Discipline

November 12th, 2008
I had given discipline a bad rap. It has always felt like my father when I was 14 years old. It has felt like my worst teacher in high school, the one with the horrible coffee and smoker’s breathe. Discipline, to me was the opposite of fun—it was a buzz kill. A masculine, chief master sergeant, buzz kill. But now, as a grown woman, I see that discipline has a lot of class.
Discipline builds confidence like nothing easy can. Discipline tells your brain in no uncertain terms that your soul is in charge of this game of life my dear. I know—I know, you think you’re in control, but my soul’s discipline tells me that I need to turn off the t.v., get up to work out, pass on that pizza… And discipline in itself could care less about popularity or being the center of attention. Discipline rewards itself in just the doing. Discipline creates deep pockets of integrity, eager for use when you are tired or angry or disrespected or whatever.
Part of this new found appreciation comes from a deep and profound love of my father, who had his foot in my butt as a kid. I love my mother too, but for other reasons. My father has mad discipline, but as a kid, I misinterpreted it. As an adult, finally, I embrace his example with humble gratitude and the results are awesome.

Running on Empty

November 4th, 2008
Running on Empty
 
I am very fortunate. With focus, faith, and attention, I can make things happen. The operative word is make.
 
Making it happen is tiring. From zero to 100, a million times a day. Though the elevator rides I am able to accomplish a few things on my brain, but not the most important things and at times I neglect loved ones. So new commitment, I am slowing down damn it! Stephanie Chick of www.deliverthepackage.com is helping me. And with the slowing down I am finding that my grand dreams are washing up on my shore, effortlessly.
 
What it means practically: I wake up at 5:00am. From 5 to 6am I do whatever I want as long as it does not include watching television or reading the newspapers. (I would begin the day reading about fear and wonder why I was anxious at work.) Now, I write, read, stretch, take a bath, talk on the phone, meditate, pray, dance, sing—anything that feeds my soul. 
 
It has been two weeks and now I crave this quiet time. So far, I feel the tide bending to my current. I’ve stopped running. I’ll keep you posted.
 
Much love,
JB.

Empowerment!

September 25th, 2008

The following email was sent following Janice’s speech at the Women of Color in Law Luncheon.  Janice was extremely touched by this email and wanted to share it with all of you:

Hello Ms. Brown:

I had the pleasure of meeting you at yesterday’s luncheon.  I am a repeating 1L student at Calfiornia Western School of Law.  Since my initial year, I dealt with the fear of incompetence and failure.  Your presentation has empowered me to start believing in myself again.  Your encouraging words inspired me to face my fears of failure and inadequacy and focus instead on how to reach my goals and priorities.  I needed to hear that I am FABULOUS and that I am capable to succed in my first year and beyond.  Above all, I needed to hear it and believe it for myself.  I am grateful for the opportunity and I am glad that I attended the luncheon.  I hope to hear from you soon.  Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Maria Theresa Calimag.

Best,

Ali.

 

Purpose, Potential and the Power Within

September 9th, 2008
Purpose, Potential and the Power Within
 
I was invited to be a guest on “I’m There For You Baby”, a weekly online radio talk show program aimed towards entrepreneurs, and I was interviewed by hosts Neil Senturia and Barbara Bry.  We talked about me being raised in a small town in Montana and moving to San Diego, discussed my tour with the USO (which I did to build my self confidence), my decision to step out and build my own and law firm, and the journey I took to build Beyond Measure.  We had a great time and few laughs. Enjoy!
 
Much love,
Janice
 
The show is titled “Purpose, potential and the power within”, click on the link below to listen:

My Bambi Moment

August 25th, 2008
My Bambi moment
 
 
I apologize for the delay in the blogs, but this one required some healing before I could write.  Every year, I go back to Montana (where I grew up) and raise hell with my girl friends from junior high school.  We have been connected for over 30 years, an amazing gift.  Other than family, no one knows you like people who knew you during the big Afro, the BeeGees and Prince phase of your life.  We laugh and drink a lot of beer.  (I don’t even like beer.)  And we eat crappy foods.  Everything that can clog your arteries is on the menu.  Fun, big fun. 
This year, after the fun, I needed to head back to civilization, in this case – Atlanta – to make a presentation to a group of doctors.  On the way to the airport, Sunday a.m., I ran into a deer.  In that instant, however, it felt like the deer ran into my rental. 
Deer feel like walls when you hit them in your car.  In one slow instant, the car was totaled and stopped dead on the freeway, the air bags expanded and smoke filled the car.  Luckily it was five in the morning, so there were no other cars on the road behind me. 
After I shook my head and let the dust settle, I had an immense feeling of grace and vulnerability.  Grace in that I had been spared.  I knew I could have died, but I didn’t.  Vulnerable in that we are not promised tomorrow.  I know that I am a strong person, but when my husband came home to comfort me, I embraced being in his arms.  I needed comfort.
 
So why am I sharing this with you and what does it have to do with Beyond Measure?
 
One of my goals for Beyond Measure is to attract a community of like-minded people destined for success.  So what does destined for success mean?  It requires a vigilant mindset.  Persistence alone is omnipotent, I have read.  That mindset can come from DNA, parents, lost loves, current loves, spouses, children, teachers or it can come in an instant.  Or better, the interpretation of an instant.  One of my instances was my Bambi moment.  I know I was spared to bring Beyond Measure to life.  It provided a huge wake-up call that this life is not a dress rehearsal.  So motivations can come from all different events, even a car accident.  Whatever the catalyst, success is the answer.  In addition, my Bambi moment provided me with a clarity that I haven’t had in a very long time, if ever.  I am more determined to make this business serve others with all of my strength. 
 
The deer left its mark down the side of the car.  I pray she survived.  Much love, Janice

The Oprah Effect

July 22nd, 2008

I attended a seminar in Fiji in 2003.  I had never been to Fiji and did not know that the seminar required me to fast for 5 days.  I tell myself that if I would have known, I would not have gone.  In retrospect, the fasting was not so bad and I made a major decision about my values that caused me to start my own law firm.  I was afraid, but I had made a commitment to follow my integrity, even if it left me unemployed.  Fortunately, business is good. 

At that seminar, I created a "vision board."  The process harkened back to eighth grade, when I cut pictures out of magazines.  It felt a little silly, but in for a penny, in for a pound; I went with it.  On this board, I placed my idol - Oprah Winfrey in the middle.  It was my intention to meet her and model my business’ soul after her powerful brand.  So, I had this big picture of Oprah in the middle of my board.  I had other items on the board too, but Oprah was dead center.  The business concept that has become Beyond Measure was to the side. 

Last year, due to a series of strange coincidences, I attended a fund-raiser for Barack Obama at Oprah’s house.  At the fund-raiser there were  amazing celebrities and beautiful Los Angeles people - all there for Obama.  This was before Obama became Obama.  Yep, the Oprah effect.  Even though there were a lot of great people watching, I came with one goal and that was to meet Oprah. 

So, naturally, I stalked her.  I am certain she thought I was crazy, but here was my idol and I was in her meadow.  I went up to her and shook her hand and said something so stupid I can’t remember now, forever repressed in my memory.  But, from that day forward, I have felt that there is something to those vision boards.  When I met Oprah and shook her hand, it felt like gravity.  My life changed and I am creating the business of my dreams.  Mission Accomplished.  This time, Beyond Measure is the center of my vision board, Oprah, slightly to the side.  Much love, Janice 

Why Grow?

July 14th, 2008
There is an underlying assumption behind Beyond Measure.  That assumption is that change is inevitable and since it is, why not change change into growth.  I have been motivated by pain, willed myself through discipline and have been inspired to change.  Inspiration is the easiest way; discipline is number two and pain may work, but it is well, painful.  So, why grow?
 
Recently, Janet Rae-Dupree wrote an article in the New York Times capturing the research of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck who believes that a "growth mind-set" as opposed to a "fixed mind set" is the key to success.  It is the nature versus nurture argument all over again - do you believe that talent is innate or developed?  Dupree writes that when it comes to success "nurture wins out over nature just about every time." 
 
And such a shift in mind-set is significant - Dweck writes in her book "Mindset the New Psychology of Success." People who are more apt to be successful embrace growth and change.  If you are not afraid to make mistakes and to struggle a bit, you will be better able to take risks and succeed. 
 

Beyond Measure is a safe environment in which you can try on those risks for size.  In that safe environment, it is my sincere desire to inspire you to do what you are destined to do, even if that means to do it, you must change your own mind and grow. 

Much love, Janice

What Is Your Brand?

July 7th, 2008
I received a compliment on the Beyond Measure "brand."  "Brand" - what  a great concept.  What is our brand?  What is yours?  Do you have one?  What is the feeling that others have when you leave the room?  Contentment, Curious, Excited, Inspired, Courageous or concepts less noble. 

At Beyond Measure, we help you figure out your brand - the best of who you are - and promote the hell out of it.  Beyond Measure’s brand - Courageous and Elegant Success.  Fun too, big fun. 

Much love, Janice

June 25th, 2008

“There’s no place like home."  Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

 

I wrote this blog as I was returning from Rome and London.  I was reluctant to write about my travels at first, because it sounded so bourgeois.  But, actually, the world is a very small place these days.  Even though I love traveling, I was really happy to be home.  What a blessing - happy to be home.  In my favorite poem that forms the foundation for this business, Marianne Williamson wrote that your deepest fear is not that you are inadequate, your deepest fear is that you are "powerful beyond measure."  So what if that meant that we are not defined by our differences or have any true differences at all.  What if being lesser than, greater than, smarter, wiser, inept, Black, Hispanic - what if everything that divides us or defines us other than being human is an illusion?    What if innovation knows no boundaries or divisions?  What if there is no home, because every place belongs to all of us?  Then, maybe we can create our own community based on values.  Sounds like Beyond Measure. 

 

Much love, JB

 

P.S.: What if you forgave everyone who told you otherwise?

An Introduction

June 19th, 2008

Hello Everyone,

 

I am excited to write this blog and share a little of the inner workings of Beyond Measure.  Janice asked me to help her with Beyond Measure a few minutes before the sweat and breath was pounded out of us at Crossfit, our gym.  Beyond Measure has become something that pounds the sweat and breath out of us, outside of the gym, inside the office, our homes, coffee shops.   

 

Beyond Measure excites me because the foundation is helping people and helping each other.  It is a concept infused with positive thinking, forward movement, and a desire to constantly become better.  To me, it is having passion.  For all parts of life:  friends, family, work, health, etc.  It is about connecting.  As a young woman, I am incredibly proud and honored to work on this phenomenally charged idea with Janice.  It is my hope to pass on this positive ‘charge’ to all of you. 

 

Someone asked me today what I ‘do’ at Beyond Measure.  Janice is the idea and the force behind it all.  I do everything else.  I am here to help you navigate Beyond Measure.  My door is always open.  I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. 

 

I’ll sign off with my favorite quote by Hunter S. Thompson:  buy the ticket, take the ride.

 

Join me on the ride.

 

Ali Hawks

Executive Director