Hello, all!
I have integrated my blog into my PRwithPurpose.net website. I invite you to follow my posts at:
www.prwithpurpose.net/blog
My posts continue to be random thoughts on life, God, family, business, encouragement, health & wellness (mental, emotional, physical and spiritual).
Have a fabulous day!
Lisa
Friday, May 25, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Writing can be ...
Theraputic ... get your mind off of other things.
Emotional ... depending on the topic at hand.
Personal ... if you are willing to open your heart and soul.
Exciting ... if you aren't afraid to write the truth, or if you are writing fiction and creating the truth.
Writing is the opportunity to tell a story, share a message. Could be your own story. Could be that of someone else. Could be the creation of characters in your mind.
The project, "Jane", that I am currently working on ... so meaningful.
For me, writing is about the people and their stories. Each one different than the next, yet so many things relevant from one story to the next.
Opening statement for "Jane", the book I am currently writing:
Only Jane was told to clear her life – she had acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
Stay tuned!!
Emotional ... depending on the topic at hand.
Personal ... if you are willing to open your heart and soul.
Exciting ... if you aren't afraid to write the truth, or if you are writing fiction and creating the truth.
Writing is the opportunity to tell a story, share a message. Could be your own story. Could be that of someone else. Could be the creation of characters in your mind.
The project, "Jane", that I am currently working on ... so meaningful.
For me, writing is about the people and their stories. Each one different than the next, yet so many things relevant from one story to the next.
Opening statement for "Jane", the book I am currently writing:
PREFACE
It may take a traumatic experience
or even a threat to one’s life or to that of a loved one to learn valuable life
lessons. That’s what it took for teacher, Jane Byram, to learn the toughest
lessons she has ever experienced. Those lessons began with what could be
likened to a classroom of unsuspecting students who were just told to clear
their desks for a pop quiz.
Only Jane was told to clear her life – she had acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
Stay tuned!!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Impressed by tomorrow's leaders ...
Today was the Annual Youth Day in Springfield, hosted by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. Students from around the state, along with their chaperones from the electric cooperatives that serve them, visit Springfield with stops at the Capitol, Old State Capitol, Supreme Court and Presidential Museum. They get to meet with their Representatives and Senators, hear from Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon and Secretary of State Jessie White. It's a great learning experience with opportunities to ask questions, hear new information, make their voices heard!
These students are the cream of the crop and are vying for a place on the AIEC Youth to Washington Tour, in addition to learning about the Capital City. These students are some of tomorrow's leaders ... looks like we will be in good hands!
If you haven't been to these Springfield entities, you really should take time. I think I am going to take my Dad to the Presidential Museum for his birthday in April. Shhhh ... don't tell : )
Blessings!
Lisa
These students are the cream of the crop and are vying for a place on the AIEC Youth to Washington Tour, in addition to learning about the Capital City. These students are some of tomorrow's leaders ... looks like we will be in good hands!
If you haven't been to these Springfield entities, you really should take time. I think I am going to take my Dad to the Presidential Museum for his birthday in April. Shhhh ... don't tell : )
Blessings!
Lisa
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Journey forward ...
Life is a journey, as you know. Mine is taking me into some exciting, new areas.
Writing - more regular blogging, beginning NOW, and working on the books, etc. Major deadline approaching quickly!!
Day job - Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives- taking on new and exciting programs and responsibilities - more business development! Love it ... excited to go to work every day!
PR with Purpose - redesign of website near completion. Mostly me now ... have to update content! Check it out, and watch the progression at www.prwithpurpose.net
Running/fitness - training for an April 27 5k (Blessed by Brenna ... in Urbana Champaing) and a June 10 half-marathon (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training) - North Shore, Chicago
Health - getting back into the swing of things on the eating healthy front
Relationships - trying to connect better with friends/family/God. Life is all about relationships, personally and professionally ... more intentional, real ... not just surface stuff!
So much going on - and it's all good, really!
What is new in your life? Give me a shout! Lrigoni@prwithpurpose.net or find me on FaceBook, Lisa Templeton Rigoni or Twitter @LisaRigoni or LinkedIn at Lisa Rigoni
Have a fantastic day!
Lisa
Writing - more regular blogging, beginning NOW, and working on the books, etc. Major deadline approaching quickly!!
Day job - Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives- taking on new and exciting programs and responsibilities - more business development! Love it ... excited to go to work every day!
PR with Purpose - redesign of website near completion. Mostly me now ... have to update content! Check it out, and watch the progression at www.prwithpurpose.net
Running/fitness - training for an April 27 5k (Blessed by Brenna ... in Urbana Champaing) and a June 10 half-marathon (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training) - North Shore, Chicago
Health - getting back into the swing of things on the eating healthy front
Relationships - trying to connect better with friends/family/God. Life is all about relationships, personally and professionally ... more intentional, real ... not just surface stuff!
So much going on - and it's all good, really!
What is new in your life? Give me a shout! Lrigoni@prwithpurpose.net or find me on FaceBook, Lisa Templeton Rigoni or Twitter @LisaRigoni or LinkedIn at Lisa Rigoni
Have a fantastic day!
Lisa
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day!
Life/love is what we make it ...
Plus, we have an incredible extended family; lots of friends we are thankful are part of our lives, and a church family that we love, and most importantly, a God who loves us unconditionally!
Life really is good ...
Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!
Lisa
- Celebrate the blessings!
- Give thanks for the trials ... God doesn't give you more than you can handle ... he has faith in you!
- Love with your whole heart!
- Share a hug today, and every day!
- Make a long-over-due phone call or visit!
- Remind someone how special they are!
- Don't forget to love yourself, too ... God created you in His image, and He created you to be special!
Plus, we have an incredible extended family; lots of friends we are thankful are part of our lives, and a church family that we love, and most importantly, a God who loves us unconditionally!
Life really is good ...
Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!
Lisa
Friday, February 10, 2012
Still awake at 4:07 a.m. ...
and the alarm is set to go off in two hours and three minutes ... probably not a good sign for my Friday, but at least it is Friday!! I'll nap Saturday?! Have a physical this afternoon ... perhaps the no sleeping thing will really mean something when the blood shot eyes are evident : ) Funny, yet not!
In any case, during part of these waking hours I have read the Book of James (NIV). Talk about a life action plan within a book of life action plans!! Simply reading the headlines alone gives an idea of the topics covered, and all within only five short chapters.
Here's my short, sleepy take on the first headline:
Trials and Temptations: We all have them, and though it's tough, we have to push through! It's hard to swallow when James tells us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
But what if we think ours is already developed to the point it's all we can handle? No more trials, please, really! But thanks, anyway! Not our choice to make, I suppose. So, with that noted, we should keep in mind, it's often the trials that help shape us, make us stronger. It's what helps us move forward. Sometimes, our trials and seeing how we handle it might even be what helps someone else through theirs. I'm just sayin'.
What could some of those Trials include? - People are losing jobs every day, often times completely unexpectedly after years of service. People are losing homes. People are losing money that they planned for retirement or were going to use to help send children to college. People are stressed to the max and facing serious health issues as a result ... heart attacks, high blood pressure, depression and giving into Temptation which creates more stress ... a vicious cycle.
We have to learn to overcome the temptations. It's not easy, and we are bombarded with them ... they are every where, every day. All you have to do is start your day and you will be hit ... in the media, in the refrigerator, in the cabinet, at the office, at the shopping center, at the bar, in the medicine cabinet, with that person, at the/in the/with the _______. (Fill in the blank with your temptation.)
That is some of the bad news. You know what that means though? There is also good news! There is opportunity for reinvention, for rescue, for relief, for recovery! There is hope! There is help! There is life! James says, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
Call on God ... to help get you through your trials, to help you overcome the temptations ... to help you persevere! Call a friend, call a healthcare professional, a counselor, a pastor, a rabbi, a priest. There are resources in all communities that can help.
OK ... it's too late to go to bed now, but I think I can squeeze in a workout ... I think I'm going to SNAP! I'm gonna need some energy to get through this day!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Lisa
LRigoni@PRwithPurpose.net
In any case, during part of these waking hours I have read the Book of James (NIV). Talk about a life action plan within a book of life action plans!! Simply reading the headlines alone gives an idea of the topics covered, and all within only five short chapters.
- Trials and Temptations
- Listening and Doing
- Favoritism Forbidden
- Taming the Tongue
- Two Kinds of Wisdom
- Submit Yourselves to God
- Boasting About Tomorrow
- Warning to Rich Oppressors
- Patience in Suffering
- The Prayer of Faith
Here's my short, sleepy take on the first headline:
Trials and Temptations: We all have them, and though it's tough, we have to push through! It's hard to swallow when James tells us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
But what if we think ours is already developed to the point it's all we can handle? No more trials, please, really! But thanks, anyway! Not our choice to make, I suppose. So, with that noted, we should keep in mind, it's often the trials that help shape us, make us stronger. It's what helps us move forward. Sometimes, our trials and seeing how we handle it might even be what helps someone else through theirs. I'm just sayin'.
What could some of those Trials include? - People are losing jobs every day, often times completely unexpectedly after years of service. People are losing homes. People are losing money that they planned for retirement or were going to use to help send children to college. People are stressed to the max and facing serious health issues as a result ... heart attacks, high blood pressure, depression and giving into Temptation which creates more stress ... a vicious cycle.
We have to learn to overcome the temptations. It's not easy, and we are bombarded with them ... they are every where, every day. All you have to do is start your day and you will be hit ... in the media, in the refrigerator, in the cabinet, at the office, at the shopping center, at the bar, in the medicine cabinet, with that person, at the/in the/with the _______. (Fill in the blank with your temptation.)
That is some of the bad news. You know what that means though? There is also good news! There is opportunity for reinvention, for rescue, for relief, for recovery! There is hope! There is help! There is life! James says, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
Call on God ... to help get you through your trials, to help you overcome the temptations ... to help you persevere! Call a friend, call a healthcare professional, a counselor, a pastor, a rabbi, a priest. There are resources in all communities that can help.
OK ... it's too late to go to bed now, but I think I can squeeze in a workout ... I think I'm going to SNAP! I'm gonna need some energy to get through this day!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Lisa
LRigoni@PRwithPurpose.net
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Networking = Relationship Building
Yes ... it's all the same ... at least from my viewpoint. However, in the business world, you can't typically put on the sales report, "Went to a relationship building event. Or spent time at lunch on Thursday working on a relationship with _______, especially if it happened to be a person of the opposite sex. GASP! It doesn't sit well with others, even though it's what you are doing. Right? At least, that's how I perceive networking. So, with that in mind, I thought perhaps I should look up
Merriam Webster's definition.
He says: Networking is "the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or busines."
I suppose, yes, though, I really think it runs deeper than that ... it's more of a progression, perhaps in stages:
Networking 101: with a new person you typically go to lunch or meet at an after hours event, for example. There is typically small talk, maybe about the weather, introduce the name of your businesss, your title, your product, etc. It's sometimes awkward. Maybe you feel compelled to give your elevator pitch. And then, if you are in sales, especially, you can't help it, it comes spewing out! You give the sales pitch, all the numbers, all the product details. On the first "date"?? YIKES!!
Networking 201: introductory information was shared during Networking 101, so you are beyond that. Moving on. It gets more fun. You start learning more about the actual person. Who is he or she? Family? Married? Children? Career track? There is a real person behind the nametag and sales pitch! YAY!
The personal level:
Same scenario, lunch, after hours event, professional organization meeting, etc. Yes, small talk is usually part of it, as well as the normal introductions, finding out what each other does, if you don't already know ... your titles, if applicable, your products/services, if the topics come up, but maybe not.
What if you actually started by getting to know your clients or prospects or fellow networkers on a more personal level right from the get-go? That way, each time you saw them you would have something more to talk about. You wouldn't have to start with, "Wow, sure is a nice day, sure is cold/hot out there, sure is raining hard, etc., and so on. We've all done it. It's likely that you might even have something in common.
I'm working to be better at this myself. Not just asking the questions, but remembering the answers : ) Hobbies, kid's names, favorite beverages and foods, places travelled ... places they wish to travel, sports teams they like, the ones they don't ... why? The best part, really, is that it's all part of natural conversation.
So, start talking .... but more importantly .... start listening!! That is always the hardest and most valuable part of networking! Be more interested in the person/people in front of you, than in telling your own story. Eventually, someone will want to reciprocate and hear yours. The other part of networking ... it's a two-way street!!
Any networking tips you'd like to share?? What has worked for you? What hasn't? Would love to hear from you!!
LRigoni@PRwithPurpose.net or FB at Lisa Templeton Rigoni or @LisaRigoni on Twitter.
Merriam Webster's definition.
He says: Networking is "the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or busines."
I suppose, yes, though, I really think it runs deeper than that ... it's more of a progression, perhaps in stages:
Networking 101: with a new person you typically go to lunch or meet at an after hours event, for example. There is typically small talk, maybe about the weather, introduce the name of your businesss, your title, your product, etc. It's sometimes awkward. Maybe you feel compelled to give your elevator pitch. And then, if you are in sales, especially, you can't help it, it comes spewing out! You give the sales pitch, all the numbers, all the product details. On the first "date"?? YIKES!!
Networking 201: introductory information was shared during Networking 101, so you are beyond that. Moving on. It gets more fun. You start learning more about the actual person. Who is he or she? Family? Married? Children? Career track? There is a real person behind the nametag and sales pitch! YAY!
The personal level:
Same scenario, lunch, after hours event, professional organization meeting, etc. Yes, small talk is usually part of it, as well as the normal introductions, finding out what each other does, if you don't already know ... your titles, if applicable, your products/services, if the topics come up, but maybe not.
What if you actually started by getting to know your clients or prospects or fellow networkers on a more personal level right from the get-go? That way, each time you saw them you would have something more to talk about. You wouldn't have to start with, "Wow, sure is a nice day, sure is cold/hot out there, sure is raining hard, etc., and so on. We've all done it. It's likely that you might even have something in common.
I'm working to be better at this myself. Not just asking the questions, but remembering the answers : ) Hobbies, kid's names, favorite beverages and foods, places travelled ... places they wish to travel, sports teams they like, the ones they don't ... why? The best part, really, is that it's all part of natural conversation.
So, start talking .... but more importantly .... start listening!! That is always the hardest and most valuable part of networking! Be more interested in the person/people in front of you, than in telling your own story. Eventually, someone will want to reciprocate and hear yours. The other part of networking ... it's a two-way street!!
Any networking tips you'd like to share?? What has worked for you? What hasn't? Would love to hear from you!!
LRigoni@PRwithPurpose.net or FB at Lisa Templeton Rigoni or @LisaRigoni on Twitter.
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