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What a Woman Emailed Me and What I Have to Say About It

I wrote the following over the weekend and shared it on Facebook. I hope it energizes you to swim deeper in the following truth: Happiness as an internal environment and choice, starts and ends with you.
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I've found reason to live long ago, says a song by White Denim (listening to it now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApZ9AyD6580).

Josh and I were out the door for a fun, early workout this morning.

You could say that was topped by seeing Nolan's face eat the french toast I made him once I was back home ("ooooh, thank you Mama.").

Then, our puppy, Holland, slept in until 11am (truth: we had to wake him at 11am). Hollandleuia!

Sitting down to get through a few emails, I loved reading the following note from a lovely woman I met at one of my last speaking events:

Hi Michelle, I remember meeting you at Ignite in November and love some of your quotes. You really inspired me to believe more of my own creativity and I went on to write my book "Get Blissed" which was published on the 7th of April. I am so excited about inspiring others from the stage now. Something I never thought to be possible before. It was awesome receiving an award from Raymond Aaron and meeting Jack Canfield in Toronto, Canada last month. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. Natasha

But not all days are like this for any of us; where what's happening around us falls under the umbrella of the perfect environment or the perfect happening.

We've been alive long enough to know that not all days come with the perfect skiing conditions.

It gets windy, too cold, it's too wet, we get injured, we're too hot, it's slushy, too rocky, too…not happy.

But, what if I told you that you could be happy and at peace (one of my favorite feelings — peace), with or without the perfect ski conditions, and with or without the workout, the pup, that thank you, or thing in your life? And that there's one thing to do? Would you do it?

When asked what I believe contributes most to lasting happiness or success in life or business, I have one thing on repeat: "develop your spiritual practice", or said another way, "dive deeper into your personal development."

True self-realization.

And what I mean, of course, is not covered by simply attending feel-good, inspiring events though those can be red velvet icing.

It's about doing the work that doesn't always feel good and turning the finger back around to ourselves for why something is or isn't happening (no one else)…let's say, it's about acknowledging the shadow, sometimes over and over again.

Tending to the path (what are all these weeds doing here?), clearing it of all the tired, boring, and old stories and excuses we are choosing to keep alive. That's the work.

As my book How to Be a Walking Momtra says, focus on your happiness so you can RAISE happiness.

That's about one thing and one thing only: working on Self, getting to know who we are, light and dark, and what the real reasons are that we have or pose certain limitations on ourselves.

And, as importantly, allowing ourselves to create new, rich, fruit-bearing stories and limits (the skies are the limit), specifically all those that support what we say it is that we really want.

The more we do this, the more gems we find inside that will be expressed in what happens around us as well as in who we suddenly find sitting next to us, about to enjoy the next run with us.

Happiness as an internal environment and choice, starts and ends with you.

Find a reason to live every day, even just one reason to feel good. And may the reason, oh just maybe baby, be you.

Life is good,

p.s.
Moms, if you haven't already received your call-in information for the FREE master training happening on June 11th, consider this your personal invite to make not only happiness your business but learn your 90-day Summer success plan to keep your dreams (your business and YOU) truly alive during the Summer months. You CAN have it and that at the same time. The master training happens June 11th 9-11am Pacific/12-2pm Eastern, and, if you're on the guest list, yes, there will definitely be a recording. Register to receive the call-in information and recording here: www.michelleghilotti.com/bemombemogulmasterclass /
To feeling good, mama. To feeling good!

Be Mom, Be Mogul Master Training June 11th (details below)

As moms and business owners, you could say we love a good, soulful challenge. I mean, really, aren’t being a mom and an entrepreneur the two most amazing, challenging and rewarding things you’ve EVER done? (insert soft smile)

But if we take a step back, we could say our entire lives have been one good, soulful challenge because, well, we’re human.

And here’s the beautiful thing, this humanity — these challenges — build a muscle memory that gift us the charm, charisma and, ultimately, the opportunity to create the brand of woman we know ourselves to be both in business and in motherhood.

I call this being a Creative Heroine >>
A woman who moves from problem to solution,
in hopes of expressing more of who she really is.

Specifically, you are the embodiment of resilience, opportunity and creativity.

Everything you’ve lived and loved yourself through (and everything to come that you will live and love yourself through) will continue to introduce you to great success. The resilience, opportunity and creativity you’ve experienced in your life, both personally and professionally is the muscle memory that builds and creates your authentic story and is the fuel that ultimately adds to the uniqueness in your brand of entrepreneurship and motherhood (yes, your motherhood has a brand too).

And though you may sometimes think you don’t have time, aren’t “ready” or don’t have the skills for X or Y yet, let this serve as your reminder that you are and can BE a driven entrepreneur and a devoted mother.

You're mom to the second power.

You’re mom to the second power!

And if you're thinking, "I am?", I say, yes, yes you are. Find out more around being mom to the second power on June 11th in this special master class event:

www.michelleghilotti.com/bemombemogulmasterclass /

Honestly, we could say that you can have it all because you’ve been through it all.

So, what do you want to be a part of that you currently don’t have?

Is it balance?
More revenue to be able to afford more travel for the family?
Would it be learning how to “bend” time so it’s not one of your biggest issues or complaints?
Offerings that are hot and engage the right party people?
Moving your passion or hobby to official business status before the year is up?
Simple having WAY more fun in business and in motherhood?

Again, as a Creative Heroine, you absolutely have all the resilience, skills, genius and ability necessary to have it all…the business of your dreams AND a motherhood that you AND your family are inspired and enriched by.

On June 11^th I'll be sharing about these things and more in a new MGI-original {Complimentary} master class entitled Be Mom, Be Mogul, Your 90-day Summer Success Plan Master Training. You can get your call-in details here:

www.michelleghilotti.com/bemombemogulmasterclass /

In addition to the “inside info”, much of it being information I only share with my private and mastermind clients, you’ll also hear more about my 14 year Creative Heroine (or, resilience) story. Some of this I haven't shared before and yet it has so much to do with the success I've experienced to date. I can't wait to share honestly and from the heart with you as I think it will support you in your quest to live a life of multiple purposes

I can't wait to share, truly share, as well as GIFT you with a 90-day Summer success plan, a Be Mom, Be Mogul workbook and a set of custom, fillable Summer calendars to set yourself up for true mom mogul success this Summer and beyond.

We don’t have to put our dreams on hold while we love our children. We can love them and love up our dreams at the same time.

Join the international community on June 11th for this special virtual event, Be Mom. Be Mogul. www.michelleghilotti.com/bemombemogulmasterclass /

I can't wait to have you and to give greatly…

Life is good,

p.s. Block out time for you, to learn how to love up on your multiple purposes in this life. Hop on the guest list here: www.michelleghilotti.com/bemombemogulmasterclass /

Being the spark (a how-to)

We must be the spark and romantic lover of our own life.

As I sit on a plane headed to celebrate a friend's birthday for the night, writing notes for a new course for moms I'm creating around making a living and having a life, I'm reminded of one thing.

Not that life is sweeter when there are surprises and spontaneity sprinkled throughout the weekly routine (though true).

Nor that it feels amazing and is important to show those you love that you care, in all the ways that are available to you (though true). [The fb post from May 12th about the 30 days of love notes I sent my brother before he passed might be the kick in the pants you need/want to start your own 30-day love note fest: http://on.fb.me/1HguzGI]

Or that business ownership/entrepreneurship affords you a freedom and portability that helps you feel free (though true).

The thing I was reminded of was this: the person who holds the key to your greatest peace and joy is you. It's no one else's job (or fault). That story will simply keep you feeling stuck, anxious and unhappy, exactly where you are. You have to make joy — literally.

…you must be the spark and romantic lover of your own life.

Over the years, I've had many conversations with women, some moms, some not moms, who consciously or unconsciously are waiting for someone to make them happy (to change so they can be happy) or to give them permission to do the thing, whatever that thing is…to be more fully themselves, to finally express their creativity by starting that business, writing the book or taking that class, someone who will give them the time they keep saying they don't have, and it goes on.

It's true that some seasons are easier than others to get after the big stuff, the stuff that will matter most to you when this life is over, but even when (and especially when) it hurts or you have to stay up late or get on a plane early, or whatever it is, being the mother of your own reinvention is what it's all about. It's how you meet the happiness that sticks around way longer than that yoga class.

It's up to you in the best and most beautiful way. You're the only guru and the driver.

As my book Walking Momtra says, focus on your happiness so you can RAISE happiness. Focus more on you, create space or a new story for building and fitting in happiness so you can raise it in the very people you might have be waiting on to do it for you.

When you do, when you get after your joy in this way, when you are the spark, the romance in your own days, you quantum leap into someone else's life, quite possibly, even, the life you've always wanted.

Sending you so much love*.

Life is good,

p.s. *Mom entrepreneurs, watch this space for a new, MGI-original {FREE} Master Training coming up (title to be revealed at the end of this week). I know it will be supportive to you in building an authentic business and family filled with happiness. Here's to romancing a life and business that bears fruit (success) in the most incredible way.

HuffPost LIVE interview and Sheryl Sandberg’s loss (and loss of any kind)

After Sheryl Sandberg's tragic loss a couple weeks ago, HuffPost Live did a segment I was a part around overcoming sudden loss. I wanted to share it with you because, in truth, we all experience change and loss of some sort, every day. It may not be the tragic loss of a loved one, but many times we are, in fact, grieving the loss of something or some part of us.

You can watch the 27-minute episode here:

http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/overcoming-death-or-sudden-loss-sheryl-sandberg-third-metric/5546a92978c90a8f85000b0e

I’ll let the interview speak for itself, however, I’ll quickly say this…it's hard to say what a sudden and tragic loss does to you. It changes the whole fabric of your being and helps you find less excuses, making you even more open and available to presence, compassion, patience, being more authentically you and giving to others simply because it's beautiful to give. As I said in the segment, when you generously give to others, you also very much give to (heal) yourself.

I've also found the following to be true –> if you allow the pain to lead the way, it introduces you to the more conscious and mindful version of you, one the world, your family and you really need. Smartypants Rumi was so right, “the wound is the place the light enters you.”

I hope the interview supports you in accepting change, no matter how big or small, and regardless if this change is happening in your business, family, body, romantic relationship or beyond.

Life truly is a river and everything changes. Change, Creative Heroine, is not good nor bad, it's just part of this human experience:

http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/overcoming-death-or-sudden-loss-sheryl-sandberg-third-metric/5546a92978c90a8f85000b0e

And to any of you experiencing a loss of any kind that is making you even more introspective and filled with thought, I know…I really know. 🙂

All my love from the Napa Valley where I'm spending time with my family on the second anniversary of my brother's passing.

(Yes, even through loss and change) Life is good,