This week has been a flurry of activity as I’ve spent most of it with my MDM people here in Sydney.

At the weekend we had the Annie Stoker event which totally rocked! This woman is a magician at shifting mindset, believe me.

And then this week, still on Bondi. we had the Million Dollar Masterclass Acceleration Session. See all the crazy pics from our Mexican Fiesta night…

All the MDM groups have been amazing and this one is no exception, in fact it’s more special than most because it’s the last time we are running the MDM programme. That’s because Greg and I want to focus on our family and a mentor group needs love and nurturing – as do children. So that’s why we’ve spent so long systematizing everything so we can still offer the same content but with less of me. That’s cos I’ll be spending time being a mummy! Although not just yet…

I’ve just got back from Los Angeles where I spent a fabulous weekend reconnecting to my soul-self.  It’s so important we stay true to what we care about and what drives us – and staying in touch with my soul essence is something very valuable to me.

So there I was in a room full of hundreds of powerful women, but not powerful in a pushy way, but in a very feminine way.  You know, it’s such a shame that our culture no longer celebrates feminine power and that we have to go re-discover something that was so normal in so many traditional cultures.

It seems like the drive these days is to turn women into men and men into women.  But just because we can be strong and independent, doesn’t mean we have to give up being ladies!  And just because men can be soft and sensitive, doesn’t mean you have to forget your soul-self either.

And talking of being a lady, well guess where I went this week?! I popped into the MAC store in Santa Monica and treated myself to 2 new eyeshadows, 1 mascara, 1 studio fix, 2 new brushes, lip gloss for Hannah and two new lippies for me.  Not a bad stash for the afternoon and a very good way to get in touch with my feminine energies, don’t you think?  And men, I’m not saying you have to wear make-up but you can still be soft and sensitive too.  All of us can learn to get in touch with our soul-selves and the divine essence of who we are….

Hello

I hope you enjoyed the weekend just as much as we did. Were you one of the world audience of millions who watched the World Cup Final?  I have to confess I’m not a huge footie fan and did need help on the off-side rule, but the World Cup final is a once every 4 years event and surely worth watching….

It wasn’t a beautiful match but what I loved about it was that after years and years of potential, Spain finally got their reward.  Unbelievably Spain had never made it past the quarter-finals before 2010 and yet each World Cup, their team have always been lauded with compliments – they have most talented players, they play the most beautiful football, they’re a joy to watch, they surely must do well…. And yet tournament after tournament they flopped.  When would they ever fulfil all that promise?

The answer is it’s never too late to fulfil promise and talent.  It’s just a matter of putting the correct system around your natural skill-sets.  Spain learnt that raw talent wasn’t enough – they needed a framework around it.  And that’s what they did.  They put the systems in place to unlock the talent and make it flow. And now look – they’re finally world champions!

So, the message I got from watching Spain as they celebrated wildly was one – the Spaniards sure know how to party and two, never give up on your dream! If you know you’ve got natural raw talent, and you’re still not making it, what business systems do you need to put around yourself so you too can reap the reward?

Talking of parties, check out my pics from our time in Surrey last week.  Our team had a week of post-event work in a gorgeous converted barnhouse.  We got a lot done and we also had a lot of fun…

This week is one of the most pivotal weeks of the year.  Why? Because it contains the year’s longest or shortest day depending on which hemisphere you live in.  

I’ve always found the Summer and Winter Solstices fascinating.  The ceremonies and rituals around them are not only steeped in history, they’re also recognised all around the world.  It’s a little bit of global witchcraft…..This year we happened to be in England which maybe has one of the most famous Summer Solstice parties in the world – at Stonehenge.  

No, Greg and I didn’t go.  Although that would have been interesting….

I love the symbolism around solstice time.  It’s a traditional time of healing and new beginnings.  For example, in Spain they celebrate ‘Dia de San Juan’ on the 24th June by holding parties on the beaches.  At midnight everyone runs into the water to be purified.   In England and Australia we mark it with bonfires which of course are linked with witchcraft.

What meaning do you take from Summer or Winter Solstice?  Be it the shortest day of the year or the longest, which parts of your life need cleansing?  Is it time for a new beginning in your business?  Are you ready to burn some parts of your past?  

The name solstice means “sun standing”.  This week, how could you shine the sun on your life so you can better see your future?

My Mum has 3 Golden Rules.  I’m sure she’d never be able to teach them to you – but they are things I’ve noticed over the years that apply as well to business as they do to mothering.

1. Never show up to a party empty handed.

It’s polite, thoughtful and just good form to take a bottle of wine, flowers or a gift of some sort.

Similarly in business, if someone has given you the gift of their time to help you out in business – what can you give them to say thanks?

2. Happiness is more important than financial reward. 

My Mum never expressed too much concern when I wanted to leave medicine and become an actress.  She continues to support me no matter what I want to do, as long as I’m happy. 

I think we should all “mother” ourselves in this way in business.  Take your own happiness “temperature”.  Are you still happy doing what you’re doing? If not, perhaps you should nurture and support yourself and let yourself do something you enjoy for a while. (Who knows it might make you more money like mine did!)

3. Relationships first.

No matter what happens, or what someone does or doesn’t do – the most important thing is to maintain the relationship.  If there is love and trust in the relationship people will be empowered to make the right choices.  There’s no room for judgment. 

I notice this holds true with dealing with staff.  People don’t come to work to do a bad job.  If you empower people, and love them enough, they are more likely to achieve than if you berate them.

As I write this I think I could write a million things I learned from my Mum that impact my business, but 3 will do for today.  What did you learn from your Mum?  Was is it empowering?  If not, turn it around – there’s some great life lessons in there if you look.

Thanks Mum.