Category Archives: Your BOLD Exclamation Point: Bring Your BEST BOLD U!

YOUR BOLD 2018 REFLECTION: CHAMPAGNE – AULD LANG SYNE – ANGST

Posted on by

Hello BOLD Friend,

Ready to shove 2018 right out the door?

Or hanging on to these last few days, wishing they could last, you know, forevvver?

One person’s Champagne celebration, is another’s Auld Lang Syne, is another’s Angst.

That last one. If your end-of-year Angst is due to a precious loss – or a radical disappointment this past year, I hope you feel this virtual hug…

… maybe just sign off here right now… go head outside into some fresh air… or grab your favorite pillow and blanket and gift yourself an immersion in blissful nothingness… or call a friend… or send an encouraging word to someone you know needs it today.

Love how compassion and kind action for another can boomerang right back for you.

Let me know in the comments below what came your way as a result of sending that encouraging word to someone you know needed it… so I/We can help celebrate the beautiful BOLD in YOU.

You already know what you need today.

To believe you deserve it can be the hard part.

And if your celebration is all sparkly glitter and bubbles? Let us know in the comments below, and we’ll be right here virtual toasting you!

Ah, ringing in a new year… I had a few too many bad-blind-variety dates back in the day (Ha! Ugh!) and learned that my favorite way to welcome a new year is to “Immerse In Blissful Nothingness”. Not sure if my husband David enjoys that choice as much as I do, he’s become a good sport about it over all these years.

Funny how my business has evolved to reflect life. (It’s ALL life, right?)

Immersing in Blissful Nothingness is a DO 1 BOLD THING™ strategy that helps me take big BOLD action and baby bold steps toward my dreams and goals.

Sometimes what I need most is to first get QUIET… immersing myself in blissful nothingness… before I boldly hit DO.

Even for a moment.

Even when it’s easier not to.

I hope this inspires what you need to do, or not do, too.

BOLDPoster-BlissfulNothingness-AnnUlrich

(This Downloadable/Printable 8×10 poster: My “Thank You for Subscribing!” Gift for YOU)

Here’s toasting everything GOOD you’ve experienced or created or dreamed up or took action on in YOUR 2018…

My wish for you as you welcome 2019:

Stay Inspired. 

Stay BOLD. 

Keep Going!

(And I will, too!)

It feels great to be blogging again…

I’m excited to build this blog readership back up in 2019.

THANK YOU for your subscribing, for your comments below, and for hitting any SHARE BUTTON linked below to share this Blog on your Social Media – or with whoever you think might love a positive jolt of BOLD inspiration along their way, too. (Tag me so I can thank you!)

– ANN ULRICH, Wife Mom & Nonna | Motivational Keynote Speaker | Inspirational Movement Igniter – Join our community where I’ll be featuring weekly reposts of YOUR BOLD ACTION in 2019 on Instagram: @do1boldthing | Blogger, Writer, Author | From Founder to Co-Founder To Fired To Owner | Former Plus Runway Model & Founder of the 1st Fit Modeling Agency In America! | Chief BOLD Innovator, Owning It at DO 1 BOLD THING™ | @do1boldthing #do1boldthing

Do1BOLDThing.com

DO ONE BOLD THING™: The Non-Negotiable First Step To Owning Your CONFIDENCE.

Posted on by

photo-22

On a quick dash thru Neiman Marcus in downtown Minneapolis a few years ago, I stopped just long enough to snap this picture.

What caught my eye was not the cashmere sweater collection it promoted.

Instead, it flashed me back to exciting memories of my former career as professional plus-size runway model, garment fit model and agency owner – when I amassed a smile-inducing collection of mannequins and fashion fit forms.

I smiled, snapped this photo, and then it struck me:

What stopped me in my tracks was how this display portrayed SO many aspects of the business of life we each lead as professional women…

The rich, colorful tapestry we each weave in creating what becomes our life story – as we lead and live our work and life – in our own special way. Every stage. Every day.

The layers that complicate us – confine us – comfort us – challenge us – complete us?

Our many shades beyond grey.

In that complexity, I want to help bring clarity to the often-exciting, often-overwhelming realities of achieving Success. And Happiness. As you define each for yourself.

The key to Success? (and Happiness?)

Owning It… With CONFIDENCE.

Where to begin? Start here:

photo-84DO ONE BOLD THING™: THE NON-NEGOTIABLE FIRST STEP TO OWNING YOUR SUCCESS… WITH CONFIDENCE:

1.  SELECT YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS!

That’s it! THE often-overlooked first non-negotiable step: Achieving the Success & Happiness you crave begins with Selecting Yourself!

The tough thing about Success? It’s up to you.

The GREAT thing about Success? It’s Up To YOU!

SUCCESS? IT’S UP TO YOU.

Know What You Want. Laser-focus it. Name it. Courageously commit by making it non-negotiable. Grab a quick break and get in front of a mirror and self-talk-it if you need to.

Realize goals worth reaching – the goals you value – are rarely achieved in one-fell-swoop of BOLD Success. Success happens in a series of baby BOLD steps along the way – some forward, and yes, some back. Sometimes more back then forward.

Success is a choice you make. As is Happiness.

What matters is that YOU believe in YOU.

CONFIDENCE IS Believing In Yourself(!) even in that moment – especially in that moment – when it’s easier not to.

(Or why would anyone else believe in you, if you don’t believe in fabulous you? When YOU believe in you, others believe in you, too!)

Thinking this advice applies only for young professionals, early in our careers? Think again.

At every age and every stage of your work and life, to GET what you want you need to KNOW what you want.

Achieving what you want begins when you commit, when you OWN IT with CONFIDENCE … by Selecting Yourself For Success!

DO ONE BOLD THING:

Select Yourself For Success! 

OWN IT… WITH CONFIDENCE.

Achieve The Success (& Happiness) You Crave.

_____________________________________________________________________________

© 1993-2014  Ann Ulrich, Owning It! at THE BOLD! FACTOR® Award-Winning Leader, Trusted Advisor & Women’s Empowerment Conference Speaker, Encouraging & Inspiring Women To Lead With CONFIDENCE.  AnnUlrich.com

PHOTO:  I snapped this shot at Neiman Marcus, downtown Minneapolis (before NM left Mpls) as an inspiring reminder of the fit form collection I owned in my former career as professional plus-size model and agency owner – and how it applies in so many ways to the business of life for professional women… whose success & happiness I passionately champion at THE BOLD! FACTOR®.

I APPRECIATE YOU!

Posted on by

Slide17

© 1993-2014  Ann Ulrich,  Subscribe to receive BOLD blog posts at:  AnnUlrich.com

In My BOLD Opinion: The Unintended Consequences of Sheryl Sandberg, Beyonce & Girl Scouts “Ban Bossy” Campaign: More Bullying?

Posted on by

photo-28In response to these powerful Leading Ladies, including Sheryl Sandberg, Beyonce, Girl Scouts, and more… on their latest *Lean In* bandwagon inspiring Women and Girls to ban the word Bossy and claim they are not being bossy… they are *leading*…

STOP. EXIT THIS TRAIN.

(Per my comment posted on Mashable today, sharing my BOLD opinion as Counterpoint. As always, interested in your thoughts, please comment below, as you wish!)

Before YOU consider whether you want to be part of *Ban Bossy*… please consider the potential impact of Unintended Consequences of this Campaign: 

How many YOUNG GIRLS will misunderstand this complex leadership message… if they’re being told to see themselves not as bossy, rather as: I am a Leader! This is what it means to be a Leader!

How many MID-LEVEL WOMEN will start seeing Kindness as Weakness?

AND how many BOOMER WOMEN (my age, and yes, I’m shouting us out here!) will use this campaign as yet another force, another excuse, for blaming MEN for somehow holding back their own Confidence, Success & Happiness?

How soon before THIS Unintended Consequence becomes reality:  Bullying At ALL Ages INCREASING(!) as otherwise-wonderful Girls & Women start trying their best to practice what they’re now being advised by these influential women role models… believing, for example, *this is not being bossy – this is what being a Leader is all about – Sheryl Sandberg, Beyonce and Girl Scouts KNOW!*

YIKES. Respected leaders? For sure. Mis-directed message? You decide.

How will YOU respond to this newest wave of supposed Women’s Leadership?

Men, interested in your thoughts, too – as you know I believe any change requires us ALL being in this game of business and life together!

I’m going to keep encouraging, inspiring and championing as I have been since 1993:  BOLD Confidence & Success & Happiness… thru Self-Leadership & Ownership.

Instead, try this:

DO ONE BOLD THING.™

CLAIM YOUR CONFIDENCE WITH CALM & CLASS. 

It’s YOUR Success, YOUR Happiness, YOUR Life… And It’s Up To YOU.

OWN IT With Calm, Classy, Courageous, Contagious, Calibrated(!) CONFIDENCE.

BRING YOUR BEST. BOLD. YOU!

Your Turn! Are you onboard their campaign? If so… If not… Which & Why?

_________________________________________________________________________

© 1993-2014  Ann Ulrich, THE BOLD! FACTOR® Catalyst, Strategist, Leader, Keynote Speaker & Mentor: “Navigating Success With Confidence! Self-Empowerment For Emerging Leaders & Motivated Professionals.” Subscribe to receive blog posts at:  AnnUlrich.com

PHOTO:  I like to take my own photos for my website and blog – professional or not it’s a passion of mine. I took this photo in a hotel last year, and wondered when will be the first time I use it to signify to readers: EXIT THIS GAME NOW. This is the Topic & Today is the day!

Calibrate Your BOLD: Magnetic Charisma & Quiet Confidence

Posted on by

photo-84

“SUCCESS begins with CONFIDENCE. Your Calm, Classy, Courageous, Contagious, Calibrated(!) CONFIDENCE Is Key To Achieving The Success & Happiness You Crave.”

– Ann Ulrich, Owning It! at THE BOLD! FACTOR® and BEST BOLD U! Keynotes. Live Events! Trusted Advisor To Motivated Men & Women.

________________________________________________________________________

Whether you bring your best with the external energy of Magnetic Charisma… or with the inner strength of Quiet Confidence…

Calibrating Your Confidence is critical in achieving the Success you crave.

Calibrating Your Confidence maximizes your personal and professional effectiveness.

Calibrating Your Confidence anchors your resolve when impostor syndrome strikes.

UNcalibrated Confidence gives your BOLDness a bad rap, and deservedly so.

UNcalibrated Confidence can leave you picking up the pieces of your solid reputation potentially unraveling in nanoseconds.

UNcalibrated Confidence risks unintended consequences, sabotaging your Success.

_________________________________________________________________________

WHAT DOES *Calibrating Confidence* MEAN IN REAL BUSINESS? REAL LIFE?

When you bring your BOLD with Magnetic Charisma: You have an opportunity to Calibrate the external energy of your Confidence anytime you choose(!) by mindfully observing what’s happening around you… how you’re responding or reacting… and adjusting accordingly. Start here:

Get your antennae up, get dialed in, and get interested in the people and situations surrounding you. With courage, awareness, authenticity and practice, you can maximize your influence and positive impact – earning trust, respect, and top-of-mind positioning – as you build new Success! All that and more, simply by shifting the focus and intensity of your powerful external energy… with the peripheral view, vulnerability, and other-focused compassion of EMPATHY.

When you bring your BOLD with Quiet Confidence: You have an opportunity to Calibrate the inner strength of your Confidence anytime you choose(!) by mindfully observing what’s happening around you… how you’re responding or reacting… and adjusting accordingly. Start here:

Get your antennae up, get dialed in, and get interested in the people and situations surrounding you. With courage, awareness, authenticity and practice, you can maximize your influence and positive impact – earning trust, respect, and top-of-mind positioning – as you build new Success! All that and more, simply by shifting the focus and intensity of your powerful inner strength… with the peripheral view, vulnerability and other-focused involvement in CONNECTING.

_________________________________________________________________________

…. Calibrate Your MAGNETIC BOLD with Courage!

And you’ll stop the self-sabotage of opportunities lost due to Annoying, Avoiding or Repelling… when your goal is to Attract.

… Calibrate Your QUIET BOLD with Courage!

And you’ll stop the self-sabotage of opportunities lost due to Imploding, Derailing, or Flatlining Into Invisible… when you want to be Seen & Heard. 

_________________________________________________________________________

READY TO GET YOUR BOLD ON?

DO ONE BOLD THING.™

CALIBRATE YOUR BOLD WITH CONFIDENCE.

CALM. CLASSY. COURAGEOUS. CONTAGIOUS. CALIBRATED(!) CONFIDENCE. 

SUCCESS? IT’S UP TO YOU.

OWN IT… WITH CONFIDENCE!

________________________________________________________________________

© 1993-2014  Ann Ulrich, THE BOLD! FACTOR® Catalyst, Strategist, Leader, Keynote Speaker & Mentor: “Navigating Success With Confidence! Self-Empowerment For Emerging Leaders & Motivated Professionals.” Subscribe to receive blog posts at:  AnnUlrich.com

PHOTO:  I created (author!) DO ONE BOLD THING.™ & SHIFT YOUR OLD TO BOLD!™ 2-in-1 Inspired Action! Success Cards, having a blast igniting thought-provoking Confidence- & Success-building conversations with inspired people using these cards, available at my BEST BOLD U!™ Live Events & THE BOLD! FACTOR® Keynotes.