Category Archives: Your Exclamation Point: What You’re Known For And Remembered By

The Risk In Bringing Uncalibrated Passion

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IMG_1621To live the life you want… to commit to your dreams… takes Passion.

BRAVO those who bring Passion in a positive-impact way:

Lighting up new smile-inducing possibility! inspiring Passion in others! creating new success together! while passing it on…

As one who admits in her Bio: *I wear my Passion on my sleeve and when I have no sleeve I wear my Passion on my arm* ... 

In my speaking and writing, I’m sharing this lesson I’ve learned the hard way:

Your Passion Must Be Calibrated.

Uncalibrated Passion puts you and others at risk of experiencing and contagiously spreading a sudden and unexpected, potentially-devastating downward spiral, spelled:

S-U-F-F-O-C-A-T-I-O-N.

To lead and love life, don’t risk success and happiness by playing it safe. Don’t stop being Passionate – your Passion makes you come Alive!

Besides, watered-down Passion risks flatlining……..

To bring your Passion effectively: Calibrate accordingly.

So how can you keep Passion alive while Calibrating accordingly?

GO BOLDly! with your eyes, heart and mind – and your peripheral view – wide open.

Mindful of people and aware of situations… caring about what’s happening around you… seeing and feeling… helps keep you calibrating beautifully.

Bring your Passion. Light us up. Make things happen!

How will you bring your Passion?

It’s Up To YOU!

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© 1993-2017  Ann Ulrich  AnnUlrich.com

Photo:  Ah, The BOLD Exclamation Point! All those school years, I was marked down on papers for incessantly over-using it. Years later, when I launched my own business, l claimed it as my Logo, happily over-using it ever since, as my reminder and commitment to keep leading & living passionately *!*

Let Props Of Your Life Keep You Real

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Let Props Of Your Life Keep You Real?  Yes. That.

photo-65Here’s a pic from a recent Keynote, speaking to 400.

Here’s a better close-up: photo-68

Oh and about those props, here ya go:photo-66

Every prop is a *favorite or humorous thing* representing a BOLD Nugget I weave into real-life stories to help make The BOLD! Factor strategies come to life… and stick.

Leaving a few props untouched is a purposeful BOLD strategy representing the need to leave room in our work and life for Curiosity and Uncertainty.

My favorite prop is, well, I can’t name a favorite. Lots more where these came from and I love them all. The Crazy Orange Pillow makes me smile so I’m adding it to Red as my next BOLD color. The pillow represents Imperfection, and the importance of not waiting for things to be Perfect. Go. Do. Be. Now. You’re Amazing Just As You Are!

I don’t even like that word: Perfect. So I add an o! calling it Perfecto! with an Italian smile, having nothing to do with being that ever-elusive, stress-inducing, energy-wasting, when-you-achieve-it-what-happens-then-that-you-can’t-achieve-by-being-happy-being-less-than-perfect… ugh that word: Perfect. 

The value of real-life Props came to life for me years ago when my husband David asked me to please go buy him a Yellow Paisley Tie. What?! (please, as in just do it, don’t ask ;) I knew he couldn’t stand yellow paisley. And tho he wears suits, he rarely wears ties… I’ll save the Yellow Paisley Tie story for my next presentation. And I’ll include it in my book.

(OK, that bugs me when people leave us hanging to wait/find something in their book. I won’t delete this, but I will not make a practice of repeating things that drive me nutz. Every time I speak I get to NOT do the stuff some keynote speakers do that, yes, drive me nutz. Don’t get me started… I’ll walk that talk instead of talking that talk, by simply being Real.)

If you remember the Imperfect of The Crazy Orange Pillow then this post has served its purpose. 

With my 52 BOLD strategies growing now beyond 100 as I write my book… I won’t be packing props for keynotes when I travel. I’ll find another way to bring the stories to life. And help make them stick. For you.

Why Props?

Because Props Of Your Life Keep You Real. And now more than ever… real people crave people who are willing to be REAL.

What Props are you packing from your Adventures called Real Life?

Perfect.

I mean, Perfecto!

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© 1993-2013 Ann Ulrich  THE BOLD! FACTOR®   AnnUlrich.com

Photos: I love taking pictures for my blog, hard to do when I’m speaking, so thank you to Gary, the amazing sound guy at CSOM who caught these. He even found a way to tuck the mic battery pack under my hair so no cords to tangle, no bulges I didn’t need. Cool!

Fear And Your Non-Negotiable Dream You Will Make Happen Even If It Takes A Lifetime

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photo-35Sometimes, dreams really can take a lifetime.

After a few waves of *what the heck was that?!* of the recent past…

…one thing has become crystal clear:

No more waiting (for any of us!) before claiming and creating our next *it*. 

If you’re waiting until you’re, you know, just a bit further along… or a little more experienced… just that much more *ready*… before you go for it and make your next move… or if you’re holding off on moving forward until the time is finally just right… ask yourself:

Is FEAR holding you back from leading and living the work and/or life you crave?

Life is too precious to waste one moment by not exhaling out of fear.

Try this instead: Risk falling on your face – or stubbing your toe trying – by moving forward one step at a time directly into whatever you’re most afraid of… so you can stop that slowly-sinking-in-quicksand feeling called fear… and start breathing life into your life again… coming ALIVE again!

I hope this favorite quote inspires you as it inspires me, everyday:

“It’s no longer about asking what our world needs. Ask what makes you come Alive and go do that. Our world needs people who come ALIVE!”  –Thurman/Ulrich

Put yourself out there and make something happen.

Claim your dream and make it non-negotiable.

Let us know so we can cheer you on!

What’s your non-negotiable dream you will make happen… even if it takes a lifetime?

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© 1993-2013  Ann Ulrich Inc.    THE BOLD! FACTOR®      AnnUlrich.com

Photo: I love noticing dreamy light fixtures. This lights up a favorite downtown Minneapolis restaurant, Zelo.

What If You Really Are Amazing…

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… just the way you are.

Aaaaand what about when you’re NOT?

photo-27David and I just spent a few days *Up North in God’s Country* Ely MN, where his company has a brilliant team, great community and beautiful office.

I went along for the fresh perspective a change of scenery brings in researching, thinking about, and writing my book.

(With morning temperatures of -25 and -35 degrees… Whoa! That air was pure Caffeine!)

I knew we would have a great time. What I didn’t expect in working on my book was this:

1.  I called BS on myself where I was NOT amazing.

2.  I tossed massive content where my voice has changed and am no longer about *that*.

3.  I thought about YOU – and all the Noise – and all the Should’s – and all the NOT GOOD ENOUGH’s – all the DODODO BEBEBE MOREMOREMORE – and those times when we own our greatness (BRAVO!) and yet what about those times we may need a fresh jolt, a wake-up call… yes, self-included. (see #1 above)

I came away from all that with this thought for you:

WHAT IF YOU REALLY ARE AMAZING… JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

WHAT IF YOU CLAIMED IT AS YOURS.

AND OWNED IT.

AND WHAT IF YOU ALSO CLAIMED & OWNED THE TIMES YOU ARE WELL, LESS THAN AMAZING…

This is where the gut-check reality comes in. BEING AMAZING INCLUDES TIMES WE ARE NOT ALL THAT AMAZING…

THOSE are the times that present the opportunities head-on: to grow, change, disrupt, re-invent… to be what you know you crave.

Reality check: Nothing shifts or changes or happens with any inspired thought until you apply courageous action.

So go ahead. Jolt your BOLD.  Bring your Amazing … to one situation, conversation, opportunity, presentation, challenge, relationship, work or life. Today: 

IMG_1621Believe It. 

Own It.

Lead & Live It. 

Deny Substitutions!

OK, it’s Monday. Just not feeling it?

Relax… there’s someone in your life who’d cherish your word of encouragement, your nod of *keep going!* or simply your smile.

Find one way to champion THEIR Amazing today. 

See what happens.

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© 1993-2013 Ann Ulrich, THE BOLD! FACTOR®  AnnUlrich.com

Photo:  Apparently lots of hot chocolate with marshmellow drinkers at the Ely Lodge!

Your BOLD Exclamation Point

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IMG_1621What gifts, skills and talents do you bring… in your own unique way…

…that set YOU apart?

This is where you begin to discover Your BOLD Exclamation Point!

When you are willing to do the work to identify what YOU bring to the table (whether at work in the boardroom… or at home in the kitchen) to create and earn new success:

Your *!* becomes what you’re known for and remembered by.

Others are drawn to you, want to be around you, want more from you, and WANT WHAT YOU BRING!

How to get there from here?

First Discover.

Then Deliver.

Confidently. Consistently. Passionately.

When you can articulate Success… you can replicate Success!

What DO you want to be known for and remembered by?!

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© 1993-2012 Ann Ulrich,  THE BOLD! FACTOR®   ANNULRICH.COM

Photo:  There was never a doubt in my mind as to what my logo would be when I launched my own business. Having been forever marked-down by my teachers – in probably every grade – for overly-enthusiastic overuse of the !!! in my writing, reports, art… I colored one BOLD RED in 1993… and ever since use it to my heart’s content! (!!)

Excellence: How Contagious Are You?

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photo-30When it comes to Excellence…

How are you positively impacting people, situations, outcomes and lives…

…by sharing your Excellence, passing it on, spreading it generously among others?

IMAGINE: What if your Excellence became Contagious…

A HANDFUL OF BOLD: 7 WAYS TO SPREAD CONTAGIOUS EXCELLENCE!

1. When you can articulate success… you can replicate success!  (Discover, develop and deliver your BOLD! Exclamation Point.)

2. Take one inspired thought… apply courageous action… and move your own mountains! (You’ll inspire others around you to move their own, too.)

3. Build respect, relationships and results internally first… to build the rock-solid foundation you need before reaching out externally!  (Get strong inside before taking it outside.)

4. Create room for serendipity, whitespace and downtime!  (Your refreshed energy will translate into your next success.)

5. Hold yourself accountable by making *I Own This* your new self-leadership mantra! (Your mirror message reads: Success is up to ME. Own this.)

6. Social Generosity is the antidote to your rat race rush life!  (Stop long enough to help someone else get ahead.)

7. Your genuine SMILE shared early and often breeds optimism!  (Your Beautiful BOLD S.M.I.L.E. = Your Sincere Means of Igniting Leadership and Excellence!)

Go ahead… make our day…

BE CONTAGIOUS!

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© 1993-2012 Ann Ulrich  THE BOLD! FACTOR®   ANNULRICH.COM

Photo:   A favorite fabric, and now every time I see it, I think: Contagious!