A New Chase Begins...

Skiing completely fascinates me. I am especially intrigued by Olympic Downhill Skiing - graceful, heads down swoosh, swoosh, swoosh often at 80+ miles per hour!

I've always found this incredible display (of skill, power, precision and agility) at improbable speeds on majestic white powder against a backdrop of glorious sunshine (Colorado Rockies, Swiss Alps-pick your mountain), thoroughly mesmerizing and intensely terrifying, at the same time. 

Imagine the adrenaline rush when Austrian skier, 2014 Gold Medalist Matthias Mayer, chased his personal best, and realized he WON GOLD, on a slope some describe as the fastest and most dangerous in the history of the Olympics. Justin Peters, in an article for The Slate wrote about American skier Bode Miller, who at 36 is the oldest downhill skier to medal (bronze) in the Olympic games, that after dominating the training runs, Bode told the press “if you are not totally focused and paying attention, this course can kill you.”  

Secondary only to this striking statement that the sport can be deadly, is the report by Justin Peters and others, that Bode "dominated the training runs at these Olympics". In his chase to make history, Bode's training runs (practice) were at the same intensity level required to medal. Why? Aside from his obvious passion for the sport and desire to WIN at the highest level, he intimately understood that anything short of optimal performance, could ultimately be fatal. 

Several years ago, I dated a Ski bum (hasn't everyone?). One year over Christmas holiday, filled with nervous excitement at the opportunity to learn something new and mild panic from a fear of heights, we headed off to Mount Snow in West Dover, Vermont. I was determined to learn how to ski. He was ecstatic! I was scared. After days spent watching him cheerfully practice through injury, over and over and over for hours at a time (like everyone else there, it seemed), I called deep on my courage; on New Year's Eve, I was finally ready to learn. Well, record low temperatures set in and icy conditions forced everyone off the mountain. I didn't learn to ski that year but my fascination with all it takes to master this beautiful, challenging sport never waned. 

I'm a corporate leader, public speaker, mentor, community service activist, fashion leader, fashion failure, mom, student, daughter, sister, friend, world traveler, problem solver, fun seeker and now President/CEO (Chief Engagement Officer) of The eLLe Brand. 

Like Matthias Mayer, Bode Miller and every  person who chooses to "try to at least do something remarkable", at The eLLe Brand, we believe the major contributor to personal success (as well as talent, of course) is a consistent, high level of engagement day in, day out with work (practice) that aligns well with YOUR long term goals.

"Your Life, No Borders" is our mission and reflects my personal journey toward a life without limits.  Helping others engage fully at every stage in their lives and careers is our purpose because we believe it is the pathway to a remarkably limitless life. Unlike Downhill Skiers, most of us won't physically die, if we don't fully engage to maximum capacity, EVERY time.

Or DO We?

2015 was a wondrously complex year for me and perhaps for many of you, as well. While working toward today's launch of The eLLe Brand, at times I felt the same nervous excitement and mild panic from some years ago, on Mount Snow. But today, as we begin the first full week of a brand new year there's no panic, just tremendous excitement. I am delighted to lead the team here, as we chase "the remarkable" within ourselves, within YOU and within the businesses you work to grow.

Let's chase it together! Come along with me.

Stay close: in 2016, our Launch event,  A Publication, Media Show and finally, ski lessons(for me) will follow.

Oh, if you have 5 minutes and private space or headphones, turn the volume WAY up/Watch/Listen--LIVE! You'll be happy you did.