Pegine's Thoughts

7 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 25 Years Old

2013-09-19T19:26:00.001-04:00

Seven Things I wish I knew When I Was 25 years old

1. You are smart. You may not know everything and that doesn't discount the fact that you are smart. Tell yourself that, remind yourself and keep on telling yourself no matter what "I am smart". There will be people in your life who will want you to think differently. Don't give them that power. You have to know deep down that you are smart and eager to learn more.

2. Ask, Ask, Ask Ask confidently for the job, the raise, and the opportunity. You can do it. Be Confident. You will learn how to do the job. You can ask for advice, support and insight. No matter what... ask.

3. Trust Your Gut If you feel uncomfortable, feel you are in a dangerous situation please trust your intuition. GET OUT OF THERE. At the same time if your gut tells you to go for it and take the risk.. DO IT. Energy flows throughout the world and humans have the ability to 'feel' the energy. Your gut 'feels' the message. Trust it.

4. Love Love what you do, Love the people you meet, love yourself. Know that you are loved. You get what you want when you love you. Look yourself in the eye in the morning and at night and tell yourself how much you love you. You'll cry, you'll feel stupid. Do it anyway. When you love yourself every thing works out.

5. Laugh. Laugh lots Laughter feels great. Laugh alone and with people. Find ways to laugh. Look for laughing moments. Laugh... just because. Laughter is good for you.

6. It will all work out. It always does. No matter how horrendous, difficult, challenging or awful a situation is... it always works out. You will move on and, depending on your attitude, your next phase can be great!

7. Meditate, Pray, Be quiet It doesn't matter what you believe. Take daily time to just be silent. Breathe deeply and feel your heart beat, feel the breeze on your face. Just be. You will gain peace and perspective.

Exclusive Women's Leadership Situational Training in St. Augustine, Fl

2013-08-16T16:28:00.002-04:00

Contact 904-280-8806 or email info at TeamPegine dot com

Courageous Honored Innovative Extraordinary Female Leaders

Do you want to become a powerful female leader and know how to ask for the things you deserve?

This amazing 2 1/2-day situational training will show you how to:

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- Communicate your value
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- Close the big deal

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Be Great! Hang Out with Great People

2013-08-05T16:45:00.001-04:00

Jim Rohn said we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. So true. During every transition and transformation in my life I had to change my circle of friends. Each time I made a change - my life changed. I know that who I hang out with determines who I am.

Girlfriends - Hang out with women who ROCK their world.

This weekend I came back from my Master Mind retreat. Master Mind groups are groups of people - In Napoleon Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich" he describes how to form a master mind group. Usually four or more people (and less than 10) who choose to meet regularly so that, together, they can plan and oversee the development of their personal goals and support the goals of the individual members.

My group is special to me I spend a lot of time with them. They are all women. They are all in charge of multimillion dollar businesses, they are all moms, they are in long term marriages, they are all aspirational. They all take care of themselves. They are all as passionate about leadership, business, financial prosperity as I am and they all laugh. I spend most of my free time with them.

Your Significant Other - Choose wisely. The person you choose must believe in you and be your partner in all areas.

My husband is another person who I hang out with.
We read the Prosperity Bible" ( ok, I read and he listens). He laughs A LOT. He is incredibly organized and loves our home. He has always been an entrepreneur. He gives me sage advice. He took care of the kids, did the laundry and helped me grow the business. He is my champion.

Staff - Your staff is an extension of yourself. Make sure they are on board with your vision.

I'm grateful for our team. Each one brings their unique perspective to the work we do. ALL are part of the vision, we are truly committed to manifesting success in a diverse world for you and our clients. They inspire me to grow, hustle, learn and sell. ALL are part of the vision. We are determined to produce extraordinary experiences for each other and for those we encounter in our work and daily lives.

Team Pegine Inc table when we won #3 out of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Privately Owned Companies in North Florida!

How about you?

Can you say that about your team and team members?
Who do you hang out with?
Who do you need to add to support your goals?
Is it time to say good bye to someone?

You can make a change!

Join groups that have the kinds of people who live the life you want to live.
Rally your team. Start a team effort to be the kind of team you all want to be like.
Support your efforts by reading positive books and immersing yourself in prosperity material.

Staying in the Game

2013-07-03T17:18:00.001-04:00

It is really easy to just walk away. To say its too hard. Stay in the game, instead.

Stay strong when you feel weak.
Have faith .... courage + action + confidence.... and if you don't have it act as if do.

Staying in the game is trusting the kids will be ok, the dog will get fed, your presentation will get the job done, you will learn what you need to learn and will thrive the challenges.

The important stuff will get done. Believe in the good.

Stay in the game.

Share Your Successes

2013-06-22T18:12:00.001-04:00

Going for the next level. Reaching for the next goal. Pushing to complete the next item to check off.

Going, Going, Going.

Are you getting annoyed when someone talks about their accomplishments while you are going, going, going? You may be missing a valuable lesson for yourself.

When someone shares what they accomplished, points out their work, highlights their successes watch, listen and learn. They are doing a key career process that results in confidence and promotion.

Acknowledging out loud and to the world what you accomplished is extremely important to your career and business. You have to share your successes so you can move to the next higher level or bigger deals.

When your subconscious hears you applaud yourself, pride vibrates through your body telling your subconscious "Mmm this feels good, I want more of that." By telling and feeling this "I feel good I want more of that" you are validating your hard work receiving an immediate reward. The feel good reward. Just like chocolate you will want more of that. So you do what you need to do to feel good over and over. Applauding yourself out loud does that for you.
People love being around winners. Winners love being around winners. Your accomplishment and verbalizing those accomplishments inspires others and makes them feel good. "I know her. She is amazing." Again that feel good feeling reinforces that success is good and you want more.
People value those who succeed. Leaders value those who value the successes the individual earned. They want to give people with success stories more opportunities to grow. They want to showcase your work. They become your publicity team.
You remind yourself what you are capable of. Sometimes you move so fast that you forget what you accomplished. Stress, multiple deadlines, juggling life can make you falter. You put your head down and keep going without looking up and cheering...until you burn out. Sharing your achievements keeps your mojo going.
You confidence is contagious. Your ability to share your successes builds your confidence and grows your confidence. People want to invest in people who are confident.

Share your successes. Take people on tours of your accomplishments. Put your awards up. They are a reminder FOR YOU of what you have achieved.

I want to share a success with you.

My company, Team Pegine Inc. was just named one of the 2013 Fastest Growing Companies in North East Florida named by the Jacksonville Business Journal. Team Pegine provides Organizational Consulting, Training, Role Players and project management to to the Fed Gov, DoD, and Fortune 1000 companies.

I Want To Be A Matriarch. I Choose To Be Powerful Within My Family & My Organization

2013-06-17T15:20:00.003-04:00

Lupe Echevarria - My grandmother with my Mom and Aunt

A Matriarch is a woman who rules or dominates a family, group, or state. La Doña or matriarch in my family was my grandmother (mi Abuela). She was sought out by family and friends for counsel. She was fiscally astute, owning several buildings acquired with her husband (the house I grew up in was my Grandmother's home). She was very involved with unions (she was a seamstress and union leader) and she was definitely the moral authority growing up. Family was everything to her. Her great grandchildren know her name and what she did for us.

Google defines ma·tri·arch as

A woman who is the head of a family or tribe.
An older woman who is powerful within a family or organization.

Wikipedia writes "Matriarchs are females, especially mothers, who have the central roles of political leadership, moral authority, and fiances/or control of property."

I made a choice when I got married that I would be a strong, powerful, loving wife.
I made a choice when my children were born that I would be a strong, powerful, loving mom.
I made a choice when I opened my business that I would be a strong, powerful entrepreneur.
I made a choice when I volunteered to serve on committees I would be a strong, powerful advocate representing the organizations I support.
I made a choice when my daughter got married that I would be a Matriarch.

Being a matriarch is a choice. It is a leadership role I choose. As I was doing research on Matriarchs and the choices they made I found interesting blog posts that made me think.

Kristan Wojnar, shared a question used by a financial adviser she knows “Would you like your great-great grandchildren to know your name, what you stood for and what was most important to you in life?”

Elisabeth Boehm, Aspiring Future Matriarch wrote a blog about being the matriarch. While I didn't agree with many of her points. I embraced her list of matriarch roles which I wholeheartedly agreed with (after a little modification).

Apply them to your leadership roles at work and in your family. I know I will.

They are:

"Create, share in, and pass along the family & organizational culture.

Provide a stable home and/or work environment (even when there is change).

Understand and support the decided wealth building strategy.

Support the family & business objectives in social contexts (entertaining customers, clients; learning foreign languages; managing contacts with friends, relatives, and business associates).

Master complex tax and trust issues (not to mention subtle investment issues).

Be emotionally mature and confident and have the depth to avoid getting distracted."

Being a matriarch is not easy. It is not for the fainthearted. It requires diligence, tenacity, sacrifice, education and determination. However, choosing to be a matriarch is worth it for yourself, for your family and for your organization.

My vision is that one day my great-great grandchildren will ask their parents or grandparents "Tell me a story" and they will hear a story about the family Matriarch, Pegine, and how she loved her family and business in such a way that they (her great-great grandchildren) benefited from her choice made long, long, long ago."

Mentally Tough Females Gain Power, Prosperity and Passion

2013-06-11T14:47:00.000-04:00

The rain poured down my face. I had just lost a contract, the kids were sick, I had made some life changing decisions that were not playing out as I had hoped. I was about to go into a pity party because I was frustrated. Instead I got really angry. I went for a walk in a Florida rain storm and I was not going to back down. I had to have a face to face with the power that is.

I deserved success, I earned my success and I knew ... no matter what ... I was not going to go down without a fight, in fact... I wasn't going to go down at all. I was going to have what I wanted no matter what.

I knew for a fact that.

My business was going to thrive no matter what. I was going to do whatever I needed to do and that included making sure that the Universe knew that I relied on spiritual power.
My kids were going to go to college, be great people and be really happy without any debt.
My marriage was going to be strong and powerful.
That I was going to do whatever it took to change myself, rally myself and be the person I wanted to be NO MATTER WHAT.

I was tough and I was going to do it no matter what. BE TOUGH. So I shouted, yelled and raised my fist in the air and said.

"You think this is going to get me down?

Bring it on ... I'm one tough cookie and I will never, ever, give up!"

I learned....

Think strong thoughts.
Open yourself to the concept that you are a success and a champion.
Use your energy to focus your success.
Go to your cheerleaders and ask them why you will succeed NOT HOW but WHY.
Hear your inner voice that says "I WILL. I AM."

Be tough, be strong, be happy.

Gain Power - Power comes when you are tough enough to demand that your own personal power shines. You gain power by being 100% real and sharing your thoughts, confidence and convictions.

Gain Prosperity- Prosperity comes when you get tough enough with yourself to make sure that you think abundant and prosperous thoughts. It is easy to think lack. It takes toughness and perseverance to think prosperous, loving abundant thoughts.

Show your Passion Passionately committed to your life, your vision and what you know is your truth requires toughness to ensure that you stay committed. NO MATTER WHAT. Being tough with yourself makes sure that you decide who YOU are.

Women Leaders and Latina Leaders Follow Your GUT

2013-05-15T18:01:00.001-04:00

A coach came to visit my office she kept asking HOW? HOW? HOW?

How will I achieve my BIG, Bodacious, OVER THE TOP Goal?

Maybe you keep asking yourself....over and over.

How will I achieve success?
How will I close the deal?
How will I manage the kids, the career, the relationships, the stress?
How will I create the stepping stones to where I want to go?

WHO CARES HOW ---- thinking that way will only drive you crazy and to higher levels of stress

What matters is WHAT!

What do you want?
What will the deal look like when it closes?
What will the kids be like when they grow up?
What rewards will you receive because of your career success?
What do your relationships look like?
What does living stress free look like?
What does success look like?
What makes you smile, giggle, and enjoy life?

Get really specific. FOCUS on the what and the rest will follow.

Follow Your GUT

Get a grip on reality.

You are powerful and have achieved much in your life. You know deep down that you have so much. So much experience and so much knowledge to share. What you see around you may not necessarily be the truth. The TRUTH is what you want to do. The TRUTH is what you feel great about, happy about and joyous about.

Don't get caught up in what others are doing, or receiving or achieving. You might see others passing you by, being promoted and cheered. Your perception may be wrong. The employee might be placed in the new position so they can be put out to pasture or fired faster.

Business may look like it is booming for others and not you ... until you check their accounts you don't know the truth (even then you don't know). Keep your eyes on your own life, see what you want for yourself and act on that.

You have what it takes. Go after THE WHAT and win. If you think "This is made for me. Then it HAS to be yours." Then you will joyfully go after it.

Use your talents, leverage, connections and knowledge.

There is no better way to market your abilities than to ask the people around for guidance, business and introductions. Know all the diamonds that you have within in you. The talents - the way you do what you do. Too often people discount what comes so easy. I find it easy to promote and market. I just do it and love it. For other people it is a chore. Tamara is brilliant at keeping tasks moving forward. She is a master at doing what needs to be done "NEXT" you will hear her say. It is easy. Both of us take it for granted until someone points it out to us. We get to use our talents for good.

We all know many people. People we can help and who can guide us. People we can offer our services to and people who can influence decisions being made about us. We have to use our talents, connections and knowledge to build the life we want.

Take the time to visualize every detail of what you want

Harder than you think. The blockages to your visualization may occur because you may not feel worthy of what you say you want. (Take this from me. Had to work through this one.) Do it anyway. Start out with five minutes (two if that is all you can do) work your way up to 30 minutes. Live the life you want NOW by visualizing what you want. This is the work you must do so that the HOW just appears. You will know what to do because you SEE it clearly, everyday.

Follow Your GUT the HOW will follow

Lessons from Les Brown, Zig Ziglar , Harvey Mckay, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hanson & Bill Clinton

2013-05-07T18:09:00.001-04:00

"I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I've become. If I had, I'd have done it a lot earlier." -Oprah Winfrey

Les Brown, Zig Ziglar , Harvey Mckay, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hanson &Bill Clinton are all men who would be described as confident, bold, courageous and charismatic. Most people would not call them authentic... except they are very much true to who they are.

Authentic as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary means true to one's own personality, spirit, or character.

Being your true personality and character takes courage, patience and tenacity. Looking at my pictures you can see that as I've grown my business I grew into my authentic self. Each year I gained more awareness, more confidence and courage to be me.

Yes... at the top levels of the speaking industry it is a boys club. They make more money, get more gigs and are highly coveted. I think because most are more authentic, more confident, more bold and more courageous than most female speakers. They really KNOW who they are, what they offer and don't care what you think of them. They are more concerned with being their best, being ambitious and sharing who they are, what they know being authentic - 100% - you either like them or you don't. The more authentic I've grown the more I feel the same way.

These men taught me powerful lessons that enabled me to discover my true authentic self.

People see your power before you do.

After presenting on the same stage with then President Clinton I was SHOCKED when he thanked me for the book I sent him and Hillary Clinton. He then told me the chapter and page that meant the world to him. Someone captured the moment.

I was honored and shocked yet it didn't hit me until much later that my authentic, bodacious self was beginning to be revealed. People around me saw it but I didn't.

Faith in your potential, believe that you are blessed.

I had the privilege to have several conversations with Zig Ziglar. Zig was an amazing, gifted and brilliant man. I was having an especially difficult time in my business ... really couldn't imagine how I could go one more step. Zig took the time to share his own trials during a similar point in his career. He encouraged me to keep following the path that was being placed in front of me. He reminded me of faith and that my path was mine, uniquely mine to follow with faith.

Find your voice by observing how others found theirs.

Les Brown has a style and power of his own. Many copy him but there is only one Les Brown. His power flows out of him. I learned to be me by watching him. He is fiery, fierce, strong and dynamic. Seeing his willingness to BE ALL IN I began to find my voice. To be the feisty, fearless, focused, fun female leader that I am. Bold, brilliant magnificent me.

Leverage grows with authenticity.

My first book came out and my fist national TV appearance happened when I met Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield of Chicken Soup of the Soul Fame. They are SO different from each other and so powerful in their own right. They each have their own style. I watched, I listened, I learned. I began to embrace my own style, my own attitude and my own confidence. Expressing me began with applauding my experience, strength, hope and sharing it with others. I was able to be an advocate for Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul and became one of their editorial readers. I used my leverage to get them in front of some major talk show hosts. They valued my connections and I learned to valued my connections. The more authentic I became the more powerful my connections became.

You will find admirers where you didn't know they existed.
As you grow in your authenticity you discover that you are more comfortable in your own skin. People who you admire will tell you they admire you. When I had the chance to sit and speak with Harvey Mackay he told me that he enjoyed seeing my career grow. Who knew he was watching! He also asked for my book. I told him how much I loved all his books ( I have a library full of his books). He asked me lots of questions about my business and admired my growth. WOW! I was in a perfect place, owning my own self, being my own. I was congruent and that makes me happy.

Like Minded People Are Attracted to You

Freedom to be 100% authentic enables you to have fun, engage with like minded people, and be bold, bodacious, brilliant and believable. I love being with one of the stars within the speaking industry. Brian Walters is a genius and to be with him is a true gift. He is totally, 100% authentic and uses his gifts to the max. He embraced my unique perspective of the world and continually supports my endeavors to be bold, bodacious, brilliant and believable. The more authentic I am the more I attract like minded people.

Just like Oprah once I defined me and became ME my wealth and happiness followed.

You Don't Need Permission

2013-05-01T16:06:00.001-04:00

You don't need permission.

Time and time again I see the same thing among all women, women of color and prior service females in civilian jobs. Why are you waiting for permission to speak, to sit, to ask, to be innovative and to ask for the sale?

You DON'T need permission.

What you need is courage, conviction, persistence and valuing your expertise.

Rear Admiral Grace Hopper said "It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission." She was an American computer scientist and United States Navy Rear Admiral. She graduated from Vassar with a B.A. in mathematics in 1928. She was passionate and NOTHING was going to stop her from going for the BIG ONE.

Last night I was at an event with senior female leaders. We were standing for a couple of hours at a cocktail party. The group was pulled together in a circle and announcements were made. I was tired of standing so I walked off, grabbed a chair, went back to the circle and sat down in the chair.

Afterward I heard the following:

"Wow, my feet were hurting but I didn't want to disrupt the meeting"
"I wish that I did that"
"You are always stepping out of the norm"
"You were courageous"
"I don't know why we didn't sit?"

That was just to sit!

Now imagine it is a BIG deal... a BIG IDEA! You know it is going to work. You know that it is going to bring money to the organization or change the industry you are in or it is going to make a big splash by creating BUZZ and POP!!!

What are you going to do? Be wimpy and wait for permission? Are you waiting for someone to hold your hand and tell you its okay you can do that?

The worries and fears of "What will they think of me"... does that really matter?

What if you WIN!! What if your idea pays off? What if you are the ONE and ONLY!

You get the payoff, the promotion, the power, the publicity, and the kudos.

Stop being such a nice girl or someone who is a yes woman, you don't need permission. You need GUTS.

Willing to Go After 60 Million Dollars? - 9 Lessons I Had to Learn

2013-04-23T17:06:00.000-04:00

My company, Team Pegine Inc., is a woman owned and woman managed company. My senior leadership team is female. One of my mentors, who knows me very well, asked several years ago why am I playing so small? Why am I going after the small potatoes when I have the guts, fearlessness and foundation to go after bigger deals? My mantra became "Fewer Bigger Deals."

Every year since then we have grown. This year we are going after bigger deals, 60 million dollar deals. My team and I are having fun. We are growing, expanding and increasing.... and with each proposal we learn more and become better prepared.

There are rules to closing a 60 million dollar deal - preparation is key. So here are some of the steps I've taken to be prepared. I know that some of you may never enter into this realm, however the steps for your great, big one are no different.

Confidence. As a leader are you confident enough to be in the same room as the decision makers of a 60 million dollar deal? Can you sit in your chair and not squirm, wiggle or feel that you are a fraud? When you get your shot are you ready?

Actually, you may get two shots but you really will learn from the first. I had the chance seven years ago to meet with the Asst Secretary of Defense in charge of Manpower. I went to the Pentagon and was prepared for the meeting (or so I thought). I was ushered into his office where 5 other men in senior positions were in the room. I was alone.

Lesson ONE if you don't have 'people' you aren't ready for a 60 million dollar deal. I didn't have people, I had me, myself and I. I was already at a disadvantage and communicated to them that I didn't get how to close large business deals, I didn't get them. They were thinking in millions ... I was thinking thousands.

Lesson TWO At the highest levels of decision making they want to hear three words - Scalable, Strategic and Systems. Watch the TV show "Shark Tank" and you will hear the word 'scalable' over and over. You will hear 'systems' over and over and you will hear talk about your 'strategy'.

Can you replicate the experience in six different places, with a thousand client's/participants each, and report back on a daily basis what worked, what didn't and issues encountered? Can you submit bills on time every-time according to their system?

Lesson THREE Know that people at this level are really smart. They know their business and know why they do what they do. You have to know that too. I didn't. It took me seven years of learning to understand the depth, scope and systems needed to execute a project that met the needs of senior leaders.

Lesson FOUR You have heard 'fake it till you make it' at this level DON'T. You might feel like a fake however you have to KNOW you can execute. You have to know that you have the connections and guts to get the job done. You can't fake the strategy and systems you need in place to execute a major event that is seen around the world. Working with the White House, Secret Service, all branches of the military, at least 15 agencies, 50 suppliers knowing that you have the careers of the senior most people in government on the line, if you fail they will pay the price. You better have systems in place and understand their strategy. I didn't have to know HOW to do every job, but I had to know how to MANAGE and COMMUNICATE with every official to ensure a seamless event. Watch the two minute video on my corporate home page to see the event.

Lesson FIVE Patience is a virtue. The organizations that have the funds to pay you 60 million dollars have very detailed systems and procedures that your product will have to go through to ensure that your product meets their needs. We worked with Sodexo to develop, produce and implement a training for thousands of managers. The process took over four years of diligence, focus, faith and education. The good news we made a huge difference and the product was fabulous (if I do say so myself). Sodexo, the US Navy, US Army, Marines, National Guard , PECO Energy, Rockwell Collins and the Coast Guard used the product. The bad news... 'recession'. Oh well.

Lesson SIX Practice makes perfect. In our office we run strategy drills. My team meets every couple of weeks to have 'what if' scenarios. What if we have five 15 million dollar contracts come in with a 3 week start date for each what do we need to do? These exercises have lead us to invest in software, process manuals, project bibles, while building coalitions and collaboratives with amazing brilliant consultants and partners. The process highlighted weak spots that we needed to strengthen. It forced me to look at financial resources, strategic training, leadership development needs and staffing. While I'm at it, I had to make sure that our organizational chart could manage fast growth and that we had human resources covered, insurance needs satisfied, security processes and the reports needed to manage growth.

Lesson SEVEN It doesn't happen overnight. My friend Bob Frare reminded me years ago that it takes twenty years to be an overnight sensation. I'm so grateful for those words of wisdom. There are no overnight sensations. The rewards come from diligence, perseverance, conviction and clarity. While we have goals and objectives I know that the outcome really isn't in my or my teams control. What is in our control is our ability to plan and work the plan - day in and day out. No matter what.

Lesson EIGHT Embrace your differences, be unique and show up. We laugh often. So many times we have gone to procurement conferences, business partnering events and networking events that have people who can award us large contracts. Aside from the women who work for the corporations or government staff who are procuring business - my team are often the only other females. Our road trip team is made up of a Black woman, a Hispanic female, a Blonde Midwestern female and a twenty something female vet. We wear black with bling and sometimes have a red accent piece. It is who we are.We don't know why women aren't there, they just aren't. We are looking for opportunities to showcase and introduce our services, people are looking for us.

Lesson NINE Keep on keeping on. We network, submit great proposals, network, spend time with experts to improve our skills. Listen, listen, listen and ask questions. My staff are the most tenacious, focused, fun, fearless and feisty group of people. We are dedicated to our clients and their success. We keep on keeping on with red lipstick on. It is who we are. We made a decision - We close 60 million dollar deals.

For those wondering. Yes we are a multimillion dollar company. Yes we are patiently waiting for word on some of our 60 million dollar proposals. Some will hit and some won't. We are ok with that.

Owning Your Power as A Female Leader

2013-04-22T15:54:00.001-04:00

This past weekend I had the privilege of coaching two extraordinary female leaders who are well known in the community, are in the C-Suite of their organizations and are on prestigious corporate boards. I was called earlier in the week by one of them because she wanted Power & Presentation coaching. She knew that I had worked with female Admirals and Generals and worked often with senior female leaders in network marketing and direct sales on their presence and power.

They have something in common with you.
1- They are ambitious
2- They love being business leaders
3- They are goal focused

AND... 4- what they worked for, had arrived and suddenly they realized that there are new horizons for them to discover. To do that they needed to step up and be 'seen, heard and embrace their new power" for their next steps.

We worked on hand movements and the power of the hand. How you use your hands communicates a woman with strength, confidence and power .... or that you are just a nice girl. How and where you place your hands on a desk or table during a meeting says something about who you are and what you want. Strong hands lay calmly on a table, they don't flinch when things get tough. They are used to manage tension in your body. I also taught them bird flapping to relieve the anxiety before an event. (Hey you had to be there.)

We worked on planting your feet. A most important tactic, especially for women, to own a room. When you firmly plant your feet on the stage, or in a room you are standing your ground. You are owning that area and when you combine that tactic with power thoughts you exude power and energy that is charismatic and attractive. People come towards you and want to know who you are.

Look at the audience. There is a process you can use to make sure that the audience 'gets' you. That they know you 'own' the stage and own the room. Don't hesitate to have eye contact.

Finally... break the rules. GET AWAY FROM THE PODIUM! Communicate courage, power and determination to give the message that they want to hear. Be powerful and confident.

We had hours of discussion, role playing, practice and ahahas. To be powerful you have to take ownership of your power and presentation. If you don't who will?

Powerful Mentors and Advisers are Found in the Books You Read

2013-04-15T09:56:00.002-04:00

Growing up I didn’t know million dollar entrepreneurs. I didn’t have access to people who could show me the way or even what was possible in business. As a teen I read Sidney Sheldon novels, many who had strong, powerful, successful, rich women heroines who became my role models. Honestly, I wanted what they had. Through them I learned about persistence, tenacity, focus, confidence and having a dream.

After selling my first business in Spain at 23 years old I returned to the US and quickly forgot what I had learned from the books. I was surrounded by well-intentioned people who were scared of failure, risk and being in business. Many had lots of negative beliefs about money and wealth. I forgot that the books inspired me to think "I AM powerful, strong, tenacious and wealthy in business". I felt great when I thought that way.

Once again I found my mentors and advisers in books. They educated me and inspired me. I read over and over “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, studied (and still study) "The Science of Getting Rich" by Walter Wattles, made friends with Barbara Stanny author of “Six Secrets of Six Figure Earning Women” and devoured Mark Victor Hansen & Jack Canfield’s book “The Aladdin Factor”.

I found ‘real’ women I can model after reading their biographies. Women like Mary Kay Ash (founder of Mary Kay), Madam C.J.Walker known as the first female millionaire entrepreneur back in the 1910… and the first black female millionaire entrepreneur. Power house women entrepreneurs who teach and inspire me. I read books all the time about powerful, successful women and men. I think - If Donald Trump can do it - so can I, If Oprah can do it - so can I, if the people on Shark Tank can do it - so can I!!!!!!

I take advice from people who have been there and done that. Until you have been there you can't give advice about how to get there. You have no idea what it will take and how a person who got there thinks. The mentors I found in books know and for that I am grateful.

Ambition is GOOD!

2013-04-08T12:07:00.003-04:00

Buy Here

Being ambitious is good,in fact it is great! It is the internal desire to do more, to push past your fears and past imposed limitations.

It is the celebration of knowing that you were made to be someone great...and in order to be that person you are willing to push yourself, be uncomfortable and grow.

Ambition is desire in action. To be the best you and be powerful and successful.

You are the only one than can decide what is right for you. However, if you have desire to be more...and you don't go after MORE you will face that horrible, mind trash talk that stops you cold.

Every time I go after my MORE I can hear the rumblings in my head that say:

1: What will I have to give up? My family? My relationships? Myself? Mind you the frantic, fear says it with drama.

2: What if I fail or if I succeed? These are two sides of the same coin. The WHAT IF are the two key words. You will never know the true outcome unless you go for it. Worrying about WHAT IF will only stop you.

3: "They" say women can't do this, or that. That statistically women don't achieve high ranks, that the world is ready for a pushy, ambitious woman. Don't believe that. The world is ready for you exactly as you are. The world is ready because you are in it.

You want to be something and have it all.... then do it. I've had it all and I'm going after more of it. I've messed up, held myself back, limited my self and so what. I get back on the saddle and go after it with wisdom. I am ambitious and so are you.

Fight through the fear.

Fight through the limiting beliefs of your friends, family, associates and yourself.

Fight through the statistics.

If I can achieve all I've achieved then so can you. Fight for your incredible life. You have the power right now.

Tell yourself how great you are.

Rally yourself for great things by celebrating your successes.

Ask for more, then shut up to receive more.

Thin strong, fabulous powerful thoughts. My book Lead and Think BiG gives you the power thoughts you can be thinking right now.

Be powerful, strong, rich and determined. If you don't who will

How Willing Are You?

2013-03-24T13:02:00.000-04:00

How willing are you?

How willing are you to do the thing you know you must do to reach the next level?

It is easy to think about the actions or imagine the actions you have to take to get to the next level.

It is a whole other thing to actually do what you say you will do. That is hard. It is so much easier to create a distraction, to avoid the hard work.

Your stomach growls, you look for things to stop you - making them 'really important' but really.. all these actions are just distractions.

Using your imagination to create is awesome. Day dreaming is not. That is procrastination.

You imagine something to create income, to create influence, to create a difference.

Then you act to make it happen. Artists imagine their art... and through action the art is created.

You can imagine your success... and through action you create it.

Act Now!

Only You Can Decide Who You Want To Be

2013-03-24T12:57:00.001-04:00

Keep focused, determined and transformed. Only you can decide who you want to be. Only you can understand what it took to succeed. The power of you is the only thing YOU have to worry about. Spending time and effort thinking about what other people say about you....it is a waste... it is none of your business.

Your business is what you think about yourself. How you imagine your life to be is your responsibility, and yours alone. You have to think powerful thoughts about yourself. You have to put a helmet on yourself to protect yourself from what others think of you. Only your thoughts about yourself matter.

Do you want to lead a group of people? Then think about the kind of leader you want to be. Think about how you would think about life and leadership. Then think that way

Read books that share stories of how leaders think. Be around leaders, watch them lead, ask them questions.

Then think, think, think.

I carry a purple book. In it is written the thoughts I choose to think. I wrote the thoughts. They are mine. When I'm tired, or around negative people I can hear their words. I choose not be be influenced by them. I read my purple book right then.

Stop pointing fingers at who is holding your back, or pointing fingers saying "they are supporting ..... whatever group feels disenfranchised" You must focus on you and your thoughts of your world.

Think big thoughts.
Think positive thoughts.
Think great thoughts.

Think how awesome you are. Think thoughts of celebration and accomplishment. Think thoughts of power and possibility.

Think think think.

Jacksonville - Book Launch "Bragging Rights: Transform Your Team in 21 Days"

2013-03-16T17:35:00.000-04:00

Team Pegine would like to invite you to a charity event for United Way in conjunction with launching Pegine's book "Bragging Rights: Transform Your Team in 21 Days".

We are committed to raising $10,000 by March 31st for United Way NEFL and we need your help!

Please join us Tuesday 3/19 from 5:00-7:00pm @ Seven Bridges (www.7bridgesgrille.com) to enjoy some light appetizers, networking and the chance to donate to United Way. Pegine's new book will be available for purchase for $20, a percentage of each sale will go toward the United Way with the ultimate goal of raising $10,000 for United Way by the end of this month. We will also be accepting donations to United Way.

Cash Bar

Have a Funky, Feisty Holiday

2012-12-11T14:15:00.002-05:00

You can stress out or Rock ON! This picture makes me smile every year. It is my Guardian Angel. The one that will kick my butt and open doors. The one that reminds me "Chill, I got you covered" the one that reminds me to laugh, be joyous, be feisty, fearless, focused and please have fun in the process.

Reflect on what you accomplished. Not what you didn't. Applaud yourself for all you succeeded at. Write it down and cheer yourself on!
Have a Funky, Feisty Holiday

Get Rich! Study The Science of Getting Rich

2012-11-07T12:59:00.001-05:00

I study the book -"The Science of Getting Rich" (link to a free download on my site). For seven years I've been in a study group. The group has evolved. Some people leave, others join me. On my own I break down each chapter into six segments to study and immerse myself deeply in each segment each day. The book and study has taught me so much. I posted this statement on a professional development Facebook group for professional speakers sponsored by the National Speakers Association.

My friend, Jeffery Scott (who works with landscape, lawn or tree contractors who want to transform and profitably grow their businesses) asked me one of his famous questions: "Can you share a specific change or decision you made based on this book?"

I thought about that and decided to write a blog answering his question while addressing two key areas: What change and or decisions have I made based on the lessons learned through the study and the outcomes and benefits of those decisions.

Change and or decisions have I made based on the lessons learned

1. Changed my belief system to believe that being rich is good and worthy. Which lead to me to

-a Increase my fees
-b Let go of little or no profit activities
-c Embrace my ambitions to build a multimillion dollar company
-d Understand that wealth is inspiring to others and that is my responsibility to inspire others by telling them that being rich is good and worthy.

2. That the name of the game isn't competition but creation. Creating solutions to people's problems.

-a I stopped comparing myself to others. What they did was their business, what I did was mine.
-b I totally re-changed my focus to finding solutions to the problems others were having. Not offering what I thought they needed - HUGE difference.
-c I just don't play in the competition field. I want EVERYONE to be rich and prosperous. I want everyone to make more and do more. I'm happier.

3. Thinking BIG expands your thoughts and opportunities.

-a I spend a lot of my day in thought. Thinking expansion, thinking prosperity, thinking powerful creative thoughts. I think confidence. And when I falter... (I'm human) I actually carry around a book with the handwritten thoughts that I want to think. I am responsible for what I put into my brain. I learned that too!
-b I plan on BIG. I ask my staff to plan. That means that I run my financials from the perspective of a 100 million dollar company. What do I need to know? What metrics do I need to look at? What books and people do I need to know and meet with?
-c When I say I plan big I do structure my team meetings to plan for the bigness. We have scalable, strategic, systems meetings that look at: What do we need to do in order to have the capacity to handle massive growth.

4. I focus daily on gratitude and prosperity

-a It is the little things, the free things that really impact the prosperous magnet. The love I have for my husband, my children, my parents, my friends, neighbors and country and world. The health I experience, the mind I have. I'm grateful for it all. I learned not to just say that - but really write it down, notice it and be totally grateful for everything.
-b Everything is for my good. Tough times make me stronger. Challenges force me to look for solutions. Sadness makes me appreciate joy. I honor that all is good for me.

5. Faith in the goodness of the universe and the tenacity, persistence and confidence to keep on keeping on.

a- I am truly Captain of my ship. Come into my office and you will see a Pirate Ship, my staff have pirate hats. I steal people's limitations so they lead powerfully. I know where I am going, I am specific. I am targeted. I am focused. Come into my office and you will see my plan on the wall. Anyone that is on my team (including my suppliers) know where I am going. If you don't believe, you are not on my team. I am Captain of my mind. I am vigilant. I keep myself focused, it has become who I am.
b- I am absolutely confident that my ship will go around, through, under, or over any and all obstacles. They are never going to stop me from my vision and mission. It is who I am.
c-I know that people are good. I know there is prosperity for all. It is how I see the world. I don't hang around negative, fearful, 'reality' based people. I see the world becoming better and stronger. Not my problem if you don't see the world that way. Been there, done that.. it was crap... my world, today, is better.

6. I chose to accept that God is my source and supply.

a- I didn't choose a 'particular' God. I just chose to believe that God is my source and supply. Best decision I ever made.

Outcomes and rewards of those decisions

1. Tripled my income the first year.

2. In the seventh year compared to year one increased my personal salary by 3,900%. Yes you read that right. In a recession! Not including profits or investments.

3. I'm more interested in learning about others needs. I ask questions in sincere interest of seeking to understand. I go back and then seek to solve their issues so they win (and I win in the end too!)

4. I'm happy.

5. I was able to manage a 1.7 million deal that closed in one week with a delivery schedule one week later that consisted of hiring 1,000 people working, with all branches of the military, Homeland Security and the White House. I truly believed that "Impossible is Possible" it was and is. I got paid on time and met all financial obligations within 15 days with NO DEBT incurred.

6. I was able to honor Veterans in two ways - with a major event and through a documentary. Priceless.

7. I am able to pay for my parents Assisted Living fees.

8. I am able to sleep at night knowing they are safe and sound.

9. I am able to pay for my daughters wedding without any debt.

10. I was able to hire six new staff people. Providing them with jobs that enable them to sleep well and take care of their family.

11. I am able to donate to charities that I believe in with all of my heart and soul and give because I want to.

12. I continually surpass my goals. I know that the only thing that will stop me is me.

13. I always attract the support, people, and services I need at the perfect moment. I trust that everything I need is already here.

14.I have fun. I receive and I'm so freakin happy. I like making money. I like sleeping well. I like feeling close to the universe. I like being me. I like this God I'm hanging out with, its cool.

So Jeff, and everyone reading this post. This is why I continue to study this book. This is why I do what I do. Love it.

It is never too late to pursue your dreams!

2012-10-30T16:05:00.002-04:00

I was a gang member as a teenager but it took me passion and dedication to become who I am now. Check out my life story in this video of “Sueña Sin Límites”, a scholarship program created by @Clorox Latino in partnership with the @Hispanic Scholarship Fund. This program is offering $120,000 in scholarships to moms and students who want to pursue higher education. It is never too late to pursue your dreams! For more information visit SueñaSinLimites.com http://tinyurl.com/9e3vfu7

Check out my story in this #CloroxLatino Sueña Sin Límites video. It is never too late to pursue your dreams! http://tinyurl.com/9e3vfu7

Facing the Truth About Yourself Requires Courage

2012-10-22T18:56:00.003-04:00

Change is always an interesting journey, especially when it is by choice. Change by choice comes from facing the truth about yourself. It is the time when you know you can't hide deny, or avoid the truth about why you are in the condition you are in. Everything that you have - or don't have - is 100% your responsibility. Facing that truth takes courage.

You can get angry, fight, or protest however, eventually, if you really want to reap rewards and succeed, you will come to the conclusion that you are 100% responsible for your condition.

If you don't stay focused on your business your business flounders. If you don't have clarity and strategize and plan for where you are going ... you drift and go no where.

You are a wimp - by not facing the truth through avoidance, denial or acceptance deludes you with a false sense of calm that removes your responsibility to act. "Can't do anything about it, this is just the way it is" or "Its okay, I'll just live with it". However - you are not calm, you are ill at ease, you are frustrated.

Be courageous, be tough, be determined. Tell yourself

"I'm tired of avoiding (Person, Place or Thing) that is right in front of my face. I am tough and strong in so many areas yet I am guilty because I have used the avoidance, acceptance and denial for a long time. No More!"

"It is time to face the truth, be courageous and do what I need to do. "

Daily you and I must face the truth about ourselves, review what we have and ask ourselves "Am I doing what I need to do to be the person I choose to be?"

It is time. So how you doin?

Have courage.

Take action.

Increase African-Americans & Hispanics in IT

2012-03-05T12:28:00.003-05:00

IT positions are sorely lacking among African-Americans and Hispanics not only within the federal government but also in business... however I don't believe that it can be said that is because of discrimination (defined as "the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category"). I think it is because how individuals think, how leaders coach, and how we promote opportunities. We all play three roles.

In fact I have seen first hand the amount of work and diligence and focus that is made within the federal government to ensure that our country is reflects our citizens and in business to make sure that they have innovative and diverse perspectives. I know of groups, associations, educational institutions and entities who have invested a tremendous amount of time, energy and money to ensure that our country develops the best of the best.

However...I firmly believe that you and I play roles which impacts this work and the outcomes we are having:

As Individuals:

As a Latina it is up to me.... and only me...(after the age of 18) to decide who I am and who I want to be. It is up to me...and only me to change my mind about how I think about me, my goals and my life. I have that power. As does everyone. I choose my role models and I choose to change those beliefs and thoughts IN ME that have strangled my opportunities. I know African-Americans and Hispanics in IT and cyber security that knew what they wanted, chose to believe what they wanted and are successful. I know white guys who could have been successful in the field and are not because of how they believed. What you think is what you get.... Every time. The teacher arrives when the student seeks.

"Man's greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done." Frederick Douglass

As Leaders:

We... all of us are responsible for educating, assessing ourselves and then coaching others. If you really believe that ALL African-Americans and Hispanics and Women are discriminated against then how do you communicate HOPE? How would you coach and talk to Obama (You'll never be president because THEY discriminate against you). Would you tell Ellen Ochoa, who invented optical analysis systems and was also the world's first Hispanic female astronaut "Don't bother you'll be discriminated against". People told her she couldn't because they didn't believe. People told her "you will NEVER be an astronaut".. Good thing she believed she would. As Leaders you communicate to others about the possibilities, the vision and share the resources. or not. You can easily influence how others see possibilities by the words you use. If you as a D&I professional believe that there are limitations for any group. You are right. You will seek confirmation of your beliefs.

"I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them." Madame CJ Walker

As Organizational Representatives and Centers of Influence

There is a tremendous amount of work that people are doing around this country in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to increase African-Americans and Hispanics Americans in these fields. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program http://www.gmsp.org/, QuestBridge connects the world's brightest low-income students to America's best universities and opportunities http://questbridge.org/.

Low income, high achieving students believe that they can't go to top tier schools. That is bunk. Top tier colleges can give them the boost in IT and there is money for them. As Questbridge (www.Questbridge.org) shares on their website ... 91% of low income, high achieving students do not apply for scholarships. These are FULL RIDE scholarships, BOOKS and materials, room and board. I've met with philanthropists and foundations from the TOP schools who want these kids to achieve, to go to their schools to become who these students want to be. We have to educate and promote these opportunities to our high achievers.

As individuals we must do our best for our lives. As leaders we must share that there is hope, that there are opportunities, that there is a way. Let's not make our children VICTIMS let them know that VICTORY starts with a step and an application. Even undocumented youth can get great educations. NEVER, EVER give up. As organizational representatives we must share resources.

You and I are in this together.

It's Half time America and the second half is about to begin.

2012-02-06T14:59:00.002-05:00

Clint Eastwood is right. It's Half time America and the second half is about to begin.

We have had times in US history when we didn't understand each other, when there was discord and blame
We are better than this. We are all different, in a multitude of ways.
But when the "tough get going we act as one. We include each other towards our greatness, side by side."

Clint goes on to say -
"Because that is what we do"
We "find a way through tough times
or we create new ways to achieve."
"All that matters is what is ahead.
It's Half time America and the second half is about to begin."

Let's get tough with ourselves and start taking action.

Start celebrating our improvements,
Point out what is working, the new innovations, the businesses that are growing, the people who are transforming their lives.
Focus on your thoughts, your actions and how you can and are making a greater impact.
Step up for yourself. Be bold, be courageous, be feisty, be fearless, be strong.
Decide that today, right now you are better than what you are today.
Get up and decide to make one more phone call.
Tell your coworker that "He can do it and that you believe in him"
Step up and be a leader.
'Cause this country needs you...our world needs you...Be the power leader in your life.

Smile! Be Happy

2012-01-31T20:53:00.002-05:00

SMILE!!! Be happy with all you have

SMILE... The power of smiling is studied by researchers worldwide. One of the most fascinating lectures on the power of smiling was conducted during a TEDx conference by Ron Gutman. Watch this video and learn the power of smiling.

Freedom

2012-01-24T18:13:00.002-05:00

Freedom! Freedom to earn what you want. Freedom to love who you want. Freedom to dance on the beach alone and just relish living.

Freedom from the constraints, beliefs, expectations, messages and rules you learned when you were younger and are carrying around with you now. Baggage, heavy bags that pull you down.

Over the years I've lighten my load. Removing negative images of myself from my mind. Letting people go who weren't good for my spirit, energy levels or life. Setting boundaries with people who didn't behave in a way that supported my positive, enthusiastic, brilliant spirit.

It is a life long project. I encourage you to look at your life:

Financially - How are you income levels? Your prospects? What are you promoting to gain greater income? What state are your papers in? Your accounting system? All are reflections of beliefs that you hold about money, about your self worth and lessons learned from people. One thing I have absolutely learned - Don't take advice from people who haven't been there, overcame and succeeded. If they never went after a big deal how would they know what to do? If they never confronted their fear of asking for a sale how would they really know what works?

Physically, Emotionally, Spiritually, Intellectually

How are you doing? Do an assessment. It isn't your DOING that is the problem. It is what you BELIEVE and THINK. Actually it is always what you think and believe, always.

Your thoughts and beliefs are the cause. What you have is the effect.

Freedom comes when you realize YOU are the cause. What YOU think about yourself, the world, money, health, love, everything brings you the results that you are having. PERIOD. PUNTO. FINAL.