OK, we’re not talking strictly geography here, ‘tho in this instance it’s relevant.

If you’ve been following my travels, you know I’ve gone from Florida to North Carolina. My trip abruptly became unrecognizable from the trip I had planned. The universe clearly had other plans for me.

So-without repeating the long and very boring story, I am here. ALONE. 100% devoid of any companionship other than Addy and Ed, the dogs. Thank God I fought for them being part of this trip.

Anyhow, this turn of events has completely changed my STATE. Yes, I’m in a different state, but mostly, and more importantly, I’m in a different STATE.

Like I am seeing things differently. Hearing things differently (including the Boogy Man at 3 am-I don’t sleep til the sun rises. Oh crap I am a vampire).

My golf/hiking/dining/laughing/bonding trip is now just me and a rocking chair on a porch, and let me tell you–things look very different through this lens.

Bridal Veil Falls, NC

So I went, camera in hand, to Bridal Veil Falls. Gorgeous, but very quickly clear to me that any photo op would have to be jacked from whomever was there.

So I asked a nice lady if she would take my photo, and she replied. ” ARE YOU ALONE?????? OMG, you are so brave!”

I got, very clearly, that my trip, ALONE, was such a state change that I was seeing everything differently than anyone else.

ALONE is cool. ALONE is often necessary. ALONE refocuses oneself on what matters most. There is no one around to boss you, agree with you, argue with you, love you, fight with you, kiss you, hold you, yell at you.

Yeah, alone is brave.

It’s just you.

And you.

Talk about a change of state.

My state right now is creative and content.

And, more tired than ever before in my life.

The boonies are scary at night, and I’m there, eyes wide open and heart pounding, sitting sentry so the dogs can sleep well.

Holy Crap.

This is some weird state.

Posted by Patty Soffer under Philanthropy & Spirituality & Strategy & The Collec+ive & The Collective & Uncategorized | No Comments »

People will tell you who they are. All you have to do is listen. -  Oprah Winfrey, on the best advice Maya Angelou ever gave her.

I recently had the privilege of coaching and strategizing with a young woman who is starting her own business. She had reached maximum pain in her life - the point at which people change - and was ready to cast off her fears and go for it.

Ready, yes, but was she willing?

We had to identify her needs and how she was fulfilling them. We spent several days in intensive sessions, first identifying who she was, finding  her core values and discovering the whys of her existence.

What we found was rich and fertile potential for a successful business, yet potentially deal-breaking if she was not willing to dig deep and understand why she behaved as she did.

She was not willing. Predictable, given her very obvious judgment, anger and victim issues. Willing is a big step. Her greatest need is for attention, and she has gotten it through these behaviors.

I knew we’d have to revisit this, because herein would lie her strategy.

We moved on and uncovered a delightful whitespace in which she could operate with little competition and high odds for success. [Shameless self -promotion: This is the plum I dig for each time I work with businesses, and I always find it.]

All along, I knew there was a brick wall out there with her name on it, and she was running toward it.

Off she went to find clients. Each day she returned more unhappy, heavy, more defeated. She wasn’t getting the response she wanted. People weren’t respecting her voice or opinion. They weren’t taking her seriously. Sometimes they weren’t  letting her participate in the meetings. Some just plain didn’t like her.

She was showing up as who she is and the responses she got were commensurate. These were the same responses she had gotten her entire life.

It was clear that until we healed the demons, nothing, including her business, would work. So in short order, she was right back where she started - in maximum pain. Nothing had changed.

The lesson? Your business is personal, no matter what anyone says. It’s about you.

How you show up in business is how you will be treated. Human beings operate on polarities, just like magnets.  A good, strong business connection is the result of a deep commitment to showing up with integrity, honor, trust, and heart, and giving WAY more than you take.

Today, more than ever before, this is true. The paradigm has shifted, and the cold, corporate culture is no longer viable.

Business is relationships. Good business is about respect.

So how do you show up? What are you telling people about yourself? Are you a critic or a creator? The answer will absolutely determine your success in all you do.

Posted by Patty Soffer under . . . . Heart-Based Branding & Branding & Business & Patty Soffer | a collec+ive & Philanthropy & Spirituality & Uncategorized | No Comments »

Note from Patty Soffer: Not long ago, Tony shared with some of us a preview of his new show and the story behind how it came to be. It’s amazing and inspiring, like everything he does.

Recently I was told that one of my “friends” was making fun of my taking “self-improvement” courses. Well, listen up people. Tony Robbins is to self-improvement what LeBron James is to schoolyard basketball. This guy is no motivational speaker. He is a FORCE OF NATURE and to commit to learning from him is to demand the best of yourself and nothing less. I am honored and grateful to be his student. Be sure to watch. July 27, 2010 on NBC.

Article courtesy of Beck/Smith Hollywood; 7.14.10

When motivational guru Tony Robbins debuts his powerful new NBC “Breakthrough With Tony Robbins” reality show July 27, viewers will see such astonishing stories as that of a man who broke his neck at his own wedding reception and became a quadriplegic – who discovers he can still have a full life through a string of challenges that includes skydiving over Fiji. He and his wife…well, have the Kleenex ready.

Robbins tells us that there was so much more story to each of the six hour-long shows he’s prepared, “We’re going to do a ‘Breakthrough’ Insider kind of site. These were 30-day journeys, and so much more happened than we can show.”

Indeed. Late legendary basketball coach John Wooden gave his final pep talk to a single athlete — Juaquin Hawkins, once known as the Oldest Rookie in the NBA, who in 2008 suffered a stroke that ended his career and left him unable to speak. Wooden’s meeting with Hawkins was part of Robbins’ plan to help him find his way to a new life.

“It was the last thing John Wooden taped, and it’s not even on the show,” says Robbins. It will be on the website.

So will the behind-the-scenes saga of the tragedy-touched wedding couple, Frank and Kristen Alioto, who are seen in the premiere, and their harrowing trip to Fiji. According to Robbins, it took some doing to even convince them to leave their house, she was so worried about his seemingly-fragile state. “They’ve become dear friends,” he says. “They sent me a message: ‘Guess where we are? Camping.’”

Not surprisingly, Robbins says he’s been approached numerous times about doing a reality show through the years. He warmed to the idea as the economy got ugly. On a “Today” show appearance, he found himself with three minutes to impart wisdom on how to cope. He wanted a better way.

“I’m not one for b.s. positive thinking, but showing people whose life is slammed, step-by-step how they can turn it around – no matter how tough your life is.” He has two executive producers from “The Biggest Loser” and one from “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” with him on “Breakthrough.”

With his crammed schedule of 50-hour seminars around the world, prison work and other service activities — in addition to 12 companies — Robbins says he’ll have to find a way to clear time to do more shows. “If the audience is there, we’ll do more next year.”

Posted by Patty Soffer under Philanthropy & Spirituality & Tony Robbins Date With Destiny & Uncategorized & giving & heroes | No Comments »

Recently, I had one of those very casual get-to-know-you conversations with a new friend who is probably 6 or 7 years younger. I mentioned some upcoming Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood/Santana concerts. The response I got was, “Boy. Those guys are old. And not relevant anymore.”

What was probably intended as a simple musical commentary (my friend is a lovely singer/songwriter) landed in my lap like an unpinned grenade, loaded with all the human uncertainty and pain feeding our universal existential crisis (just look around, people).

I know. Big reaction on my part. Overreaction. He meant no harm. I’m just at this time in my life. I hear and feel things much differently than before.

The sheer abandon with which the line was delivered hit that nerve that’s in us all at one time or another in our lives:

– What’s it all about? Why are we here? Do I matter? Does it matter?

I’m not the first person to ever ask this question, mind you. I’ve read everything from the early philosophers to Kenneth Burke thru Alan Watts and Tom Robbins, who knows that Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, and passionately devour musical lyrics, which I consider poetry. So we know the question is one for the ages.

If Eric Clapton et.al can commit their lives to creating and forever changing the way music is played - and be tagged as irrelevant - then what is relevant?

Is Bill Clinton still relevant now that he’s not President? Buzz Aldrin? I mean, really, that old fart walked on the moon 50 years ago. HE’S SO OLD. What about Tony Bennett? Abraham Lincoln? My father?

We are all part of the soundtrack of someone’s life. How can that not be relevant?

The universe is not a happy place these days. Perhaps it’s because we’re all too quick to toss things and people off, without even once considering the heart of the matter. Without making any attempt to really connect and feel each other.

No, I am not having a midlife crisis. I don’t want new boobs, a tighter jaw, jewelry, a rich-and-almost-dead husband, a new car or any of that stuff.

It’s not about the stuff.

It’s about the heart of the matter. It’s about making a difference. Like everyone, I want to matter. To somebody. For some value I brought to their life. For making a connection and contribution that nothing can ever take away. Even when I’m so old.

Posted by Patty Soffer under Family & Health and Wellness & Movies & Philanthropy & Spirituality & Uncategorized & giving | No Comments »

Hershey’s. Disney. GE. Apple. Mary Kay. Procter and Gamble.

Commonality? All started during a crap economy.

Perhaps you might want to order the book. I am sitting on the porch waiting for my copy to arrive.

Meanwhile, statisticians predict that the new era of millionaires will come from none other that Network Marketing.

I am sitting on the porch waiting for my first order of Xocai Healthy Chocolates to arrive. How is it sold? Only thru Network Marketing. Thru me.

My porch is a busy place these days.

Posted by Patty Soffer under Business & Economy & Philanthropy & Uncategorized | No Comments »

Yeah, we have been out there detonating bombs the past two years.

The economy made mincemeat of us, but here we are again, like David -v- Goliath, rising up against the best of the Miami advertising world. We have been on a forced sabbatical for the past 8 months, not because we are a bad business, but because it is a bad economy.

And still, we are winners.

We entered five projects in this year’s ADDY competition, which was all we had because we closed our doors in July ‘09.

From the five, we won four ADDYS. Not a bad average!

We won for the following:
GOLD ADDY
• Bluntzer Group / Corporate ID
• Poster Show®
SILVER ADDY
• Hotel Beaux Arts Brochure
• Perry Ellis/Manhattan Internal Flash Video for JCPenney

We are most proud of winning GOLD for Poster Show®, our annual charity art show, which is home to our contributory heart and soul. You will be hearing much about this again in the next few months. It is my personal passion. Poster Show® will become a powerful fixture in the Miami charity/art scene. Just you wait and see.

I want to thank the people of the Collec+ive, who believed in us and stayed with us to the bitter end and beyond. We are a true Collec+ive now, coming together as jobs warrant. All are always in my heart. Where I go, they go, if that is what they want.

David Rojas • Debbie Reznik • Manny Prieres • Kim Broder • AJ Ikourou • Diego Meeroff • Valerie Hockenstein • Diego Romero

I love you all.

Posted by Patty Soffer under Awards & Business & Philanthropy & The Collec+ive & The Collective & Uncategorized & giving | 1 Comment »

We are primed for the loving but firm touch that only a woman can provide. Take a look at this website that champions women and their accomplishments/creativity.

http://www.whatwomenmake.com

Notice the languaging in the stories and headlines.

Nurturing. Globalism. Basics. Sisterhood. Facilitators. Sustainability. Innovation. User Centricity. Global Community.

The common theme? Generosity and giving. What a brilliantly lovely platform upon which to create positive impact in the world.

The time has more than come for the United States to elect a woman president.

Posted by Patty Soffer under Business & Family & Philanthropy & Politics & Spirituality & The Collec+ive & Uncategorized | No Comments »

Wow. Here is something incredible.

It’s from the heart, in humble, non-produced, bathroom/bedroom/closet/livingroom “studios.” Insanely creative. Clearly a labor of love.

There is nothing more powerful than raw passion. Bravo and thank you to everyone involved in this piece.

Posted by Patty Soffer under Design & Economy & Music & Philanthropy & Spirituality & Uncategorized & giving | No Comments »

Dr. Lynda Colaizzi, a South Florida dentist and children’s health care advocate, has donated 20,000 pre-pasted toothbrushes to the Alonzo Mourning Foundation for immediate distribution in Haiti.

Colaizzi’s company, N-Sta-Smile, produces disposable toothbrushes that are pre-pasted, non foaming (no water necessary, no spitting), non rinsing, recyclable, and cost pennies.

Colaizzi is committed to childrens’ dental health, no matter the location or economic standing, and has been in the process of developing strategies to work with Haiti and other challenged countries. The earthquake made it all happen much faster.

She is also committed to putting a disposable toothbrush on every child’s cafeteria tray in every elementary school in Dade and Broward counties. That’s for starters. Her ultimate vision is global in scope.

Dr. Lynda Colaizzi, DMD

Lynda’s toothbrushes were just used at a dental clinic in Biscayne Elementary School.
School health officials in Dade and Broward, elected officials and children’s grant programs all recognize the importance of the project. Dental health is imperative for a child’s general health and well-being.

N-Sta-Smile is aggressively seeking grants, government funding, foundation support and donations to make their passion for healthy children a reality.

Please call 305.761.6536 for more information on how to get involved.

Posted by Patty Soffer under Philanthropy & Uncategorized & giving | 1 Comment »

I am not only grateful for my ass-kicking failures this past year, but absolutely honored to be in the stellar company of these other amazing losers.

There are no sidelines for the people who make huge impacts in life, not just in their lives but in the lives of others.

You gotta be in it to lose it–and then you gotta go back and do it again to win it.

It’s about no fears and taking massive action. No judgments. ACTION!

I’m just where I need to be right now. And it’s a very exciting place to be.

Posted by Patty Soffer under Business & Design & Economy & Family & Philanthropy & The Collec+ive | 2 Comments »