Some of you know that my wife, Lynn, is a General Contractor and that we own a construction company. This year has been one of her best and this Summer completely exploded. As luck would have it, my speaking business falls flat every Summer. Not sure why, but it does. This Summer I have been able to help her quite a bit, which is great because she needed it! Now, you aren’t likely to see me on a job site too too much. I typically work behind the scenes. BUT I am known to cut a nice paint line and I can supervise a clean up like no one’s business.

Here’s what’s so important about this hat. It represents the blood, sweat, and tears of my wife’s hard work. She built it from nothing and I am so very proud of her. She is good at it, she likes it, and people are nuts about working with her. Here’s the other thing. This is not my dream; it’s hers. BUT  this has helped so much more with MY dream than any of you could ever know. It has allowed me to continue pursuing my dream because it affords our family a living.

It took me a while to get that into my thick skull. I was SO into my own dream that I didn’t see what was right in front of me. AND I certainly didn’t appreciate it. This Summer, I realized just how important this hat is and what it means to me.

So, here’s the lesson for you. Sometimes, the things that are most important are not in your main vision. Sometimes, we don’t even want to see them because we are too in our own things and our own heads. I’ll remind you to stop and look at what you have and what it gives you. And then, be grateful for it. I know I am.

When you change your mindset, you change your life.

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I invite you to listen today and see what Lee is all about. I know you’ll like him as much as I do.

One more thing: The Undy Run is a run that Lee does every year to help raise money for colon Cancer. I’m running it and if you’re a runner or walker and you’d like to participate, go here for registration!

The post The Small Magic Podcast Episode 10- Interview with Lee Silverstein appeared first on Lisa Demmi.

Jessica Muroff is the CEO and she hit the ground running. In our interview today, you’ll hear some of the new things Girl Scouts are doing and how Jessica and her team are putting their own spin and flavor on the West Central Florida Chapter.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Girl Scouts, click here. They are  SO much more than cookies…but don’t worry, we do talk about cookies too!

For more information on Small Magic or to find out what I’m up to, just visit lisademmi.com or drop me a line at lisa@lisademmi.com

The post The Small Magic Podcast Episode 9- Interview with Jessica Muroff appeared first on Lisa Demmi.

Valerie retired after 21 years in the Army as the U.S Central Command Commandant Headquarters First Sergeant. Her military background and her experience as an entrepreneur has given her a unique perspective on Veteran’s as professionals and as business owners. She is a dynamic leader who works tirelessly to ensure every Veteran (and Veteran Spouse) who wants to become a business owner can accomplish that mission.

Now, Valerie’s new mission is with Operation Startup, showing other former military and entrepreneurs the ropes when it comes to business.

Her motto: Serving those who served.

Valerie is a gift to Tampa and we are truly grateful for not only her service to our country but also her continued service to our community!

The post The Small Magic Podcast Episode 8- Interview with Valerie Ellis Lavin appeared first on Lisa Demmi.

Jodi is not a special needs teacher. She does not have an organization backing her other than the elementary school she teaches at. What Jodi does have is heart and love and respect for other humans. Jodi has given her time to these kids and likely always will.

She’s made a difference in their lives and they will be forever changed because of it. If I had a child in elementary school. I’d want Jodi to be his or her teacher.

She is what Small magic is all about. She didn’t like the way something was so she just took it upon herself to make things better.

Mission accomplished, Jodi. AND thank you for making a difference.

The post The Small Magic Podcast- Episode 7- Interview with Jodi Pelletier appeared first on Lisa Demmi.

We were talking about all kinds of things and then she said two words to me: “thank you.” She also said a bunch of other words but those two were the most important of the conversation. She went on to say that so often we forget to thank people and acknowledge them. She’s right and I’m totally guilty of that.

Now, how good do you think I felt when Krayl thanked me? I felt great! Here’s what’s really cool. You have the POWER to make someone feel great just by saying “thank you.” I know I always say this but this requires no preparation or special equipment. You don’t have to get ready to thank anyone- you just do it!

Here’s my challenge to you:
I want you to thank at least one person every day for the next week, seven days. You can thank someone who holds the door open, your best friend for checking in on you, your significant other for making you a nice dinner, and so on. Notice how it makes them feel. AND also, see how it makes YOU feel.

I bet you both feel amazing. So, thank YOU for reading this post!

Have a great day and be Magic!

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That’s ok. I decided this year I’d do the holidays on my own schedule.

This year has already flown by and I’d like to savor my favorite three months( you know, November, December and January- my birth month!)

I cherish this time of year. People are generally in better spirits and maybe, even a little nicer to each other. Ok, the exception is Black Friday when people are beating the crap out of each other to get a $45 74-inch flat screen at Walmart.

Think about it. We volunteer this time of year. We donate food, money, time. AND that’s all great! BUT, and it’s a big but, why now? Why not all year long? Don’t people need a little help at other times of the year? Isn’t kindness a gift you can give to anyone any day? I’m pretty sure I’d accept it anytime.

The way I see it? I’m WAY more fortunate than most people and if there’s something I can do to help someone, put a smile on their face or make things just a little bit easier, then why not do it?

Guess who wins? We all do.

So don’t save all your kindness for this time of the year. Do something every month, every day. AND it doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be as small as saying “thank you,” holding a door open or smiling at someone.

Sometimes, that’s all people need. I promise you won’t be sorry.

The post Small Magic and Halloween appeared first on Lisa Demmi.

I know, I know – most people don’t want to be thought of as a quitter. AND quitting has a really negative connotation.

I want you to look at it a bit differently. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Have you ever stayed in a relationship longer than it was healthy?
2. Have you ever stayed at a job that you knew was it suited for you any longer?
3. Have you ever tried to get a cat to listen to you?

OK, I think you can see where I’m going here. Sometimes, quitting just makes sense. For me, I can get so caught up in the “doing” that I forget to look at the big picture. When you’re so close to something, it’s hard to see that the effort and the time invested in it isn’t going to make it work.

I’m not a huge fan of the phrase “cut your losses” but it seems appropriate here. When I look back at all the times I just should have “quit” I can see that there was a lot of time and work put into something that wasn’t serving me anymore. Instead of quitting, I kept trying to make it happen.

via GIPHY

If I haven’t spent all that time on those things what could I have actually done that may have helped me grow, feed my development, or just plain made me happy. All this said, I’m not looking at those times I should’ve quit as a fail or loss but as a learning opportunity.

Delatorro McNeal always says “win or learn.” That’s something I said to myself every day.

So, what have we learned today?

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