Do More, Be Better, Give Back, and Stop Drinking Bottled Water

The weekend of July 14, 2012 was one of the most emotional weekends I've had in a long while. A true roller coaster. Filled with love, laughter, thanks and gratitude, the entire weekend was also filled with sadness and regret.

Yes, July 14th is Bastille Day. It is also the day we celebrate Walt's (my favorite father-in-law and favorite insurance agent) heart transplant anniversary. This year was the BIG 20th celebration: a monumental feat for not only a transplant recipient, but one who received a transplant when he was fifty (not a young whipper snapper).

A luncheon, family and friends from far and wide, and Walt with a microphone can only lead to good times. I was reminded, this day, how wonderful it is to have a family that loves each other, doesn't fight over petty issues, stays strong when faced with challenges, and remembers to laugh and enjoy the time we are given. Walt's strength and health, in the face of adversity, is challenged regularly. But with his faith, the strength and love of Suz (my favorite mom-in-law), his children and family, he has endured through many physical issues. Walt has lived an amazing, long life thanks to a very special individual who became an organ donor. We are incredibly lucky to have Walt and treasure each moment he has during his time with us.

This was a happy day.

July 15th I said goodbye to someone I called my cousin and my friend, Katie Moritz. Katie died of leukemia at the age of 31. She was surrounded by her dear family and friends. Her wake was in the same room as my dad's wake, so I could barely make it to the stairs leading into the room without losing it. Katie's dad, Bob, was in my parent's wedding. Bob was also one of my dad's pall-bearers. When my dad's parents died while he was in high school, Bob, his best friend, and Bob's family took him in. He had no family within 700 miles and no one to take care of him. The Moritz family stepped up.

While I wasn't close to Katie - in fact I was distant, I recalled many of our shared moments when we were children playing at Rombachs Farm, swimming in a kiddie pool and slip n' sliding in our backyard, taking a walk after our Grandma Helen Moritz's funeral.... Once we moved away from Ballwin and my parents divorced, we no longer saw each other. 

I regret that I didn't have more time with her. Katie was the same age as my sister, Erika. I am the same age as Katie's sister, Sarah. She was too young. Life is not fair and it never will be, so how can we change this?

This was a sad day.

These are the thoughts that reverberated through me the past few weeks...

1. Be an organ donor. Sign up today if you haven't already done so.

2. We need more science and math education. Come on parents, 99.9% of kids will not be a movie star, a rock star, or president. Teach them to do more, be better, and give back.

3. Many types of cancer research exists. We all have different diseases we support. Here is why we should support cancer research and stem cell research above all other medical research. (I'm not saying we should stop supporting other research. It is all invaluable).

4. $49.5 Billion was spent in 2011 on research and development in the U.S. We spent almost half that much on bottled water in the U.S. in 2011, coming in at $21.7 Billion. The unfortunate truth is that science and politics go hand in hand. Take action. Write your policy/law makers today and ask for more funding. The fact is, most research is short-term. We need more long-term, big idea grants awarded to those who are willing to take risks and discover new possibilities. 

5. Take time to be with family and friends. Remember birthdays. Be generous with your time and your listening. Show up. Reach out.

Do more, be better, give back, and stop drinking bottled water.

Minutes Before I Present... Killing the Crazy

I'm sitting in a hotel meeting room in Kansas City. In about one hour, my 600 closest friends in the seed industry will make their way through my breakout session to learn about media planning. I am their teacher over the next 2 days.

Anxiety has been an unfriendly monkey on my back since I can remember, and it's times like this - right before I present - in fact about 2 days before I present - my entire persona changes. I agonize, I stress, I pace, I talk fast, my tone gets higher in everyday conversations. I sweat. It's ugly. Not attractive at all.

So how am I trying to get over this? Well, here are some of the things I do in order to stop being nervous and start being confident, energetic, positive, and poised, and professional. After all... I need to kill the crazy so my mind focuses on the present and the task at hand.

MY PRESENTATION

I practice, practice, practice. I finished my presentation about one month ago. But I've been tweaking it in my head every minute since then. Last night, I practiced my presentation from about 5 to 6:30pm, threw out some slides, moved some stuff around, went to dinner and met customers, had two vodka gimlets, then was back up in my room my 9pm. I chilled out for about an hour, practiced for another hour, then chilled out for another hour. Asleep by 11:30pm. Now it's game day. I know my slides. I feel confident. I'm jamming to The Black Keys, The Whites Stripes, and  R.L. Burnside. My people.

MY ROOM

I visited my breakout room last night so I could get the lay of the land. Our customers picked out which breakout sessions they were going to attend in advance. Given that I have 5 breakouts, the max capacity of my room is 40 people, but my room is set for 60.... this means that 50% of the attendees think media planning is important, they need help with it or need a refresher, or they just really love Greta. I'll go with "they need help and think it's important" to their businesses.

My projector and screen are good to go. The temperature of the room is great, nice and cool. Surroundings are in check. Having everything ready to go, my handouts ready, my feedback forms ready, my AV equipment in check is fabulous. Everything is in it's place.

KILL THE CRAZY

Breathing is very important. I sometimes forget that. First impressions count too. I never forget that. My problem is, if I forget to breathe, then the first impression that I sometimes make is the wrong one. So here's what I did to prep and other things I'm working on: 

• Belly Breaths - Yes, I need to breathe. You do as well. Let's do it together. It calms you, focuses you, and helps you center yourself and your surroundings.

• Being Grateful - I am grateful for this great opportunity to work with so many wonderful, smart, amazing people. I am grateful that I get to speak about a topic I enjoy doing - media planning. I don't do it anymore, but I did it in an old job and I was very good at it. I am grateful for that opportunity because it has led me here today.

• Accept My Feelings Right Now - I'm in the moment. I am presently in the present. I've stopped thinking about home life, the fact that the siding guy just called to tell me he's putting siding on only one side of our house, the fact that I have a lump in my throat. I'm not going to think about that. I'm going to think about providing my customers with an awesome presentation. I'm only drinking water - no more caffeine. I accept that in 45 minutes I will start to present to great people who want my help.

• Take It Easy - It's all about one thing at a time and being chill. The Rolling Stones are playing. I'm going to a baseball game tonight. I'll get to have a beer with some awesome people. One thing at a time focusing on the now.

• Sleep - It's funny when people ask me "Do you miss your husband and baby when you travel so much?" The answer is of course I do. However, I welcome the sleep. I sometimes sleep better on the road. Could be the hard/firm beds, which I like, or it could be that I'm just exhausted. It's not always like this on the road, but for the most part, I make sure that I get plenty of sleep so I can function successfully.

So here we go. I'm gonna roll in 30 minutes. I think the crazy is under control. My feedback needs to be positive and I already can't wait for my ratings to come back from customers. Wish me luck!