Oprah’s Own Lifeclass Tour in Toronto

Oprah’s Own!

Almost 9,000 men and women lined up around a full city block  in Toronto on April 16th, waiting to hear words of wisdom from Oprah and her chosen guests. The reason for the huge lineup was to get a chance to see the icon that has been an inspiration to so many for so long.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m one of Oprah’s own – I read her magazine, I watched her show, and I often quote something I’ve heard from her or one of the men and women she has taken under her wing.

My colleague Rebecca Follows and I travelled to Toronto together. When we arrived and saw the huge lineup we knew that we had to do a little creative thinking. My new book, “Cycles of Life, Keeping You on Track” had just hit the streets and I quickly recognized that I could use one of the lessons in the book to get us to the front of the line! The lesson was, “learn from the past”. I remembered when I was working at this venue and I duplicated what I had done then. I always valet parked, so that exactly what we did! Then, because I had a media pass, we were able to go directly to the area where the show was to be held. Learning from the past, we got to the front of the line.

As a journalist, I wanted to share what it was like to be in the audience; to experience that massive collection of human beings, men and women, all of whom were Oprah fans. I chatted with people around me, and I listened to their stories as they shared how Oprah or one of the guest speakers changed their lives. Later I found a colleague who has a complete collection of Oprah’s O magazines. She has 143 issues from May/June 2002 to May 2012, plus 2 Commemorative issues. That’s a true fan!

I learned that 80% of the wealth inNorth Americais controlled by women, but that statistic alone is not enough for us; we have to do something significant.  I’m positive that most of the women in the room were determined to have a life changing experience before they left the building.

The event, billed as a look at Oprah’s classroom, was an opportunity to share life lessons alongside teachers like motivational speaker Tony Robbins, spiritual healer Deepak Chopra, life coach Iyanla Vanzant and humanitarian Bishop T.D. Jakes.

The entire audience was spellbound as they listened to each speaker. And what an audience it was; it appeared that almost every culture from around the world was in that room! The multi-cultural mix reminded me of a song I sang as a kid in church, “Every colour, black and white all are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world!” Well this was Oprah’s world and we all felt the love!

The theme for this Life Class event in the world’s largest classroom in Toronto was forgiveness. The teachers each shared their personal insight on the power of forgiveness, into letting go and moving forward.  They supplied some of the tools needed to break free of the past and take control of the future.

Tools and Timely Tips from the Teachers:

Tony Robbins:  Live a passionate life. Fear is a counselor, not a jailer.

Deepak Chopra:  The true self is stable. The everyday self shifts constantly.

Bishop T.D. Jakes:  The pursuit of life is to find your purpose. To waste your life is to  miss that purpose.

Iyanla Vanzant:  We all play a role in the pain we experience. We show up for it. We  tolerate it. We acknowledge our contribution; then the healing begins.

I was there, in that room with 9,000 people and I recognized that everyone was there for a similar reason – they all needed a little inspiration, to kick start them on their journey of discovery.

Did we all find ways to forgive ourselves and those who have hurt us? Only time will tell, but from my observation, I think there were many who will forgive, and be forgiven.

I have my fingers crossed that Oprah will come back to Toronto with another Lifeclass.

Oprah – 1

Visibility – it’s the key to success!

I’m not sure how many of you read my blog, but it’s always about people I know, resources I can share and it’s generally something that can be shared with others.

This blog is about visibility!  On March 8^th, for International Women’s Day, I hosted a Leads, Needs and Good Deeds event at Liaison College, Oakville Campus. Everyone who attended agreed to a code of ethics that was specifically for that day. They had to come prepared to share leads, to be comfortable telling the group about their needs, and to donate a product or service that we could raffle off as a fundraiser to fulfill the mandate of International Women’s Day which was to connect and inspire young women and girls.

The event was sold out and a huge success! The cheque went to CYAN – a not for profit that is specifically for young people who want to use their 40 hours of community service in a measurable way. You can watch the videos of all the men and women who attended this event that agreed to be interviewed. Check out my YouTube channel to see for yourself! http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL24589ECDD0E9E896

Since video is an important way to raise awareness for you and your products check out the clips from the Top Guns at Western Finance – these clips were shot during a retreat held at Ghost River Crossing in Cochrane, Alberta. Visibility can come from what you hear, as well as what you can see. So don’t neglect the opportunity to be interviewed on radio. Check out some of my guests on Talk to Donna. Last week’s guest was Dr. Janice Cockburn, an audiologist who will be at the Women at Their Best Event on April 30^th, 2012 in Alliston, Ontario. http://bit.ly/GQDXRY

I encourage everyone to consider how best to utilize your time, talent and credibility. Don’t neglect the print media either – are you an expert? Then perhaps you can write articles that will be published in local magazines or newspapers. Check out http://entrenomics.wordpress.com

Watch for some exciting new opportunities for visibility through ConnectUs and Donna Messer. We are building an incredible team of experts that will soon be sharing through audio, video and print! If you want to be one of those experts, let me know.

In the meantime, enjoy the wonderful spring weather we have!

Donna

Empowered? You Bet!

 How do you measure the results of being part of a ConnectUs Empowerment Team? I wasn’t sure until I sat around the table with the first graduates.

I’m stepping back in time to bring you an update on the team that first met at Stone Edge Estate on Dec. 17^th, 2011.

This group met through an invitation from Smart Betty. The owner, Lisa Rots agreed to promote the event through her newly established company. The results were that 10 people that didn’t know each other; spent a day together. The purpose was to set goals and establish an action plan. Each person had to agree to do what they could to encourage and help each other. I was the facilitator. It was agreed that the team would reconnect after 60 days to report in their success.  We even created an Empowerment Team Facebook Group.

We met on Saturday, February 25^th again at Stone Edge Estate. 8 team members came prepared to share the results of their goal setting.  The results were amazing!

While I could write an entire article on the team and their stories, I encourage you to connect with each member  of the Empowerment Team and learn from them directly.

Meet the team –

Doug Rapien – he is the owner of Stone Edge Estate. He is an incredible host, a fabulous chef, and an interior decorator with an amazing talent for finding the best price for almost everything he purchased for his B & B.   Stone Edge Estate Facebook Page will be up shortly.

Deb Maybury – she is a speaker, trainer and author. She empowers young girls and teaches them self defense.  Deb loves a challenge and is currently interviewing women for her 2^nd book, called Unlock the Door.  She is a savvy real estate investor and willingly shares her secrets to financial success.  Deb can be reached at getrealisticacademy@gmail.com

Nina Menezes – she is an entrepreneur, technically astute and is tapped into the world of technology. She’s a junky when it comes to learning the latest and greatest ways to earn an income on the Internet and she happily shares what she learns.  To find out more about Nina, please visit her Website.

Gary Gradley – he is a faith based author who has had amazing success in interviewing business men and women who have stories they are willing to share. He is a corporate trainer and coach with a goal to transform lives of those who read the book. He is currently using his strengths in the world of volunteering.  Please visit Gary’s Website.

Donna Geary – she is an inspiring marketing professor and a visual merchandising expert.  She is an well respected author and is updating her book, Maximizing Store Impact  to offer it to retailers around the world, through the Internet. You can connect with Donna via LinkedIn

Kristina Brooks – she is a Naturopathic Doctor who loves to share her knowledge through seminars both on site and over the Internet.  She is working on compliancy issues to make sure that all her social media meets the requirements of her profession.  You can connect with Kristina via LinkedIn

Len Vassos – he is socially savvy, technology wise! He built his website, and has established his presence through all the relevant social media sites. An active team player, he consistently shares his knowledge and resources with everyone.  To find out more about Len, please visit his Website.

Rita Farruggia – she is a constant learner; a technically savvy women with a passion for social media. Rita joined us via technology from California! She is actively volunteering while in California with one of North America’s largest networking groups. Please visit Rita’s Website.

Lisa Rots and Mukash Tanna – were unable to attend on Feb. 25^th.

Empowerment Team Interview

You can listen to the interviews on ”Talk to Donna” on Blog Talk Radio.  The team is anxious to share their story and the value of being part of the Empowerment Team.  We will be offering a “Free” Webinar where you will learn their secrets to success. The Webinar will be facilitated and each team member will have the chance to show and tell.

I am ready to recruit my next Empowerment Team.   Do you want to be part of it?

Who am I?  I’m Donna Messer, a proud team facilitator who can’t wait to have each of the team share their success story with you!

Georgian College Student Speaks Out!

I spoke at Georgian College a week or so ago, and I offered the students the chance to learn the art of effective networking. I suggested that I could “bridge the gap” between who they were, and where they wanted to go. Sarah Anne Boland, took me up on the challenge and the words below show exactly how she was able to connect with my colleague, recruiter Lee Koren. 

My name is Sarah Anne Boland. I had the good fortune of recently connecting with the incredible Donna Messer at Georgian College. During her informative session, she expertly drew my attention to a very important professional connection – she led me to the senior recruiter, Lee Koren. Today, I would like to share with you thepositive experience I had with Lee Koren.

I was always one of those careful resume writers, not letting too much in, not letting too much out. I knew I had some really strong points to offer, but, like most, I wasn’t sure how to convey my true strengths. Now, let me be frank: I’m after a Law Clerk position, and, anybody who’s anybody knows just how much the details matter, especially in the legal field. I didn’t have a problem about editing the resume; no, my conundrum was how to express the details of my activities so that others would know the lengths to which I would go to achieve professional excellence.So, I was faced not only with the task of creating an outstanding resume, but the extra responsibility of ensuring that the details of my activities were on that resume, front and centre. Since the resume is my selling point, everything had to be arranged just so.

Enter the knowledgeable Lee Koren. As a fantastic communicator and an expert adviser, Lee had the wherewithal to guide my resume to a new level. The one element of Lee’s advice that was invaluable to me was the career specific guidance. My goals of entering the legal profession as a Law Clerk are so strong, however, I had overlooked numerous factors on my resume – the one document required to gain industry entry! Lee, with her natural precision and professional demeanour, carefully turned my attention toward the subtle nuanceunderlining a professionally crafted resume. In my experience with Lee, I really admired her sound, concise, and insightful analysis.

The best thing about the experience was the feedback from Lee. It truly wasmy pleasure to have received comments from an individual as talented as Lee Koren. I would highly recommend this individual, and should my future employment needs rise again, I know to whom I would go.

As I draw to a close, I write, with utmost honesty, of my deep appreciation for the power of networking.

Thank you, Donna Messer.

Donna, you have given me so much, and I need to share how great you are.

Andto Lee Koren, my sincere thanks.

Lee, thank you for your expert advice; I won’t hesitate to spread the word of the great work you do.

Alas, I can only hope that I have done justice to the two individuals I was blessed to have met; two individuals who deserve many more words of praise.

Yours truly,

Sarah Anne Boland

Visibility + Credibility = Profitability

Visibility + Credibility = Profitability

I had the opportunity to be interviewed a couple of weeks ago by Lori Raudnask from Persistence Pays. Lori and I met a few years ago at a Company of Women event in Oakville and Lori kept my business card!

Lori is actively involved with local Chambers of Commerce and other small business groups; and is an incredible networker. She’s a key note speaker, a sales trainer who builds winning teams.

Is it any wonder she decided to use social media and on-line interviewing to expand her reach?

With Lori’s directions, I drove to Hamilton and walked into a store front studio called NewsClipTV.  I was greeted by Pink and Floyd, resident feline mascots for this unique studio. The studio has a set up that made it easy to talk to host Lori, who was an excellent interviewer. The studio and the set up complete with all the whistles and bells is the brainchild of Moe Masoudi who markets under the name BizClipInc.

While the interview was quick and easy, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the final edit. I shook hands with both Lori and Moe, patted Pink and Floyd and headed back to Oakville to await what could be a great way to increase my visibility, which in turn adds to my credibility – and that ultimately will add to my profitability.

Using Google Alerts – (which I recommend to all of my clients), I was “alerted” as soon as the video was posted to the web. I clicked on and watch the show – it was really well edited, and I am delighted to share the segment with you.

Ethical, effective networking happens when there is a win for everyone – in this case – we were all winners!

I got visibility, Lori did a great job of interviewing, and Moe got the chance to show his editing skills.

Check out the interview at NewsClipTV – Donna Messer of ConnectUsCanada.com

I am going to ask you to comment on the content, and if you will, on the editing and the show itself.

EmPOWERed Women

EmPOWERed Women 

 According to the dictionary – the word “empowered” means - to promote self-actualization, to influence and to inspire. 

There is no doubt in my mind that Ontario Power Generation’s initiative EmPOWERed Women is doing exactly what the dictionary identifies.

I was fortunate to be a keynote speaker at the graduation for women at OPG who were divided into 5 groups identified as Alpha, Beta, Delta, Charlie and Echo. While it might sound like “pilot” talk – and these women were definitely flying high – it is how people in the energy world communicate.

 The day began with a welcome from Colleen Sidford, CIO, Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Treasurer at OPG. She is also the founder and champion for EmPOWERed Women.

OPG is the province’s publicly owned and largest electricity generator. The EmPOWERed Women program was founded in 2008 to help women across the company maximize their individual and organization potential. It is a leadership development and mentoring program, that really works, and that is speaking from my personal experience at the graduation!

EmPOWERed Women was created to demonstrate a commitment to gender diversity and the advancement of women to encourage and prepare them for leadership.

4 key values are fulfilled within this program:

• Increased career opportunities
• Commitment to gender diversity and equality
• Heightened engagement among all women
• Leveraged leadership capabilities of women

The program is open to all female OPG employees and requires a ½ day commitment each month for 4 months.  There are classes in leadership, networking, career development and mentoring.  Participants graduate with increased poise, grace and confidence, both in their speech and in their demeanor.

For the graduation ceremony, all Managers of program participants as well as the President and CEO Tom Mitchell, attend.

I sat in the front row after delivering my speech and I listened as the Valedictorian for each group from Alpha to Echo shared their experience as a participant in EmPOWERed Women.  They were inspiring, and will be a positive influence on all women within the OPG family.

CEO, Tom Mitchell encouraged all graduates to “Aim High, Diversity and Take Risks.’’ He set the stage by giving his support to the program, now, he stated, it was their turn to have the confidence to “take the stage” and share their experience.

Since OPG is owned by the province, it’s possible that the EmPOWERed Women program can be implemented in other corporations within the Ontario Government.

I was incredibly proud to be part of the celebration and to see and hear just how much each woman was emPOWERed.  I offer my congratulations to all – it made me want to join the OPG family!