2Weeks2aBreakthrough

Sign at a Caribou

I'm enjoying a soy latte while Hazel enjoys her second spa day of the trip. She will be glad to rid herself of any cicada bits lodged in her body parts.

Caribou Coffee is great. A sign on the wall says:

"A day without coffee is like a day without coffee."

That's deep in a nonobvious way like the initially dissatisfying fade to black ending of Sopranos.

Storms are moving through the area but so far I have been able to dodge them.

Exploring unknown (to me) parts is fun!
Lisa Haneberg www.lisahaneberg.com (Typo warning: Sent via my Blackberry)

How We Travel

A commercial on the local TV channel in Minneapolis is saying that the average worker in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) spends 48 minutes commuting to work.

That's a lot of time and it's worse in other cities.

The ride to Minneapolis was fine - I dodged all but one wee storm, and I got through that one in five minutes. Piece of cake. The most fun moment was passing the WIENERMOBILE! I had never been so close to the Weiner shaped vehicle that looks like a red and yellow futuristic RV/bus. It's very cool. On the side were the words, "Sing the song and win!" So you know what song got stuck in my mind for the next 200 miles...

My baloney has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R.....

Pic from Kraft:

Did you know there was a hotdogger oath? Here it is:

As official Hotdogger of the celebrated Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, I salami swear to uphold the dogma set forth here, and I promise to:

Encourage wiener lovers nationwide to relish the delicacy, ketchup on the great taste of hot dogs, and give in to the craving once it's mustard. Be frank and furthermore, to be upstanding in a line for hot dogs at ball parks, barbecues, buffets, and other bashes. Journey into the streets, dachs, und ports of my community, wish well to all comers, plump and lean — and leave them with a wiener to roast about. As once I wished I were, now I am — an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Hotdogger.

I got to thinking about the odds of passing the Wienermobile. Not very high. It's not something one would predict unless one were a member of the fan club with a copy of the Wienermobile schedule.

But there it was and I had some fun with it. Passing a few times, slowing down, looking inside, etc. Made the long ride a bit more interesting and enjoyable.

When I chat with people about breakthroughs, I talk about how we cannot predict what's going to happen and we don't know which actions will yield positive movement.

The Wienermobile is big, bright and strange looking. It's hard to miss.

Most of the possibilities and opportunities that we encounter are not that obvious.

What does your commute look like? As you travel to work or meetings tomorrow, turn up your "opportunity radar." Enjoy the sites (they are there) and let what you see give you new ideas.

I got several new ideas for essay topics today. Sweet.

And I have been enjoying your emails and I have several I still need to get back to - I will be here in Minneapolis today and tomorrow, so I should be able to do that with no problem. I have to take Hazel in for maintenance tomorrow morning. In one of your emails, you called me an "information goddess." I had never heard that term before but it is quite interesting. Information goddess...... funny.

Eyes wide open tomorrow, OK?  Stay focused and in action. Be methodically relentless.

My baloney has a second name, it's M-A-Y-E-R....

Fun in Harley Town

I am heading to Minneapolis this morning and hoping to dodge the rain, so I am making this post short, but sweet.

Sweet is a great word to describe my day in Milwaukee, too. From the frozen custard (a Milwaukee specialty) to the receptive attendees at the Schwartz bookstore talk, to a lovely post-talk dinner with Relationship Geek Phil Gerbyshak and his wife Kim. Sweet, sweet, sweet. And I loved exploring the Schwartz bookstore - nothing beats a great bookstore (I bought too much and now I have to figure out how to get the books on the bike). I am a sucker for books and stationary.

Thanks also to Todd - from 1800CEOREAD - for attending the talk. It was so great seeing you again!

I like Milwaukee a lot and loved meeting new people (like Lynn and his wife - I hope your kids flap, flap, flap - who bought books for all their kids, such a great idea) or reconnecting with my pals. I will share more when I get to Minneapolis - I will be there for two days.

Time to do the no-rain dance and hit the road.

Are you doing your daily practice today? Yes, I know it's Father's day, but you can spend 10 minutes and do the daily practice to keep your wings flappin. Then spend the rest of the day giving your dad or other loved ones your time and attention. I'll be doing my daily practice after gettting to my hotel.

Cicadas at 70 MPH and Made it to Harley town

As I rolled into Chicago on Thursday afternoon, I wondered if I would have a problem with the Cicadas (those humongous bugs that come out in the millions once every 17 years). I lived in the Wash. DC area during the last cicada boom and remember how icky it was driving with them on the roads....

in a car...

but on motorcycle?

Well, I felt pretty lucky because I did not see very many cicadas Thursday afternoon or evening and just a few more on Friday. I heard them, though, and that high pitched buzz is unmistakable.

This morning I left for Milwaukee and got on the I-94 northbound.

There they were. Eeeww.

When cicadas start hitting your knees, shield and helmet at 70 MPH they make a big and messy thud. They sting a bit on the knees, too.

That's all I am going to say about that...

Made it to Milwaukee - Harley town! - fine and am looking forward to a talk at the Schwartz Books store in a couple hours.

Flap, flap, and here we go!

A while back I wrote about my idea for a book called Motorcycle Yoga and the need for an illustrator. I wrote that I had an idea for the cover that included a drawing of me, sitting lotus position on my bike.

A few hours later I got an email and this amazing graphic.

Very cool, isn't it? Needless to say, I wrote back and now after several emails back and forth, I have a new partner. Terri will be doing all the illustrations, designing the book, and will own the look. Her name will be on the cover and we are splitting all proceeds.

Put your ideas out there. You never know what might happen.

By the way, Terri first wrote to me after she bought the Two Weeks book and started using it to improve her health and fitness.

So this is another example of how we cannot predict what one action might lead to. If we are open to possibilities, who knows?

Flap, flap, flap.

Cool People with Cool Projects

I have been meeting - or re-meeting - some very cool folks on this tour. Since breakthroughs occur "out there," or in the social world, I love to create connections wherever I can. Here are a few interesting links for you to check out:

Tom - who came to my Philly talk - told us about his amazing new product, the Baby Life Seat - they have passed many of the hurdles, like UL approval, but need a bit more support and funding to bring this life saving product to market. Check it out here and share the web address with anyone who is interested in child safety. You can sign up to get advanced notice when the product is going to hit the market, too.

Cathy - also at the Philly talk - is evangelizing a couple books written for women, called Heart of a Mother and Heart of a Woman both by Sheryl Roush. Here's a wee bit about each:

“Heart of a Mother,” a book of sparkling inspiration and insights on the strength and wisdom of all kinds of mothers,…Stories to make you laugh and cry and want to get up and do something; quotations that make you want to hug your kids; and call your mother, or if she’s gone, to find her picture and remind yourself of the bond that can never be broken.

"Heart of a  Woman" is more than a “Chicken Soup” book, “Heart of A Woman" touches both the sublime and the poignant, through personal stories form women and men across the country, both famous women, and from folks like you and me; plus poems and quotes by, for and about strong women.  There are even some very funny quotes from kids and men too!

My new pal Herman (John Herman, but he goes by Herman) attended the Baltimore talk and is zooming forward with focused actions to connect with more people who are interested in creating business success. He has turned around 350 businesses and knows why companies and leaders fail and what enables them to succeed. I had dinner with Herman, and I have to tell you, Herman is one cool and smart dude. If you are a member of an entrepreneur or business association, consider inviting Herman to share what he has learned. Want to get a feel for all the great experience he has crammed in his head, check out his website or pick up his book, Hermanisms: Axioms for Business and Life. Herman offered the following wonderful comment:

While many of us travel the earth in our private cocoon or in our small world thinking we are an island...Lisa understands a simple but valuable concept...that breakthroughs do not happen unto ourselves, but rather only when we interact and collide with others. 

As Lisa glides along on the rest of her 10,000 mile tour I hope she takes a few minutes to smile and understand that it is more than her road-dust she is leaving behind...this lady has left a trail of inspired new evangelists, some of whom will fail, most of whom will be better for having crossed "Hazel's" path...thanks Lisa, finish the ride safely...Herman

Thanks Herman! I am getting more and more email each day. Ruth is working on reinventing her career, Ray is working on launching a new services business, Rick is excited about focusing and getting into action. I will share more cool links every few days. Several folks have gotten together to continue the conversation the day after the events - that's great!

Start sharing the love - your love.... let people know what you are up to and show an interest in learning about others.

Lessons in Contrast

White walls make a vase of red tulips pop.
Whip cream accentuates the perky flavor of fresh raspberries.

Contrasts serve.

This is silly, but as I walked into my hotel room tonight, I was filled with appreciation. Everything the desk clerks did well seemed amazing. My room seemed perfect - great bed, good wifi signal, nice comfortable chair, TGI Fridays right across the street. I asked for a first floor room near the entrance (for less carrying and so I can keep an eye on Hazel) and the room they gave me seemed like it was the best possible location. I had a bottled Iced Tea "Brisk" - it tasted wonderful. I was very happy.

I thought about how when I travel for business under "normal" conditions I rarely appreciate these good things when they happen. It's the contrasts that are making the difference today. It was a long day and the Chicago rush hour traffic tested my strength and resolve. But as my upper forearms continue to ache in spite of Advil, I feel so fortunate to have this experience. In many ways, the day was perfect because I feel grateful to be relaxing in my room now.

And I look forward to working in my room tomorrow. I have a radio show at noon and then a private event in the evening.

When we stretch our comfort zone, we create more opportunities to appreciate contrasts. And in this appreciation can come new ideas and greater satisfaction.

I crossed the 6,000 mile mark today - it hardly seems possible.

Are you stuck in familiar patterns? Are you experiencing contrasts?

I'd love to hear from you about your goals and the breakthroughs your seek and that would make a big difference to your life. Fee free to drop me an email anytime at lhaneberg AT gmail DOT com. I have been getting lots of emails from people I am meeting on this tour and I really enjoy taking the time to read and respond.

Your energy and passion helps make the negative messages that blast from news programs fade to the back. Another contrast.

Business Idea

They ought to have chair massagers at the turnpike service stops like they do in the airport.
Lisa Haneberg www.lisahaneberg.com (Typo warning: Sent via my Blackberry)

Funny Stuff

I am at a truck stop and have to share this. This is a big drive day and I have been on I-80 from PA to OH to IN. I have been passing and re-passing this one guy all day. He is driving an SUV and pulling a Honda Goldwing - some would say that's the ultimate touring bike. So here I am on my dinky Honda (in relative terms) touring and he is pulling a touring bike. The last time I passed him he could not even look me in the eye due to his shame.

#2 - three Harley guys covered in black leather (it's hot) on their big trip like a scene from Wild Hogs. They all have PDAs too. Bikers with blackberries. ..

OK, so maybe the heat is getting to my brain, but these things tickled my funnybone.

Time to pop a few more Advils and get to the windy city.
Lisa Haneberg www.lisahaneberg.com (Typo warning: Sent via my Blackberry)

Heading Out For Chicago

This is just a quick post. I am heading out on the longest day - mileage-wise - so I need to get an early start. All is well and I am looking forward to events in Chicago, and Milwaukee, and then the Dakotas! I will do a more substantive post tomorrow.