividends. I imagine a wave going out to sea grabbing more volume, lifting opportunities. into the air and gently bringing them to your shore of success.

Remember, what you are passionate about is a calling. Challenge this week is to connect, add value, look for the Law of Reciprocation and give praise.

Thank you for joining me on our Summer Fire It Up Friday Series.

Look Up & Out, 
Tracy Worley
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Allow Temporary Discomfort to Clarity

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

We have all heard “No Pain No Gain”, this is true in any area of growth up and out of current circumstances, success, and leading others.

The pain comes from the discomfort from being outside of your comfort zone. Some discomfort comes from planned growth and other discomfort comes from bad experiences. What sets you apart from others is learning from all experiences good or bad and applying the lessons learned. John McDonnell said, “every problem introduces a person to himself.”

A  problem to me is an opportunity for growth. I also state and have my team not say “we have a problem”, I have them change the world to challenge or opportunity. Every discomfort is a temporary lesson to clarity. Life has a way of giving you more than you think you can handle from loss of a spouse, child, parents, job, divorce, natural disasters, etc…at the end of each life changing scenario you come through the back end with more clarity, purpose, and strength.

Law of Pain Tracy Worley

Discomfort in hiking 4,000 vertical we found something of significance! The payoff of the view, wildflowers, and great satisfaction of accomplishment!

I’ve never known anyone who said, “I love problems,” but I’ve known many who have admitted that their greatest gains came in the middle of their pain. ~ John C. Maxwell

My personal life of discomfort has truly shown how attitude and looking for the lessons in clarity has created a life of significance and the gift of coaching others through my own experience of divorce, loss of children, loss of a job, hiking 14K+ mountains, sky-diving, and so on. . .these few examples from my stories give courage to character. Given strength, wisdom and knowledge to take into the corporate arena with a fierce understanding the discomfort is only temporary for the team to achieve something of significance! 

Attitude is the number one trait of achieving great clarity through the Law of Pain. Virginia Satir states, Life is not the way it’s supposed to be, it is the way you cope with it is what makes the difference. Experience is the best teacher but the examination and taking lessons from each experience is key to the clarity of significance. Where there is no conversation of discomfort innovation becomes stagnant and the clear road ahead becomes foggy.

Look at current or past experiences to find creative clarity of moving forward:

  • Define the challenge or opportunity (a.k.a. problem)
  • What is the emotion involved and understand why (dig deep)
  • Articulate and outline the experience and lesson learned (like Thomas Edison stated, just one more way not to make the light bulb which took him 10,000 tries)
  • Now outline desired  change to move forward with clarity (brainstorm numerous pathways)
  • IMPLEMENT course of action from the temporary discomfort to a life of significant clarity

Discomfort, Pain, and Clarity is not something kept on your daily agenda, but I promise once you define them as outlined above the temporary discomfort will bring you to achieving something of significance! Not sure where to start , please feel free to contact me!

Want to learn more? Click Below:

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

 

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Pain, Chap8.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

 

 

 

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Keep It Simple Silly For Extraordinary Results

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

We have all heard the saying “Keep It Simple”, but usually with the word STUPID at the end. When changing one word our whole world changes!

When I find myself in complex projects, situations, or conversations I say to myself or even out loud to my team. . .  “Keep it simple silly to achieve extraordinary results”.  I am not calling myself “silly” but changing the thought process that where the team or myself is stuck is because we have made the design too complicated! Saying this statement to yourself or out loud gives a cathartic release of frustration, blood pressure, and most of the time a smile which changes the room instantly!

Keep It Simple Tracy Worley

Designing systems is essential in keeping accountability and forward momentum to success. Question, have you designed a growth plan to be more tomorrow than  you are today, are you predictable in  your results? As Michael Gerber states, systems permit ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results predictably.”

If you don’t design  your own life plan,chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much.” ~ John Rhohn

Planning  and designing your life is finding yourself (core values),  knowing who you are (gifts, talents, strengths), and then designing a simple growth plan to obtain extraordinary results in your life. Remember, your life is not  meant to be part of an assembly line you are uniquely made to contribute the “secret sauce” only  you can offer the world.

Here are a few areas to take into account when applying design to area’s of your life (career, family, health, faith, hobby, marriage, personal growth, etc..):

  • The Big Picture: Will the system help you reach your big-picture goals?
  • Priorities: Does thee system design fit within  your values and commitments?
  • Measurement: Does tour system have a tangible way of measuring results?
  • Application: Is there a built-in system in your design to propel forward motion/action?
  • Organization: Does the system design make better use of your time, resources, and achieving higher results?
  • Consistency: Can you and will you repeat the system design on a regular basis?

The top 10% of people in their industries apply designs for growth. Designing extraordinary result systems into your life should not be complicated, and the systems themselves should not be hard to apply. In fact they should be easily repeated and followed, if you are unable to easily repeat then it is time to go back and make a few adjustments.

Challenge: look at your calendar “to do” list for the week and next coming week:

  • Is there any activity that does not fit within the big picture goals? If yes, delete or delegate.
  • Is there growth goals getting bumped due to other peoples priorities? If yes, say no.
  • Time, organization helps you from not letting one of the most valuable resources be spent without your permission: Time!
  • People, are there people you are meeting for lunch or coffee that does not set a purpose to achieving the results you desire? If so, cancel or reschedule.

Lastly, be kind to yourself. Designing your life of significance and achieving extraordinary results will not happen over night but changing course can. If you find yourself falling into old-habits just state to yourself, “keep it simple silly” and move forward without asking for permission.

I believe in you!

Look UP & OUT,

Tracy Worley

Keeping it simple  is the start to creating the success you desire and creating a dynamic team of leaders who will succeed beyond your “business-plan” expectations. Not sure where to start on designing your plan, please feel free to contact me!

Want to learn more? Click Below:

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

 

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Design, Chap7.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

 

 

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Reflection Leads To Purpose

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

Reflection and purpose are not a usual combination when writing about Leadership, and most importantly leadership of self.Tracy Worley Purpose

The top 1% of entrepreneurs take time daily to sit in silent reflection and think into their business, life, teams, families, projects, etc. . . bringing about pro-active success vs. re-active chaos.

In a previous post I wrote about your gifts, talents, and strengths and this is where you have the ability to take the time to stay on purpose for the things you were created to do. This is on of my favorite statements and profoundly when I take time in my daily agenda I do stay on purpose toward personal and team goals.

As John C. Maxwell shares with us The Law of Reflection, I find this is the lesson to dig deep if you are going to win big! Clarity found in reflection brings the habit of evaluating experience (wins and fails) to a higher awareness of next steps toward success. Below are example of the power of pausing and reflection for yourself and your team :

  • Reflection turns experience into insight
  • Everyone needs a time and place to pause
  • Pausing with intention expands and enriches thinking
  • When you take time to pause, use  your I’s (Investigation, Incubation, Illumination, Illustration)
  • Good questions are thee heart of reflection (become that “kid” who asks WHY

WHY is the power tool in your leadership tool kit. Honestly, I have never grown out of asking why to myself and also in the board-room. Why  is the most powerful tool because we dig so deep into awareness and intention the ‘aha moments become addictive. The addiction is not a bad word here but you must be careful in how you ask WHY because it is attached to ego which is reflective of our emotions, motives, and accountability. When you start asking why people on your team will embrace it or hate it! I believe if our corporate culture asked more WHY organizations would not have or continue to fail their own mission, vision, and ultimately fail their customers.

  1. Make time in your daily agenda for reflection
  2. Allow time in your teams daily agenda for reflection

Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers. ~ Tony Robbins

I remember a story explorer Albert Schwetizer shared. On a long journey through Africa their group was pushing hard to reach their final destination. During this trip all of the natives with their group stopped, just stopped. Albert inquired about the delay and the response is priceless; we have been traveling so fast they must rest to let their souls catch up with them.

Reflection allows your mind, heart, body, and soul to align and let your purpose catch up to the things you were created to do.

Want to learn more? click on Law of Reflection: Tami and I recorded a FAQ and teaching.  Want to receive one-on-one to create your Reflection Tools? Plug into our 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth 8 Week program.

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Law of Reflection

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, Chap4.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

 

15LawsTami_TT

 

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Life Is Now In Session, Are You Present?

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

In the board room, volunteer meetings, and discussions with our kiddo’s what does the phrase “you need to be intentional about what you are 968963_10200440255627637_315395286_ndoing” mean to you?

More than likely the person or group making the statement has not implemented “intention” in their life. Think about the statement for a moment it SCREAMS “we are in a situation”, instead of a proactive planning situation.

Leadership and teams thrive on not only the leader being intentional about everything on their calendar but also their team. ” Ask  yourself who or what keeps creeping into your daily agenda and interrupting your mission? Are you being intentional in saying  no? Are you being intentional of leading for the future instead of the “we are in a situation”?

“You cannot change your destination overnight but you can change your direction overnight.” ~ Jim Rohn

The Law of Intentionality is about growth if self so you can help grow others. As John C. Maxwell shares there are Growth Gap Traps:

  1. The Assumption Gap: Assumption you and your team will autocratically grow.
  2. The Knowledge Gap: I don’t know how to grow.
  3. The Timing Gap: It’s not the right time to begin.
  4. The Mistake Gap: Afraid of making mistakes.
  5. The Perfection Gap: I have to find the best way before I start.
  6. The Inspiration Gap: I don’t feel like doing it…JUST DO IT!
  7. The Comparison Gap: Others are better than I am.
  8. The Expectation Gap: I thought it would be easier.

Wherever you are in honing the growth of your craft, leadership, or learning something new the best time to start is today! Now that you have a glimpse of the gaps of growth look at your calendar for the next 12 months. How much time have you scheduled for personal growth? If you’re like most people, your answer will be none. Or you may have planned to attend one event int he coming year and honestly that is not going to cut it.

A first step is to rework your calendar so you have an appointment with yourself for personal growth every day! (STOP the thoughts of I do not have time). Do it anyway, if you want to succeed, you need to do whatever it takes. get up an hour early. Stay up an hour later. give up your lunch hour. Put in extra time on the weekends. If you don’t you’ll have to prepare to give up your dreams and any hope of reaching your potential.

START TODAY!  Great way to start is to plug into our 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth 8 Week program. Still not sure then listen to my Radio session on The Law of Intentionality.

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Law of Intentionality

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, Chap 1.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

15LawsTami_TT

 

 

Women in Leadership Level UP Mentorship™

2015 is the year to connect with the tribe on a whole new level!

Why Mentorship? People often ask me if they can “pick my brain.” My standard answer is “my clients pay to pick my brain.” There are a lot of ways to connect with me without picking my brain: GRACEbreak radio, books, online courses, and, of course, my blog(s).

* Would you like to be competitive and innovative?

* Do you want to discover how to achieve any goal you set?

* Would you like a success model to increase your influence?

* Desire to be part of a group of highly successful women who lift each other

* Do you actively look for ways to add value to yourself and inspire your tea

 If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then Level UP Mentorship™ is for you!

“Level UP Mentorship is helping the hero level up the next step of her hero’s journey”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAIL ABOUT Level UP Mentorship™

Event: Women in Leadership Level UP Mentorship™
Topic: Women in Leadership Level UP Mentorship™
Public: Public
Registration: Click here to register.
More Info: Click here for more information.