Does the FOX/UFC opening intro hurt or help the MMA image?

I am happy that the UFC has gone mainstream via the relationship between UFC and FOX.  Truly, I am.  I am excited and definitely not surprised that MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world.  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/941301-ufc-paying-tribute-to-one-of-the-worlds-fastest-growing-sports; http://www.cagepotato.com/worlds-fastest-growing-sport-fact-or-hype/. The sport and the athletes deserve a growing audience to witness the strategic art form that MMA is.  I am in the minority, as a business woman, when I attend board room meetings with CEO's, Vice Presidents and Directors not because I am a woman, but because my sport of choice isn't baseball, basketball, football, soccer or golf.  My sport of choice is MMA, reality fighting, gladiator style.  You can hear a pin drop every time I proudly admit that I am a huge fan of UFC and the elite fighters that fight with such heart.  After the initial silence, the degrading comments begin about how "the fighters are knuckle heads" and how "they aren't the brightest bulbs on the tree" or "it's so violent how can you stand to watch it?"  It's always the same judgements.  I still haven't figured out who ends up more shocked….the

2 questions that can change your life for the better.

Do you ever feel trapped?  Do you ever wonder why the change you want never seems to make it's way to you in a long lasting way?  Does a "supposed to" thought process exist in your world?  I am not referring to manners that we are "supposed to" do or right vs. wrong when it comes to treating people or ourselves well.  "Supposed to's" should exist where good manners are concerned, for example.   

I ask these questions because of limitations people place on themselves.  Limitations that

What can we learn from MMA and elite fighters?

I have a thing for cage fighting and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) where the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) come alive.  I've had a thing for it ever since I came across cage fighting over twenty years ago, when it came out on late night T.V.  I knew I had fallen hard for the sport because it was important enough for me to watch the entire show while standing a foot a way from my T.V. with the volume down as low as it could go, so not to disturb my parents.  Yet, loud enough to hear the names of the moves and fighters.  I believe my appreciation of MMA fighting began when I watched Sunday karate movies with sub titles and voice overs, in addition to, enjoying  Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal movies.  

I have a strong appreciation for the true art that it is.  I respect the discipline and the heart that it takes to shut out everything that does not support a fighter's desire to be their very best.  The level of respect the fighters display for one another once the fight is over is heart warming. 

3 Tips to ease into a baggage free and sustainable happy career.

"The things you want are always possible; it is just that the way to get them is not always apparent.  The only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling life is you, and that can be a considerable obstacle because you carry the baggage of insecurities and past experience." 

~ Les Brown

Just as baggage holds down a relationship, so won't baggage weigh down your chances for a successful career or business.   Without a balance between work and life your chances for sustainability in a happy career lessen.  What does balance have to do with baggage?  When you carry baggage such as insecurity, fear, and feelings of unworthiness, they tend to weigh heavily on your mind and keep you off center.  

Three Tips for developing business.

In the sales industries there is a frenzied feeling of making the most appointments you can, as soon as you can make them, in an to attempt to sell your product.  I have been surrounded by the theories of "keeping your funnel full," "it's a numbers game," "the more you quote the more you sell," for the better part of 13 years.  These theories, when put into practice, absolutely work.  As a marketing and sales professional I also know that it takes  more than the old clichés to be successful.  We are working with real people who have real lives, external stressors and higher professional priorities.  I have been fortunate and am blessed with a successful track record for building and maintaining relationships.  I attribute my success to several elements.  Here are three that you may find useful.

Drop elevator pitch and start connecting | Hartford Business

Drop elevator pitch and start connecting | Hartford Business

When I saw the title of this I couldn't believe how appropriate the timing was, as I just finished creating a training for sales professionals, called Stop Presenting and Start Connecting.

This article has some good pointers for those who dread the elevator pitch!

Enjoy!