This is from Aime Chilson, a multi-talented woman: she’s the founder and CEO of Girl Powered Inc, a real estate brokerage, ( http:// www.girlpoweredrealestate.com ) and she’s incredibly active in the fabulous organization Girls for a Change ( http://www.girlsforachange.org ). In the interest of full disclosure, the tarot reader she mentions below is someone else, not me.
Playing the Joker Card

“Do not take life too seriously. You will not get out alive.” – Elbert Hubbard.

Once a month my friend performs a tarot card reading with me for fun. It provides another opportunity to internally seek answers and solutions that I need at the time. The other day she pulled the joker card, or better known as ‘The Fool’. My ego bristled immediately, and gave the deck a, “Who ya calling fool, fool?” glare.

My friend patiently explained this card was a reminder for me to have fun in life, laugh more, and not take things too seriously. Okay, I could dig it.

As business leaders we have a lot of eyes watching us. I believe it is important to keep a great sense of humor about us in everything we do, especially in business! If we accept there will always be fires to put out, quarterly goals to hit, and shareholders to please, it’s easier to remember ‘why were here working our tails off’ in the first place and occasionally loosen our tight grips on the reins.

Allow your employees to see you let your hair down
By being both commanding and relatable, we create a balance of authority and friendship in the workplace. I find long-term success and happiness this way by reminding my team that I am a person too, sharing the same desire to cut loose after a long days work and relax.

Admit your screw-ups (And laugh at yourself, will ya!)
Face it. We all make mistakes! You’re not fooling anyone by pretending you’re perfect.

Employees see everything, including that awkward, unprepared speech we gave last week, the trash we left in the break room because we were too lazy to clean up, and the blame we placed on the new guy for something he didn’t do.

Here are a few practice items to get you started:

Experiment #1: Rock out in your car, even on the way in to your company parking lot

You know what I’m talking about! You love the songs that make you feel like Karaoke King/Queen, but you’re embarrassed to admit it: Backstreet Boys, The Bee Gee’s, or even Brittany Spears. Sing your heart out and do not think for a moment who is watching while you pump your air guitar or make-believe microphone to Cher.

Experiment #2: Boogie on down at the company party

(I retract this statement if you dance like Elaine Benice from Seinfield)

Experiment #3: Publicly make fun of yourself about something at the next company meeting

The Joker card reminds us to keep a sense of humor at all times. We can dissolve barriers, potential resentments, and workplace gossip by taking the ‘wind out’ of our own blemishes, first.

Becoming a more relatable, transparent boss can be a freeing experience. It’s created less stress for me, fewer skeletons in the closet, and better sleep at night!

While I was at the Fall BATS this past weekend, someone mentioned to me another way she looks at templates: by simply adding up the digits of her year of birth! Many people check out the current year and what it can hold by summing the digits; it’s also a valid way to look at templates. What was going on in the year of your birth? For me, it was the Lovers: talk about contrasts! It was the last year of the 50’s, Alaska becomes the 49th state, Cuba is taken over by Fidel Castro, plants must be named in a modern language (not Latin), the planet Venus occults (think eclipse) the star Regulus allowing astronomers to determine the planet’s diameter and the structure of the atmosphere…

I could go on and on (thank you, Wikipedia!). The year is full of edges and contrasts, and firsts and lasts, and choices. That’s what the Lovers are about.

I ran into some cute metaphysical humor the other day.  Here’s another way to look at the templates…

Note:  the names for the templates are a little different:

Justice = Balance, Temperance=Art, Judgement=Time/Space, World=Universe

Q: How many Templates does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: All of them:

• The Fool has already started before anyone else is ready.
• The Magician assembles an array of objects that might be needed , displays them to best advantage and starts discussing how to go about it.
• The High Priestess sits in the background, knowing one thing is missing but says nothing.
• The Empress fusses around making sure it is safe and nobody gets hurt.
• The Emperor tells everyone he thinks it should be done right now and starts delegating responsibilities.
• The Hierophant offers advice on the missing part after consulting with the High Priestess.
• The Lovers umm and ahh about what wattage bulb to put in this time.
• The Chariot charges in and starts doing it himself regardless of the others’ protests.
• Strength surreptitiously places what’s needed into Chariot’s hands and gets it done her way.
• The Hermit suggests a candle in a lamp would provide light in the meantime.
• The Wheel of Fortune laughs and reminds everyone that the light will need changing again in the future.
• Justice works out whose turn it is to change the light and whether the division of labour is being delegated fairly.
• The Hanged Man sits back and contemplates how darkness can change our lives.
• Death points out mournfully that this was bound to happen and how everything ends.
• Temperance tells Death to chill out, it all evens up in the end.
• The Devil tries to blame the Hanged Man for causing the light to blow and creates bad feelings all round.
• The Tower suddenly starts ripping out the original light fitting so he can create a whole new more basic look.
• The Star marvels at new beginnings and says how much she’s looking forward to having the light working again.
• The Moon continually offers conflicting advice, confusing everyone until he wanders off to the relief of all.
• The Sun wants to redesign the whole room around a much brighter light.
• Judgement examines the globe to see whether it truly was its time to blow and ponders whether the globe can be recycled.
• The World suggests that any problems with the light are temporary: we had light once, we will have it again, and suggests focussing on the bigger picture.

Meanwhile, the Fool has already finished changing the light bulb and is off doing his own thing. © 1999 Serena Powers
If you are copying this tarot lightbulb joke please include copyright credit and a link to my website at www.serenapowers.com Thank you!

Ok, now that the first flush of excitement has receded a bit, I’ll be posting some information and observations on how the Templates actually work.

For years, I’ve been asking people for their birthdays as an icebreaker at business mixers and parties. Nearly everyone I talk to about their Template gets really excited and usually go find someone else for me to “do.” For example, at a business mixer several years ago, I spoke to a man that I identified as a Chariot. Chariots don’t sit still; they typically change something in their lives about once every 5 – 7 years (relationship, job, house; if nothing else, they’ve got DRIVE). The man became very excited, and went to find his girlfriend to tell her about how I had correctly spotted his very recently diagnosed ADD in a single 3 minute conversation. He said that what I told him about managing his energy helped him immensely. Caveat: I DON’T ever diagnose, or dispense medical information. I never once used the term “ADD” in the above conversation. However, the Template of the Chariot, once identified, helped him zero in on his challenges and strengths.

Well, here I am – jumped in the deep end with a deep breath and a loud “WHOO-HOO” – the book is out, released and on tour! I’ve sold 80+ since the release date of April 27; I’ve done 1 radio interview so far, and many more planned (thanks, Wayne Kelly [www.onairpublicity.com] and Aimee Sandberg [in advance]. I’ve been to Dallas, TX and met a LOT of great people there. I’ve had my book launch at my book store, San Jose Book Shop (www.sjbookshop.com), and more and more folks are buying online since I’ve gotten my shopping cart up and running. I’ll be touring farther afield later this year; during the summer I’ll be keeping it local. Stay tuned to the events page for more info.

We’re almost there…I’m just waiting for the last revision of the text to get to me, and I’ll upload the files and get my proof copy, and then the book will be out! Just a couple of more weeks, and the seven year journey will enter new territory!

I now have an interior designer, just waiting to get the MS back from the editor. I’ve solicited some quotes for the back of the book (networking for 10+ years has paid off) from some excellent folks, and gotten back 2 positive replies. I have my POD (print on demand) publisher picked out. I have ISBN’s and bar codes. I’m really excited about the progress I’ve made in the last week. The items left on my plate are to get in touch with the POD, and write my acknowledgements. I’m also going to see if I can get the cover up on the web site. You can now see it to the left on the blog, but it’s awfully small.

Stay tuned…

I’ve finally gotten back into the book with an enthusiasm I’ve been missing for months. I have a cover. I have the manuscript at the editor, due back in just a little while. I have feelers out for interior designers – no, not for the kitchen or bathroom, for the interior of the book. I’m looking at a couple of different folks and reading reviews on the web about them. Wow! What variety! My plan is to have a physical book in my hand by March 27 – I won a display table at a networking event on that date, and I’d like to have my begin my launch then. Following that, I’ll be appearing at the New Living Expo in San Francisco, Friday April 27 at 7pm talking about the 21 Templates, and then doing readings and chatting with folks the rest of the time.

I’ve had a phone conference with Gail Richard, who will be designing my cover. She’s sent me a quote, and I’ll be moving forward with that in September.
Also, in September, I will be starting the “90 Day Millionaire Challenge” put on by Robert Allen & Mark Victor Hansen, authors of “The One-Minute Millionaire.” In October, I’ll be attending the Enlightened Wealth Retreat in Dallas to kick off and energize my path to wealth. I’m really excited about all of this.
So, let me just check in: what’s your reaction to all this? Is there joy, excitement, “me too!”? Or is there resentment, anger, or other negative reactions to the idea that I might actually have as a target making a million dollars over the next 3 months? It’s probably not personal, so what’s the deal? What does money/wealth/prosperity/abundance have to do with you?
Do you know that quote “Money is the root of all evil?” Well, I’m here to invite you to go look up the source. The actual quote is: “The LOVE of money is the root of all evil;” in other words, when you allow the love of money to get ahead of your other, more spiritual loves, you get into trouble…