Sean Payton

4-12-10 Dianne de Las Casas at the Get Motivated! Seminar at the New Orleans Arena with her friend, Liz Reyes

4-12-10 Dianne de Las Casas at the Get Motivated! Seminar at the New Orleans Arena with her friend, Liz Reyes

Friends:

I attended the Get Motivated! Seminar at the New Orleans Arena on Monday, April 12, 2010. I hung out with my husband, Antonio, and my friend, Liz Reyes, a media consultant and lifestyles expert. It was a great day and I received many nuggets of wisdom from the fabulous lineup of speakers that included Rudy Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York; Laura Bush, Former First Lady of the United States; Tamara Lowe, International Speaker and Best-Selling Author; Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints Head Coach and reigning Super Bowl champion; General Colin Powell; Bob Patel, International Speaker and Stock Market Expert; Zig Ziglar, International Speaker and Best-Selling Author; James Smith, Financial Wizard; Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints Quarterback and Super Bowl XLIV MVP; and Stephen Pierce, Multi-Millionaire Internet Marketer. Here are some of the highlights:

Rudy Giuliani – “Stay connected with the world around you. Learn how to use technology to connect and adapt it to your business and personal life. Read. Read about things you are interested in. Listen. You don’t learn when you are talking. You learn when you are listening. Debate. Talk to people that disagree with you. Write. Capture your thoughts. Write down the pros and cons when making a big decision. Think. Take time to thank about what you really believe.”

Laura Bush – “Reading is a guiding passion in my life. Literacy is the cornerstone of democracy. Every child in the world should be able to read.”

Tamara Lowe – “Everyone is motivated but everyone is motivated differently. Find out what a person’s motivational DNA (Drives, Needs, Awards) is. Get past your past. Loser make excuses but winners take action.”

Sean Payton – “Some of your greatest rewards come from your greatest challenges. Celebrate your achievements and milestones, not just the big victories. Find time to celebrate small accomplishments.”

General Colin Powell – “It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finish. Leadership is all about followership and giving them a sense of purpose. Leaders have to be passionate and inspiring. Human connection and respect creates followers.”

Bob Patel – “Wishing doesn’t get you anywhere. Action does. There are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who ask, ‘what happened?’”

Zig Ziglar – “Encouragement is the fuel on which hope runs. You can have everything in life you want if you help others get what they want.”

James Smith – You have to take charge of your own life and your own future. Where you spend your time is where your heart is. Don’t work for your money. Make it work for you. Make money but don’t leave victims. Your words are your prophecy. The way you approach the least defines who you are.”

Drew Brees – “Five Pillars to Success = FAITH. F is for Fortitude. A is for Attitude. I is for Integrity. T is for Trust. H is for Humility. If you do things the right way, good things will happen for you.

How to Lead a Team to Victory: Set goals. Do one thing to exercise your leadership every day. Lead by example. Never ask someone to do something you are not willing to do yourself. Lead with consistency. Lead with passion and show them that you care.”

Drew Brees also loves this Winston Churchill quote: “You can accomplish anything in life if you don’t mind who gets the credit.”

Stephen Pierce – “In life, what you see depends on where you sit.”

I felt inspired and privileged to see so many great achievers under one roof in one day. Plus, it was wonderful being able to spend time with Liz. Not only that, the whole promotional and sales department of my publisher, Pelican Publishing Company, was sitting right behind me, How cool is that?!

Now I leave you with my life’s mantra: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined…” – Henry David Thoreau

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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2-9-10 Fantastic Fanatic Fan!

2-9-10 Fantastic Fanatic Fan!

Friends,

My husband, Antonio (who just returned from Miami today), Eliana and I were among the thousands of spectators cheering on the New Orleans Saints in their first ever Super Bowl victory parade. The crowds were HUGE and traffic was gridlock! New Orleans TV commentators said that they had never seen Mardi Gras crowds like this. We may have broken parade attendance records. The Who Dat Nation truly welcomed home the Black and Gold Bless You Boys!

2-9-10 The Crowd at the Super Dome!

2-9-10 The Crowd at the Super Dome!

We caught the parade right at the beginning, at the Louisiana Superdome. I couldn’t help but think of images of the Superdome just 4 1/2 years ago and images of the Superdome now. It glittered like gold in the sunlight, a shimmering beacon of hope, passion and perseverance. After 43 years, the Saints not only made it to the Super Bowl, they WON with a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts and the legendary Peyton Manning. Saints Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, Drew Brees, grinned from ear to ear and did what he does best: throw perfectly. Only this time, he threw beads to adoring and cheering fans.

2-9-10 In front of the Superdome, Drew Brees throws beads to the adoring crowds

2-9-10 In front of the Superdome, Drew Brees throws beads to the adoring crowds

“Stand Up and Get Crunk” and “Who Dat Say Dey Gon’ Beat Dem Saints?!” filled the air as the floats partied by. The New Orleans Saints players danced and catered to the crowds. “Throw Me Something, Mister” was replaced by “Who Dat!” on the parade route.

2-9-10 The crowd adores the Saints!

2-9-10 The crowd adores the Saints!

It’s hard not to get caught up in the fan frenzy when everyone is so filled with joy. What the Saints did for New Orleans is almost unbelievable. They united a city ravaged by hurricanes and tiresome politics. They brought together a community of people not just from New Orleans, but from Louisiana and Who Dat “Nationals” outside the state. They defied predictions. They stunned the naysayers. They stood up and got “crunk.” They won. And they reciprocated their fans’ love with a breathtaking Super Bowl victory.

2-9-10 The Golden Dome shines in the background as the Pierre Thomas (23) and teammates inspire the Who Dat Nation

2-9-10 The Golden Dome shines in the background as the Pierre Thomas (23) and teammates inspire the Who Dat Nation

As dusk fell, the air was filled with a palpable chill. But that chill was tempered by the warmth and camaraderie of the Bless You brethren, where everyone is a member of the “Who Dat Nation!”

2-9-10 Who Dat Nation fire truck

2-9-10 Who Dat Nation fire truck

While waiting for the floats to pass, we all talked to our neighbors. We shared our stories of where we were when “it” happened. We shared our amazement. We shared our common awe, respect, and love for the team that gave the city their heart. And to honor their victory, we kicked up our heels and celebrated in grand Mardi Gras tradition!

2-9-10 Just for kicks, Moorestead (punter) and Hartley (kicker) ride a stiletto heel float!

2-9-10 Just for kicks, Moorestead (punter) and Hartley (kicker) ride a stiletto heel float!

When your team trails by 10-0 in the first half and they are playing the Indianapolis Colts, whose quarterback, Peyton Manning, is not only the stuff legends are made of, but is also a New Orleans native son, you start praying and singing. Yes, singing. You sing, “I believe. Oh I believe!” And then you do. You believe that your team is truly a team of destiny. Then, like a miracle, they are… because cornerback Tracy Porter has just executed the perfect Pick 6 to bring the team to a 14 point lead. The Colts never recover and the Saints never look back. The Saints and their fans look skyward, thanking heaven for this blessing.

2-9-10 The Saints Defensive Line, including Pick 6 Tracy Porter (#22)!

2-9-10 The Saints Defensive Line, including Pick 6 Tracy Porter (#22)!

As Sean Payton’s float neared, an audible buzz morphed into a roar and war cry, “Who Dat! Who Dat!” The New Orleans Saints went into battle and brought home the ultimate prize: The Vince Lombardi trophy. Head Coach Sean Payton, who made some of the gutsiest calls in Super Bowl history, held the trophy high, waving it proudly. It wasn’t just for him; it wasn’t just for the team. The trophy was for a nation, the Who Dat Nation.

2-9-10 New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton triumphantly raises the hallowed Lombardi trophy in a salute to the fans

2-9-10 New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton triumphantly raises the hallowed Lombardi trophy in a salute to the fans

WHO DAT!!!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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