One takeaway from this meeting for the class was how important it is to always think strategically about what is being communicated—through personal branding and branding for a company. When speaking about this topic Kathy stated, “Invest in the you that you want to be—because your brand follows you everywhere.” This statement resonated throughout the room, as it was obvious that many of the students sat back and considered the brand they had made for themselves thus far in the program.

To motivate the freshmen, Kathy transitioned into speaking about her own story. She related her life to constantly climbing a tree to reach an apple, which is still out of reach for her today. Kathy spoke about how she constantly challenged herself throughout life, whether it was taking on the challenge of pursuing her MBA shortly after receiving a promotion or studying for her PhD along with being a professor at Seton Hall University. She told the class, “If you ever begin to feel comfortable in your position, find a way to make yourself uncomfortable.” One student, Anthony Pizzonia, posed the question, “Would you have done anything differently while climbing your tree?” Kathy was quick to answer that she had no regrets about her journey thus far in her career—again proving her persistent nature and further inspiring the class to be the best that they can be.

I stood behind the table, clipboard in hand, staring at the sea of nametags in front of me. I looked over to my friend, Natalie Zoladkiewicz, a freshman in the Leadership Honors Development Program, who was sharing this incredible evening with me and was equally as excited. Being able to help out at The Cannata Report’s 34^thAnnual Awards and Charities Dinner held at the Madison Hotel seemed too good to be true. As people began to flood in, the nametags slowly told a story. After picking up their own nametag, guests would scan the table and smile at the sight of other names.  Rather than being a large group of strangers, I saw a network of well-respected individuals joining one another for a night of celebration.

Once the dinner portion of the evening began, Natalie and I were fortunate enough to join The Cannata Report’s very own Executive Marketing Director, Cathy O’Brien. However, we were no strangers to the Cannata Family as Frank and Carol Cannata had both personally greeted us upon our arrival. The night kicked off with opening remarks by President and CEO CJ Cannata, followed by a variety of awards. As the nominees for each award were presented, cheers erupted from different sides of the room. The companies here wanted to win, and it showed.

Natalie and I appreciated that The Cannata Report had a portion called, “On Camera with the Women Influencers of 2019.” Showcased were the powerful women in the room and what they had accomplished. Natalie and I felt goosebumps together during this time and agreed that we were inspired by the great women around us. It wasn’t until the announcement of the Humanitarian Award that I realized what a large impact The Cannata Report has. After honoring Ray Morgan Company, the executive on stage struggled to keep himself together as emotion overwhelmed him. Not one person in the room looked away, instead everyone joined in a loud applause.

When the after-party began, I walked through the crowd of people. Instead of feeling intimidated, I had the confidence to go up and mingle. After being in the Leadership Honors Development Program for three years, I had groomed my confidence and social skills to thrive in an environment just like this. Natalie, who is only a freshman, had no problem going up to tables of executives and introducing herself. I felt proud to see that we had a presence, and the ability to go after what we wanted.

All in all, it was an incredible night. The Cannata Report held an awards dinner that brought together people from all over to celebrate everyone’s accomplishments. Not only this, but I saw how personable each team member was. It started from the moment Carol Cannata called me a week before the event, wanting to talk on the phone and make sure I was feeling prepared. It then became evident as Cathy O’Brien knew the name of every single guest that walked through the doors, greeting them each as kindly as the next. What really sealed the deal was when CJ Cannata came to my table to greet and kiss on his head the photographer sitting with us, who as it turned out was an old friend from his hometown back in Connecticut. I ended the night feeling inspired, but most of all grateful. As a member of the Leadership Development Honors Program, it is important that we stop to realize how fortunate we are for the opportunities around us. This Thursday night could have been spent at home, or in the library, but instead I was out in the world making connections and gaining new learnings for life. Natalie and I had a night to remember.

Curiosity is the kindling fire of the ceaseless pursuit of dreams. Albert Einstein wrote: ”The important thing is not to stop questioning; curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when contemplating the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of the mystery every day. The important thing is not to stop questioning; never lose a holy curiosity.”

Einstein’s words beautifully capture curiosity’s awesome richness: “contemplating the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality.” It is the continual stretching of our mind and heart out of the narrow borders of our own world view and comfort zone. It is a valued and precious gift that allows us to see the world through different eyes… to open them to undreamed of beauty and magnificence that will change our life forever.

May you live with a childish wonder of life, people and all that the world holds. May you hold closely the words of an unknown author: “There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” Every morning, may you open your eyes to your own beautiful wonders, and search to discover even more. May you see what others have not seen, think what others have not thought and dream what others have not dreamed. These are the gifts you have within you. Never stop questioning. There is always something more.

Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!

Mike

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John Maxwell, in his book, No Limits, writes about “Thinking Capacity – Your Ability to Think Effectively.” He tells the story of his father, who in his early life during the Depression, worked for three wealthy people in their town. During this time, his father learned that they think differently from others, but thought alike. Maxwell writes that his father came to the conclusion: “Successful people think differently than unsuccessful people.” He states that good thinking is a key to success and shares these thoughts from his book on thinking, Thinking for Change.

1. Everything begins with a thought.
   “Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. What we think determines who we are. Who we are determines what we do.
   “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of the thoughts.” – John Locke

3. Our thoughts determine our destiny.
   “You are today where your thoughts brought you. You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” – James Allen

4. People who go to the top think differently than others.
   “Nothing limits achievement like small thinking’. Nothing expands possibilities like unleashed imagination.” – William Arthur Ward

5. We can change the way we think.
   “Whatever things are true… noble… just… pure… lovely… are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; think on these things.” – Paul the Apostle

Henry Ford wrote: “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” We are what we think. It is our choice to choose what we think. May we choose a strong belief in ourselves and our value, an unshakable confidence to achieve, a joyous optimism in all that we are and do, a belief that everything is possible because I’m possible. May we remember the words of Marcus Aurelius as inspiration for our journey: “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” Great thoughts will make an even greater you.

Have a beautiful day, a Happy Memorial Day and a magnificent week!!!

Mike

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The life of Thomas Alva Edison has many great learnings for great leaders. There is a little known story, however, of the impact that his Mother had on his life and the great lesson it holds for great leaders.

One day, as a small child, Thomas Edison came home from school and gave a paper to his mother. He said to her, “Mom, my teacher gave this paper to me and told me only you are to read it. What does it say?”

Her eyes welled with tears as she read the letter out loud to her child. “Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn’t have good enough teachers to train him. Please teach him yourself”

His mother did just that, until she fell ill and passed away. Many years after Edison’s mother died, he became one of the greatest inventors of the century.

One day he was going through some of her things and found the letter that his old teacher wrote his Mom that day. The message written on the letter was “Your son is mentally deficient. We cannot let him attend our school anymore. He is expelled.”

Edison became emotional reading it and then wrote in his diary: “Thomas A. Edison was a mentally deficient child whose mother turned him into the genius of the Century.”

Stephen Covey beautifully defines leadership as: “Communicating to people their worth and value so clearly that they come to see it in themselves.” It is in this act of leadership that great leaders selflessly serve others to realize the greatest potential and possibilities their life can give to the world and those whom they touch. Your belief in someone, your one word of encouragement and deep caring may be that one, beautiful spark that will bring out another “genius of the Century.”

Have a beautiful day and a magnificent and wondrous week!!!

Mike

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Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” His words speak to the power of one’s potential which awaits release in the moment of our decision. Our potential is not something of our past, but a gift awaiting realization at every moment of life. It is that magical instant when great leaders choose to maximize their human potential by escaping the fears and limitations of others and stretching beyond their own believed limits into a new becoming. Zig Ziglar beautifully captures this moment writing: “When you catch a glimpse of your potential, that’s when passion is born.”

May we remember always the wise counsel of Confucius: “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” Will, desire, urge – the fires to be stoked with passion and purpose. It is our choice. May we choose to not let our dreams just be dreams. Rather, may we rally to Hal Elrod’s call: “Let today be the day you give up who you’ve been for who you can become.” Become the person you decide to be! The best is yet to come. Let’s enjoy the journey to its fullest. Life is so very beautiful and good.

Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!

Mike

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Great leaders’ lives are filled with endless challenges and opportunities, seemingly interminable days after which they push even harder to achieve more, greater results. These days are filled with joyous achievements, the tangible realities of extraordinary results, the forming and bonding of rich human relationships and planning for the future. During these days, their feelings may range from exhilaration to burnout. There are great successes and humbling losses, emotional highs and lows. This, they know, is part of their magnificent journey. Their life is their creation. It is one fired by their ceaseless passion and joy for what they do and whom they serve.

In this endless sea of commitment to what they love, there comes time when they lose sight of all that they have done, because their minds and hearts are in the present moment, not looking back but at the now and what is coming. Great leaders realize that rejuvenation is an integral part of their journey. It is needed to sustain and prepare their minds, hearts and bodies for the days ahead. The secret sauce of this rejuvenation is found beautifully in chosen moments of reflection – the brief pauses in which they remind themselves  of the small steps, the small wins and achievements that give evidence of the value of their efforts and the progress attained. It is in these moments that they reinvigorate their personal satisfaction and gratitude for what they have achieved.

May we remember always the wise counsel of Johan Wolfgang von Goethe: “We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden.” May you pause at each day’s end with joyous gratitude for its gifts – the good and the not-so-good – for they are all learnings for our magnificent journey ahead.

Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!

Mike

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A friend recently shared with me his reflections on his visit to Italy. He wrote: “From this trip, I learned so much about the culture and history of Italy, but also learned a lot about myself.  I learned how to soak in every single moment, as I don’t know if I’ll ever be back.  I appreciated each day, each meal, and each business visit.” He went on to write that it was always a dream to take his parents to Italy for all that they had done and sacrificed for him and pay for it himself. He knew it was now possible. Of this he said: “It is no longer a dream of mine, but a goal.  It will happen, and now I have a clear focus of what I need to do on my end in order to make this a reality.”

The lives of great leaders are filled magnificent dreams of what can be. These are the precious pieces of the beautiful mosaic they paint of their life’s journey – a journey of purpose and meaning.  Greg Reid wrote: “A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.” Tony Robbins writes: “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”

May your dreams fill you with inspiration, and your actions your fulfillment. Wherever your imagination and dreams take you, remember always the wise counsel of Confucius: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” And hold closely the beautiful words from the movie Titanic: “My heart will go on.” Yes, always. The best is yet to come… and it will come from your dreams.

Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!

Mike

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Great leaders each have a unique definition of what success in life means. Writing about success, Anne Sweeney beautifully captures this uniqueness writing:  “Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” There are many different definitions, each with its own inspiring focus that touches a different facet of life and the human experience. Here are a few examples:

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou

“My definition of success is to live your life in a way that causes you to feel a ton of pleasure and very little pain – and because of your lifestyle, have the people around you feel a lot more pleasure than they do pain.” – Tony Robbins

“Success is clarity of my intention… and reaching that intention while being true to myself and with joy.” – India Arie

“The definition of success is getting many of the things money can buy and all the things money can’t buy.” – Zig Ziglar

“I see women going anywhere they want to. And I do mean want to. Because a lot of people measure success merely by position, title and salary. I think women feel comfortable enough in their own skin to put that secondary to what they want. The don’t have to define success by the measure of society.” – Charlene Li

“Two things that define success in life: The way you manage when you have nothing and the way you behave when you have everything.” – Akon

These thoughts stimulate our thinking of our own definition of success. Ralph Waldo Emerson brings grandeur, humanity and inspiration in his own definition of success:

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

Whatever our definition, may it reflect our joyous life’s purpose and meaning. May we jubilantly exclaim at the end of our magnificent journey: This is to have succeeded!

May you and yours have a joyous and Happy Easter and a Happy Passover!!!

Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!

Mike

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