The Barefoot CEO

Multi-Tasking Maven

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:45:29 +0000

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem… My name is Lisa, I am a multi-tasker. Is there a rushing rehab? A retreat for multi-tasking mavens? Or do you just have to go cold turkey?

I have taken multi-tasking to new and embarrassing heights. I knew something had to give the day my daughter discovered me getting ready one morning with a blow dryer in one hand, iphone in the other and my laptop on the counter. The look of horror on her face told me reviewing spread sheets, conducting a conference call and drying my hair simultaneously was not normal. I decided enough was enough, and I was actually going to make changes.

They say if you want something done, give to a busy woman. Well, let’s stop saying that!

Women can do it all, and far too often we do. I have learned to delegate, and learned to say no–the hardest thing for women to do.

After many years in the fast lane, I am happily merging over and enjoying myself in the slow lane.

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

In Celebration of Moms

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:12:37 +0000

Soon Moms across the land will be waking up to receive their Mother’s Day gifts. I can’t help but smile when I think back over all the years of finger paint art and sticky pancakes in bed.

I recently read that 91% of Moms would rather get an iPad than flowers this year. While I highly doubt many Moms will be asking for a spendy iPad, I do think the article was spot on about just how few Moms really want flowers.

In lieu of expensive electronics here is a run down of what Mom’s are probably getting and what they might actually like instead…

The new Mom who hasn’t slept in months is probably getting roses. What she’d really like is a long leisurely bath and an even longer nap.

The Mother of toddlers is probably getting a bathrobe from her kids. What she’d really like is her own time out – tell her she is going to be sent to her room alone for the day and she will jump for joy!

The Mom with school age kids is probably getting a kitchen appliance. She’d really like a day at the spa with her girlfriends to relax and be pampered.

The Mother of teenagers is probably going to get a text message from her kids wishing her a Happy Mother’s day. What she would really like is a gift card so she can go buy some clothes her kids will stop making fun of.

The empty nest Mom is probably going to get a nice bottle of perfume. What she wants is to know that you were really listening and her hard work was worth it.

Truth is, Moms don’t want any thing, they want to be appreciated. And you can’t buy that at the mall.

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

The Mother of Invention

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:00:48 +0000

It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. I want to honor some of our unsung sheros who invented things we use everyday.

Marion Donovan was a young mother in the post-war baby boom era. Tired of the leaky cloth diapers she invented the disposable diaper. Marion made her first prototype using a shower curtain.

Manufactures said Marion Donovan’s product wouldn’t work. Undeterred, Marion went into business for herself. Many years later she was able to sell her business for $1 million dollars.

Next time it rains you might find yourself thinking of May Anderson. Back in 1903 she was granted her first patent for a window-cleaning device that could clean rain, sleet or snow from a windshield using a handle inside the car. By 1916 windshield wipes became standard equipment on all cars.

Bette Nesmith Graham is one of my favorite stories. She never intended to be an inventor; she wanted to be an artist. After World War II ended, she was a single mother with a child to support. As an executive secretary she took great pride in her work, and sought a better way to correct typing errors. She recalled that artists simply painted over their mistakes, so why couldn’t she?

Bette used tempera water based paint and colored it to match the stationery she was using. With a small watercolor brush she dabbed that on any typing mistakes she made. He boss never noticed. Soon another secretary saw the new invention and wanted a bottle. She called it “Mistake Out”.

In 1956 Bette started her homed based business, Mistake Out, which she later renamed, Liquid Paper. By 1967 it was a multi-million company. Bette Nesmith Graham believed money to be a tool, not a solution to a problem. Graham sold her corporation for $47.5 million. She set up two foundations to help women find new ways to earn a living.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Put a Spring In Your Step

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:20:17 +0000

I just heard that internet searches for “spring cleaning” are up over 183%. I am not surprised. I think a lot of us are ready for a fresh start. And our closet is a great place to begin!

I’m a gal that loves order and organization. For me the bliss of spring cleaning is not just about getting to organize my home, but also donating the things we don’t need. I am a firm believer that as we let go of the old, we open the door to receive the new. Try giving away things with an abundant attitude and watch what happens!

Whenever I clean out my closet I do so with a happy heart, because I know each and every piece of clothing and pair of shoes is going to be put to good use. No need to cringe when deciding whether or not to give up that perfectly new sweater you never wear. Find a great charity in your area and spread the joy.

Free yourself of old baggage—literally and figuratively—that may be hanging around in your closets. I promise you’ll find it liberating!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Maybe It’s Time to Revise?

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:00:24 +0000

Sometimes on the way to your dream you get lost and find a better one. Now more than ever I am finding people are truly reevaluating life. Perhaps with our ever-changing landscape now is the perfect time to step back and ponder what other paths we might have taken, what passions and pursuits we wished we had let our hearts follow. It is okay to change our minds and it’s never too late to start.

So what new adventure might you begin? What does your heart long to do? If you are starting something exciting be sure to comment and let me know!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

4 Life Lessons the Big Dance Can Teach Us

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:40:02 +0000

I may be the only woman I know with an autographed 8 x 10 photo of Dick Vitale in her office. I live for March Madness. It is a national holiday in my home.

I haven’t missed going to the tourney in 25 years. I have learned a few things oh these many games….

Teamwork Is Triumphant

One of the greatest games in history taught us just how magical teamwork can be.

When the Villanova Wildcats upset the Georgetown Hoyas in 1985 it was because they united as a team and beat the odds.

“The best teams are team in any sport that lose themselves in the team. The individuals lose their identity. And their identities come about as a result of being in the team first.” — Mike Krzyzewski

Size Doesn’t Matter

I first started following Muggsy Bogues back when he played for Wake Forest. Because of Muggsy I became a huge Demon Deacon fan! Standing just 5 feet 3 inches tall in height, but a giant in spirit, he was an inspiration both on and off the court.

Watching Muggsy was a constant reminder that size doesn’t matter. Hard work and determination do. Muggsy was the shortest player to ever play in the NBA. He played for 14 seasons before he retired.

Trust Your Gut

In life and in basketball brackets sometimes we just over think things. I used to read, study, stress, watch way too much team coverage and then stress some more before I would fill out my brackets. I have learned to trust my gut.

I am notorious for picking underdogs—which I inevitably get a lot of grief for. However, I remind all the guys in my pool that A) I picked the infamous Austin Peay game in 1987 and B) I still hold the record for winning our pool the most years in the last 25. They don’t call me the Queen of Bracketology for nothing!

There is Power In Passion

If you watch Dick Vitale and don’t feel his passion for life and for the game of basketball you aren’t paying attention. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is having more fun at the Big Dance, the teams playing or Dick Vitale. He is a great example passion and purpose.

“I learned from my mom and dad, who didn’t have a formal education but had doctorates of love. They told me that if you gave 110 percent all the time, a lot of beautiful things will happen. I may not always be right, but no one can ever accuse me of not having genuine love and passion for whatever I do.” –Dick Vitale

Enjoy your journey on the road to the Final Four!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Business School of Fish

admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:26:08 +0000

I love watching the popular TV show Shark Tank. I am inspired by the innovation of the entrepreneurs and always gain business insight from the savvy sharks.

As an entrepreneur I know all too well how important it is to be passionate about what we do. However, when pitching to investors it is also very important to stick to the facts. Although we started our companies because we are wildly passionate about our jewelry and our widgets, the VC’s are simply looking at the bottom line.

It is painful to watch the entrepreneurs enter the Tank and tell the Sharks that the reason they should invest a half a million dollars in their companies is because they have mortgaged their house or because they really, really love their BBQ sauce. That is not a reason to invest in a company. Now an outstanding order for 2 million dollars you can’t fill because you don’t have the capitol you need—that is a reason to invest. ROI.

Watch the show, swim with this school of fishes and learn.

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Dare to Be Powerful

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:35 +0000

Several years ago I was talking with a woman I considered invincible. She was an athlete, a woman who ran marathons, went backpacking alone, and climbed mountains most of us only view from the ground. I was telling her how much I envied her courage and lack of fear. She looked at me and smiled, and then told me something I have never forgotten; she was afraid too.

It was an amazing revelation to me. The people we admire for daring such courageous feats are really no different than us. The difference isn’t that they aren’t afraid and we are–the difference is that they move forward anyway.

I keep this quote hanging on my bulletin board, “When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” Audre Lorde.

Go ahead dare to be powerful!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Lottery Litmus Test

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:11 +0000

In Nevada they don’t have the lottery, they have Mega Bucks—a progressive slot machine game—it may not reach $350 million dollars, but it is certainly enough to change your life.

I am not a real gambler but whenever we go to a show in Las Vegas we walk right past the Mega Bucks machines and I like to put in a few bucks and fantasize about winning!

So every now and then I like to do what I call my “Lottery Litmus Test”.

It goes a little something like this…I ponder what I would do if I actually won Mega Bucks or the lottery.

Over the years there have been times I wouldn’t change a thing. There have been times I would make radical changes. And there have been times I would only make slight modifications to my life. But what I have learned about myself is that this somewhat silly Lottery Litmus Test actually has merit.

Life is too short to wait for our 10 million dollar ship to come in! Whenever I mull over my Lottery Litmus Test I inevitably end up course correcting and adjusting the sails on the ship of my life.

So what changes would YOU make if you won the Lottery?

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Go Out On a Limb!

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:15:10 +0000

We may not all have the moxie to walk across a high wire nearly 3000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor, but we all have hopes, dreams, and secret ambitions.

My daughter sent me a truly inspiring video a while back that actually made me gasp out loud. And I can’t seem to stop thinking about it.

So what was so jaw dropping about this video? Well, first it’s a video of my daughter’s childhood best friend. Libby was like part of the family when our kids were growing up. And now she has accomplished something no other woman in the world has!

Take a look for yourself and see the height—literally—one person went to achieve her dream.

Click here to watch Lost Arrow Spire

Every dream begins with having the courage to take that first step toward a goal, and the persistence to keep putting one foot in front of the other until we reach the other side.
We don’t all have to walk across Yosemite, but we do have to go out on a limb in order to reach our dreams.

Dream Big,

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Time Well Spent

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:05:19 +0000

The way we spend our time is ultimately the way we spend our lives.

What do you always think about doing, but don’t actually do?

What does your heart desire? Have you always wanted to run a marathon, take a trip to the land of your ancestors, take a photography class, learn to speak another language, plant a garden, write your history, or volunteer at a local charity?

Commit to making this be the year you actually do it! The reality is we make time for whatever is truly important to us. If it is really a priority we find, carve out, and create the time.

The way we spend our time is a reflection of our priorities. How will you be spending your time?

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Is Your Indicator Warning Light Flashing?

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:55:45 +0000

To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.

~Mother Teresa

I think women are a lot like lamps.

Over the last forty years, research studies have shown that women’s overall level of happiness has dropped. This decline in happiness has no connection to whether or not we have kids, how healthy we are, what career we choose, what our income is, how old we are, or whether we are single or divorced. The bottom line is: Women are loosing ground on the happiness scale. I personally believe it is because we are running on fumes and are simply out of oil.

Is your indicator warning light flashing low, low low? Is it time to put more oil in your tank?

Make a promise to yourself this year that self care will be a priority. Move yourself to the top of the list and begin to put Oil in Your Lamp.

Start by giving yourself a few minutes of “me time” to watch the link below. Click on the inspiring link and turn up the sound on your computer so you can really feel the message of this beautiful little movie and then share it with someone who also needs oil in her lamp.

http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=266955&u=355465&m=17824&urllink=&afftrack=”>src=”http://www.shareasale.com/image/17824/OFYL_movie_300×250_03.jpg

Blessings for a NEW year!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Fire Up Your Life in 2012

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:35:50 +0000

Don’t drag any baggage into the New Year with you. Let it go. Enter the next chapter of your life fired up and ready to go!

It is my tradition every New Year’s Eve to make a list of anything I want to release from that year—and burn it. It’s a symbolic way of making sure I let go whatever isn’t working for me so I can head into a New Year with a clean slate and a fresh start.

Some years my list makes it’s way to the fireplace, some years we have a fire pit in the back yard, and some years I am lucky enough to be at the beach with a bon fire.

Try it! It’s liberating!

Happy NEW Year!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Gifts that Give Back

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:00:02 +0000

Last year for Christmas I got a Goat, Water, a small business in Haiti, and a Brain. Please allow me to explain…

My son donated a goat in my honor through Heifer International.

My daughter donated to Kiva in my honor. Through Kiva I was able to fund a woman with a micro loan for her business in Haiti.

My husband donated drinking water in my honor to a village through Charity Water.

My sister donated her brain (postmortem of course) in my honor to the Brain Bank at The Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center. Read the book My Stroke of Insight and you will understand why I am passionate about this research.

Throughout the year these gifts have brought me such joy. I smile whenever I think about the incredible work these organizations are doing and what a difference they are making.

This year the charity gift that is top on my wish list is a donation to Grameen America.

Grameen American was founded by one of my heroes, Muhammad Yunus. Professor Yunus began the Grameen Bank, a system that has succeeded with remarkable results in the villages of Bangladesh. Now Professor Yunus has brought his wisdom and vision to America. Grameen America provides affordable micro-loans to help financially empower low-income entrepreneurs.

Join me in giving gifts that give back this year. I have the honor of being part of 12 Days of Giving an innovative social media campaign to raise funds for charities through Crowdrise. I have chosen Grameen America as my charity.

To encourage you even a bit more… If we reach $2000 for Grameen Amercia, I will Bungee Jump! Something my kids have been trying to get me to do—and I have been desperately trying to avoid—for many years!! Follow the fun at the Twitter hashtag #12DaysOfGiving

Please show your support by clicking here http://www.crowdrise.com/day11lisahammondgram

Make the Holidays Bright!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®

Words Have Power

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:58:54 +0000

Apparently I am a slow learner. For several weeks I have been referring to a situation as a pain in the ass. I like a drama free zone, and it has been anything but around here lately. One of those times, whether on the home front or at work we all want to look back on—not be in the middle of.

I know better. I write about, talk about it, and truly do get the power of our words. And here I have been week after exasperating week going on and on about what a pain in the ass this situation is.

Blame it on lack of sleep, blame it on a moment of weakness, blame it on oops I did it again, but you know how this story ends… guess who has a pain in the ass?

That’s right boys and girls I am now writing about the literal pain in my ass — the flare up of my sciatic nerve.

Who feels like a horses ass now?

Lesson learned. Note taken. A painful reminder that our words have power. Change of plans, from here to forth I shall be saying, wow I am so lucky to be learning so much from this exciting process. I am sure it’s all working out exactly as it is meant to be.

Giddy Up!

Lisa Hammond
The Barefoot CEO ®