Excellence in Leadership

“The choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself”. –Oprah Winfrey

What profound words.  It made me ask exactly what are my intentions to require more of myself?

Make more money?

Spend more time with my family?

Be more generous?

Volunteer more in the community?

In the end it was an easy choice:  listen to my gut more.  Follow my intuition.  Act on that still small voice.  It's a powerful daily habit for feminine leaders.

You’ve got it, too.  Every business owner does – everyone does for  that matter.

It’s the voice that leads us to what’s next, into the next opportunity,  and helps confirm that we’re on the right track.

The triple bottom line includes people, planet and profits.  Maybe it’s time to add a fourth:  purpose.

Only when we are tuned into our gut feelings are we on track with purpose.  And without purpose, profits have no meaning.

If you know  why you’re driving your business, then the how to/how much equation becomes easier. Purpose is central to not only a good life, but to a great business.

I’ll choose excellence by choosing a business on purpose and a life in balance.  How about you?

You are remarkable

Being vulnerable is not weakness, it is actually our strength. 

I know it’s not common wisdom and as women, so often when we reveal ourselves, we end up giving away our power. Yet it is our ability to deeply connect with each other that creates community,  support and collaboration. 

It is a rare thing in the business world to feel that someone has taken the time to truly see you, and moreso to allow ourselves to be seen. 

This week  I met with three men on three separate occasions. I was bowled over by the way that they approached me.  All numbers, vomiting their resume over the phone or on the table as if to prove that they had the chops to be in business. 

It struck me that that men may experience what women do - the feeling of being not good enough and not worthy. I always thought that men LIKED the competition, the hard push of things and proving that they were more worthy than the other guy. 

I was open and vulnerable with  them about my work in feminine leadership.  It was a stretch because most of the time I'm met with blank stares or men saying  "That sounds a bit obtuse".   I am no longer able?  willing?  to not speak about the importance of women empowering themselves to leadership. 

It was interesting that all three men softened as we talked and we experienced a profound and meaningful discussion that led to a change in attitude and understanding. 

It’s why the upward rising of feminine leadership is so important. 

 The fully grounded presence of feminine leaders changes the paradigm of what leadership can be about while at the same time making space for the healing of all who come in contact with her. 

You are so necessary right now. Your presence and brilliant mind is vital to the conversation. 

Don’t forget. You. Are. Remarkable. 

 XO Dawn

Stop The Positivity!

Okay, I want you STOP thinking so optimistically.

I know this is counter-intuitive for feminine leaders, especially women who are conscious and aware.

Is it time to stop hoping everything will work out and take action?    Do you ever feel that way?   Sometimes you've got to just take an assessment of what’s working and what’s not, and get on with making it better.

Remember, every good thing that has ever happened to you came because something changed.  It is the heart  of transformation.

Change is good, but the precursor to change is surrender.  And sometimes surrender feels like giving up the fight.  Maybe you are looking at a situation, knowing action has to happen and hesitating.

You know what you need to do.  What one tough decision have you put off making?  How much is it costing you to keep putting this off?  

We've all done it.   Procrastinated because it was, well, a tough call.  The more you fight against something, the stronger it becomes in your life.

Fighting is not always the way to success, sometimes letting go is.

It might feel like surrender.  When you read the word "surrender," you probably relate it to "defeat" but the two are entirely different.  Defeat means you've lost the battle; it denotes weakness.   Surrender means you've chosen not to fight and struggle anymore, and this decision comes from a place of POWER.  

The power comes from taking ownership of where you are today and knowing that you can create something better in the future - not by fighting and struggling but rather by looking for the next opportunity for you  to move forward.  

Successful entrepreneurs know that sometimes you have to cut the line and try something different. If you’ve got a chance to let go of what is less than perfect for you, and embrace what is really working, I hope you take it.  

You’ve only got two hands, and if both of  them are full with less than ideal situations you can’t reach out for what’s next.  To new, better, bigger opportunities and deeper  transformation!

Creating Intentional Joy

Let’s get on the right track today and talk about your everyday sources of positive thinking. It really is easy to start thinking in this manner. Pleasant thoughts are easily absorbed into your mind and make you feel better quickly.

The Mayo Clinic has actually done research on the results of positive thinking. By changing your mindset you can relieve depression, live a longer life, relieve stress and have the ability to fight any illness better.

Use the tips below to start thinking in a positive manner today:

Think nice thoughts – this is an easy step which so many people just don’t put into practice often enough. Aim to think pleasant thoughts about yourself and others several times a day.

Set Goals – it is great to set goals but they should be ones that are achievable and realistic. If your goal is out of reach you will give up and start treating it negatively instead of in a positive way.

Your Perspective – everyone faces challenges each and every day. You need to take all of this and put it into perspective. Learn how to deal with those small issues quickly and decide if they are worth bothering with at all. Don’t let small things get you down, instead focus on the larger issues and get them taken care of quickly.

Face Your Challenges – don’t let any challenge become a huge obstacle. It’s just like learning to ride a bike, you don’t give up, you learn how to master the challenge.

Be Grateful – this is a huge step in always being in a positive mind frame. Be grateful for all of the things you do have, don’t dwell on what you don’t or can’t have. This way when life gets in the way you can face the problem head on and resolve it.

If your health is suffering or you are feeling depressed and down it is time to take a good look at your life. Put things into perspective by being grateful for everything and everyone which you have around you.

Start off each morning by feeling grateful and feeling the positivity soak into your body.

It can help It can help to write down your daily goals along with a daily quote or affirmation and as a and then you can stay motivated and happy all day long.

Feminine Leadership Affirmations

Make money and change the world.

Affirmations are so powerful. . .and here are a few that I love as I walk the path of feminine leadership.

I know I make a difference in the world.

Everyone makes a difference in the world, including me. I change the lives of those I come in contact
with for the better.

I examine my past and see my impact on others. My friends have been changed by my presence.

My coworkers, family members, and neighbors have also been affected. I strive to continue my legacy by being a positive influence on my own children and other young people.

I often encounter individuals who have a profound impact on me, too. I reap great benefits from my interactions with others. Even those experiences that seem negative at the time give me the opportunity to practice a skill or learn something.

Many lives have been touched by my existence. Others are grateful for the guidance and assistance I provide. I feel better knowing that I am making the world a better place.

It is important to me to live a meaningful life and leave my mark on the world. To me, that means making a difference whenever I can.

I continually look for new ways to have a greater impact.

Today, I embrace the challenge to create meaningful change in the world. I can see many opportunities to assist others. I know I am making a difference.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How have I made a difference in the world?
2. When have I learned from a negative experience?
3. What steps can I take to make an even greater difference in the future?

The Joy of Life

I started this blog because I wanted a place to write about the things that really make me happy,  that create such an upsurge of energy that I can't help but feel good.

It seems life is so hectic that we seldom remember to simply be in the moment and feel happy.

I was walking down the street a few days ago looking for a particular store.  I looked on the marquee that showed the location of all of the stores in the outside mall I was at.

It was a beautiful day, Colorado at its finest.  And yet I was obsessed with thinking – and thinking about things that had no relation at all to being at the mall shopping.

Work, my website, an upcoming presentation.

My kids, a baby shower and what food needed to be made.

My grands and the new baby on the way.


My parents and their upcoming birthdays.

Then I saw the map.  YOU ARE HERE ↓

I had a huge aha!  moment -  and I stopped in my  tracks.

I realized in that moment that I was NOT here – only in body.  My mind was so busy jumping around that not only was in rooted in the past, I was jumping to the future with no real idea of what the future was even about.

YOU ARE HERE – when I read those words I took a deep breath and stopped – and took in the beauty of the day, the awesome weather, the fact that I was there – healthy, free, awake, and grateful.  I became the moment, and all of time stood still.

YOU ARE HERE instantly changed my biology from closed to open as I realized that I could let go of thinking about things that I have no control over – and instead focus on what is right in front of me.  My point of power and intention is always in the right now.

I can live in the past, try to predict the future, or I can stay here and experience the NOW.

Could you stop what you’re doing – just for a minute, take a breath and say to yourself – YOU ARE HERE.

Have a great day -

The Glow of Feminine Leadership

“Feminine power isn’t something we go out and acquire, it’s already within us. It’s something we become willing to experience and something to admit that we have.”  – Marianne Williamson.

In working with women from all over the country it has become so clear that it is the inner glow that attracts success.   It doesn't really matter what marketing trick or strategy you use. If you have not turned on your own inner light  people simply do not see the value of working with you.

People pay you for your energy and connection because it reminds them that it is possible for them to
feel the same way.  Your inner glow magnetizes people because they see it in your and want that light for themselves.

Turning on that inner light starts with being rather than doing.  It naturally follows then that nourishing yourself and maintaining a sense of inner wellness and peace may well be the most important part of becoming a conscious feminine leader and creating the impact you really want to.

This inner radiance is the by-product of exquisite self-care coupled with mindful body- centered practices.   Please don’t confuse self-care with being selfish.  Everything and everyone around you depends  you your energy and ability to be the positive force for good.

What one action can you take TODAY that will contribute to YOU?