What are your favorite work memories from 2021?
I love creating photo books but I don’t always remember to create a physical album. So for now, here are nine of my favorite photos from 2021 that captures the year that was.
From Virtual Working to Real Life conversations
In November I got to meet some of the group of executives i have been working with remotely for the last year as part of a Senior Leadership Forum for executives in technology. It was a delight to meet in real life in Palm Springs and they each received a preview manuscript of my third book Words that Work.
2. Taking Your Daughters to work special!
I love taking my daughters to work and where better than a livestreaming launch of Limelight eveningwear collection streamed on TikTok! Two of my three daughters are here with francesca's CEO Andrew Clarke.
3. francesca's private equity ownership transformation
When my client womenswear retailer francesca’s successfully moved from public company to private equity ownership, I wanted to give a gift that symbolized the year they had been through refinancing and restructuring their company. I knew I wanted to incorporate a phoenix, but it needed to be an everlasting gift. My hyper-focused brain pays off in these situations because I went down a very long, deep, endless Google search tunnel, and eventually discovered glass paperweights with an ornate phoenix inside, from the Caithness Glass factory in Scotland.
4. New York speaking in front of 850 technology leaders
There is nothing like getting back to speaking infront of large audiences again! If you see the red dot on the stage, that's me talking about how to put customers at the heart of every decision in your company.
5. My true excitement: jumping on a chair at SoCal Innovation Forum
Yes this is me, jumping on a chair as part of the SoCal Innovation Forum that I led for The Alliance of SoCal Innovation. The energy, ideas, and action resulting from a day together was electrifying!
6. Handwriting my third book
I was so fed up of my keyboard and computer in 2021, so much so I decided to hand write my third book. This is the book in progress at The Avalon hotel in Palm Springs where my husband wisely suggested I went for a week to help me focus and leave all the craziness at home as we emerged from lockdown.
7. Guest Judge on Shark Tank style competition
I've designed and led a number of Shark Tank style innovation competitions. This most recent experience might be my favorite yet. I was a judge for Fran Finds with fashion brand francesca’s. From hundreds of applications, over two days last week the finalists appeared at Francesca’s headquarters to pitch their products, purpose, and passion. The catch was, their products needed to be available for this holiday season to appear in boutiques and online. Here is one of the winners.
8. My favorite studio for virtual keynotes & interactive events
I am seeing caution return to events and internal corporate meetings so I will be seeing more of this studio in 2022 than I expected. CTRL Collective in Los Angeles have an incredible set up and studio for all my recordings and live events. My favorite coffee shop Copa Vida is right next door too!
9. Yes I have written three books
I am really including this one to remind myself because I still forget when people ask. I am now an author of three books. It is incredible to see events chose to give away all three of my books to their attendees. When I used to play football (soccer) in England I never did manage a hat trick, but at least I can say I achieved one in book publishing!
I’d love to see your own photo recap of 2021.
Here’s to a fantastic 2022!
And finally… A Reminder:
“What’s your greatest dream for yourself?”
Join me on January 3rd 2022, 11am PT for an interactive discussion on:
How To Discover and Make a Reality Your Personal Moonshot.
Suspend disbelief about what is within your reach. Leave with a creative ways to make your personal moonshots a reality in record time. Driverless cars, tunnels from LA to Las Vegas, and babies in space have nothing on the possibilities you can personally create. The holidays are the perfect time to ask yourself essential questions that can give you the confidence, reflection time, and plan to unleash the full impact you can have.
Investment: Purchase one copy of my new book Words That Work Communicate Your Purpose, Your Profits and Your Performance before Midnight PT on December 31st and you will get to join the discussion. Order your copy at your favorite local bookstore to support your local small business. Or you can preorder it online at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, Target, Booktopia.au, Waterstones, Amazon.ca
Send me your receipt and I’ll send you the invitation to join.
If you want to pre order additional copies for your team or event let me know and I can extend special offers and discounts to you.
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
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