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This is my special birthday month—and not only that—it’s a very special birthday year, too.  This is a big one, 30!  (just kidding), and I wanted to share it publicly with all my family and friends.  It’s actually my 50^th.  People from my generation used to play Pac-Man, loved listening to Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Madonna, and grew up watching The Brady Bunchand The Partridge Familyon TV.  Ah, the memories.  Wasn’t that a nice bit of nostalgia?

Well, it’s put me in a mellow mood.  It’s my birthday, but you get the presents. I’d like to offer you a Complimentary Workshop on Goal Setting for Success with Accountability, Balance and Gratitude. For more information on the seminar and to register please click the Sign-up Genius button below.  It will be held on Wed., January 30^th  2019, from 6:30-8:30pm. I hope that you can attend if you want some help making and creating goals. 

Although, as I mentioned, your admission will be free, small donations ($10-$20) for Boston Children’s Hospital are always welcome. You can either bring the donation to the event or mail it in advance to me at:  Lisa Sasso, P.O. Box 371, Reading, MA 01867.   Again, there is no obligation, but I would much prefer accepting any donations for Boston Children’s rather than a gift or card for me.  I may have told you that I have a cardiac kid who’s had 3 surgeries in the last 11 years—the most recent being his open-heart surgery this past August. So, giving back to Children’s Hospital is near and dear to my heart.

I am also a believer in Gratitude, and giving and sharing Gratitude.  As I reflect over the last 50 years, I realize how blessed I am today, to have both sets of parents alive and relatively healthy. And I have good friends—who’ve been my friends for over 40 years (Amy, Laura, Kathy). And good friends from high school as well (Elizabeth, Carolyn and Eleni).  Also, I’ve had so many friends from SDT Sorority and UMASS for over 30 years (Susan, Dawn, Roxanne, Julie, Nadine, etc.). And there are also my RADI friends and my MDG friends, and of course my family, town friends and neighbors. I have also been married for 26 years and together with my sweetheart, John, for 34 years.  Finally, I have a healthy and happy 11-year old son.

To all the people just mentioned:  you have shaped me into the woman that I have become.  I have been influenced by so many people, and I am grateful for each one of you. To all of you, thank you for being in my life. I am a very fortunate lady and I have a lot of gratitude to share.
Research shows that Gratitude helps you to live longer. You could be more satisfied in life simply by being happier.  During my workshop we talk about Gratitude and what things you can do, like keeping a Gratitude Journal.  Did you know that at the New Year, many people make the effort to create their personal goals for the year, yet over 82% actually don’t know what they are by the end of January?  In fact, only 8% of goal-setters achieve their goal at the end of the year.  Be one of the 8% that meets your goals annually!

Again, click here for more information on the seminar and to register.  It is on Wed., January 30^th 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm.  I hope that you can make it.  Also, feel free to invite a guest and get a free 20-30 minute free mini-consult.  I want to fill the room with quality individuals.

What are you going to do for yourself in 2019? This could be a no-brainer.  It’s FREE, it’s short, and there will be snacks and water provided.  Thanks as always for your time, and thank you for being a special person in my life.  I hope to see you at the Workshop.

With gratitude and best wishes,
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker

“It doesn’t matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going.”
~ Brian Tracy

The Year in Review

The Sassos had a busy year.  We enjoyed a summer vacation at the Hard Rock Café resort in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. We had a blast swimming in the many pools and lazy rivers, as well as in the ocean. The food was delicious.  Although John Robert got a little sick, that didn’t slow him down.  We also watched a theater performance each night.

In August, John Robert played the role of Michael in Peter Pan, and did a great job. Three days later, he started at Learning Prep, his new middle school.  He was only able to attend for one day, and then he had his open-heart surgery.  He was in and out of the Intensive Care Unit in only 2 days—and he made it out of the hospital in only 4 days.  It was a whirlwind ride!

He made it back to school at the end of September, and in October, John Robert and his friend Jason played the two wicked stepsisters in the musical Cinderella. The boys stole the show. My son as a drag queen, it was funny. He’s pursuing Jazz, Tap, Drama, and Boy Scouts.

John is still working for Nextegic, and he is going on 4 years. Lisa is still working for herself, and doing her coaching and motivational speaking.  This year Lisa earned her PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accreditation for coaching— through the ICF (International Coach Federation), and also her PSM (Professional Speakers Member) for speaking—through the NSA (National Speakers Association).

Mom and Dad Tosi celebrated their birthdays in December, and Mom and Dad Sasso had their birthdays in April. All the grandparents are doing well. Dad Sasso had both knees replaced this year.  Mom Tosi is still suffering from memory issues.

This past year I was able to donate more than $1,000 to Children’s Hospital from the proceeds of my book, Motivation Now!. I thank you and appreciate all of you who purchased my book.  Now, I am giving back to you and Children’s Hospital in the form of my Goal Setting Seminar on the 30th.

Please save the date for Goal Setting for Success with Accountability, Balance and Gratitude on Wed., January 30, 2019 from 6:30pm-8:30pm (use the sign-up genius link below to reserve your spot).

Here’s wishing you a Happy New Year. I hope you and everyone in your family are healthy and well. — From The Sasso’s

With gratitude and best wishes,
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker

It’s hard to believe that we’re already in the middle of December;  the end of the year will be here before you know it.  Have you met your goals for 2018?  There are still a few weeks left.

And looking ahead, if you want to start off your new year right with new goals for 2019, you’ll want to attend my 4^th Annual Goal Setting for Success with Accountability, Balance and Gratitude Seminar.  Click here for more information on the Seminar. It’s a fundraiser, so there is no cost for the session, but you are encouraged to give a nominal amount to Boston Children’s Hospital (suggested donation $10-$20).

You may know that my son had open-heart surgery at Children’s in August of this year, and this is one way I give back to them.  I also sell my books, and 50% of the proceeds go to Children’s Hospital. (If you’d like to buy my book, click here for a link to Amazon).  I’m pleased to let you know that I’m writing out a check for over $1,000 to Children’s Hospital from my book sales— and if you bought a book, I thank you.  My goal is to collect another $500-$700 in donations at my workshop for Children’s Hospital; that’s 50-70 people giving just $10 each.

December is a giving time of year. Doesn’t it feel good to be giving as opposed to receiving?  This is the month when we give to all our favorite charities.  Make sure that you donate to your special causes, groups, clubs, and schools. No matter what holiday you celebrate,

• Enjoy time with your family and friends.
• Enjoy the good food and tasty desserts.
• Enjoy the magic in the season.

Here is a photo from our house after putting up our tree.  Wishing you best wishes from our house to yours.

I’m looking forward to seeing you at my 4^thAnnual Goal Setting Seminar, mentioned above.  First come, first served, and I’m offering it first to all you wonderful friends who read my Monthly Motivational Message blog, so that you can sign up if you want to go.  Also, you’re welcome to bring a friend, just make sure that you’re both registered through the Sign Up Genius (link below). The seminar is scheduled for: January 30^{th –}  6:30-8:30 pm, at Constant Contact in Waltham.  Click here for more information.

And thank you in advance for your generosity.  I feel that we have a TEAM approach to Goal Setting and working together: Together Everyone Achieves More.

Again, my sincere good wishes for a spectacular holiday season.  I look forward to seeing many of you on January 30^th.  Until then, enjoy your holidays. Happy New Year!

With gratitude and best wishes,
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker

Greetings and Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Family

MedDevCoach believes Thanksgiving is a special time—an opportunity for us to give thanks; to express our deepest gratitude for our family, friends and our valued clients.

We also want to thank the Red Sox for their outstanding showmanship this season. Congratulations on being World Champs once again!  They really played well, and we saw some amazing games—especially in the World Series.  I am curious to know how many people stayed up to 3 a.m. during Game 3 (I know that I wasn’t alone).  It was too bad we lost that game; however, we came back with even more energy and showed people what the Red Sox were made of.  They had a lot of grit.

I also want to take a moment to thank God for the miraculous work that Dr. del Nido did on John Robert on August 29^th, and for his quick recovery.  He’s doing great, and he’s now participating in gym and all of his extracurricular activities (tap, jazz, drama, Boy Scouts, altar boy).

John Robert is truly doing outstandingly well.  Thank you!  I mean this sincerely from the bottom of my heart.  He has made a smooth transition to his new school, Learning Prep.  He likes his teachers, the students, and even the subjects. 

One of his classes is Performing Arts; I think that’s his favorite subject. He still participates in a local drama club and was just in the play Cinderella this past weekend.  It featured him and another boy playing the two wicked step-sisters.  They were hysterically funny, and they milked the applause.

And now is my time to say thank you to all of you who continue to keep my son in your thoughts and prayers. Take a few minutes to think about what you are most thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.

With gratitude and best wishes,
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker

“People will not give you their hand until they can see your heart.”
— John Maxwell

The above quote really resonated with me.  I believe in showing people my heart, and this message to you comes from my heart: thanks for all the continued support.  My son, John Robert, is not only back to school after his open-heart surgery, but he is also back to several of his activities—dancing, drama and Boy Scouts.  It’ s great to have him doing so well.  He is full of energy, and just gained back the 6 pounds that he lost at the hospital. We are so blessed.  It will take a few more weeks until he is swimming or playing basketball; he just needs to heal.  Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.  They have certainly worked, and they have meant so much to me and my family.

And now, how are you doing?  It’s already the beginning of the 4^thQuarter; as you spring to the end-of-year finish line, what are you going to do to make it memorable?  Have you set up goals that you want to complete by the end of December?  Have you written them down, and are you looking at them on a daily—or at least weekly— basis? With 75 more days to go before the year ends, there’s still plenty of time to achieve most goals.

Speaking of goals, I am moderating an event for MDG on Tuesday, October 16^th at 5:30 pm entitled “Transitioning into and within the Medical Device Industry.”  I will have a stellar panel consisting of Keith Faucher from Getinge, Steven Colbert from CardioFocus, and Andrea Cahill from Boston Scientific, as well as several guests discussing Networking.  This is the 12th Annual Event that I’ve had the privilege of putting together for MDG.  It is being held at Regis College in Weston, MA.  If you’re in the medical device industry, or if you want to get into the field or learn more about the Industry, I encourage you to come and join us.  It will be time and money well spent.   It’s only $25 if you register in advance.  To learn more or to register, please click here.

Also, I wanted to acknowledge my book Motivation Now!  which has just celebrated its first-year anniversary. This year certainly went by quickly.  My goal last year was to finish the book and to have 50 reviews on Amazon and I am proud to say that I was able to make both goals.  This year my goal was to conduct 20 paid speeches and to go from being an Academy member with National Speakers Association to a Professional Member.  I completed this goal and I met a lot of great people along the way that are now part of my members.  It is not too late to leave a review, I greatly appreciate every review on Amazon.  Wow what can happen in a year!

I know many of you already have a copy of Motivation Now! (thank you!).  But if you haven’t and would like one, please check out Amazon to order your copy.  You can also view the first chapter for free (click here) and learn about goal setting— which fits into your working on your quarterly goals.  If you buy my book online it’s $12.99 plus shipping, or you can buy it directly from me for only $10.00 (no tax and no shipping charge). Just a reminder: I donate 50% of the proceeds to Children’s Hospital.   Send me an email if you are interested in purchasing directly from me.

Thanks for all of your love, help and support.  It all goes back to the quote on the top of this page.  I hope that you see my heart.  I also hope to see you at the Transitioning meeting next Tuesday, October the 16^th.  It really does take a village to put on an event like this.

Have a great weekend!
With gratitude and best wishes,
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker

“Sometimes we don’t realize the blessings we have until we no longer have them. Appreciate all the blessings in your life, take none for granted.”
— Catherine Pulsifer

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.  John Robert went into Children’s Hospital two weeks ago today for open-heart surgery, and miraculously, 4 days later he came home. Now he needs to continue to rest, recover and get stronger.

He’s an All-Star, as his shirt shows.  He’s also a trooper and a “miracle kid” —which is how they referred to him at the hospital. You know, we expected him to be in the hospital for 10-14 days, and he was out in just 4 days!  He is remarkable, and keeps us all in a state of wonder.

On Friday, September 14th he will be going back to Children’s Hospital for some tests.  If all goes well, the doctors might authorize him to go back to school.  He’ll be starting 6th grade at Learning Prep in West Newton,

We all want the best for our kids.  I just want John Robert to go back to school safely.  Learning Prep is a middle school, and a new school for him.   He’s really looking forward to it, and I hope that he’ll be able to make the transition easily.  Especially since he will have missed the first 2-3 weeks of school because of his surgery.

Of course, September is the month all of our children or grandchildren go back to school, excited about a year of adventure to come.  Whether they’re off to pre-school or college, we all get to re-live a little of our own history through our kids or grandkids.  Take a few moments now to relish this, and find joy in thinking of all the good times that they’re about to enjoy.

Prayers and good wishes to all kids starting new grades for a year full of adventure!

Do you remember your favorite teacher?  I recently connected back up with two of my elementary school teachers, and it’s great being back in touch with them.  I want to do a call-out right here to Ms. Florencourt and Ms. Tierney, and thank them for attending my workshops.  You two ladies are the best!!!

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, October 16, 2018, 12th Annual Transitioning into and within the Medical Device Industry.  Click here for more information and registration details.

Wishing all of you continued hope, inspiration and motivation.

With gratitude and best wishes,
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker

“Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor—I will need them all.”
— Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Yes, it’s unfortunately true: our son, John Robert, needs open heart surgery again, and it’s scheduled for later this month at Boston Children’s Hospital. It’s been 8 years since his first operation, and he wasn’t expected to need this major surgery again until he became a teenager.  However, his medical team determined that he needs it now because he has grown so fast—3 inches taller each year for the last 3 years, meaning that his heart is already the same size as—or even larger than— an average adult heart.

The good news is that Dr. Pedro del Nido will again be the lead surgeon.  We know that John Robert is in great hands with Dr. del Nido, who is the Number One pediatric cardiac surgeon in the world who performs the “Cone Procedure” that John Robert needs.

My husband and I will be staying right by his side.  He really doesn’t remember his first surgery, and so far he’s handling the prospect of this upcoming operation very well.  And for our part, we’re trying to keep the worrying and the chattering about the surgery to a minimum—except when our boy wants to talk about it—and then we’re all ears.  I feel that it’s healthy to talk about it, and for me, it’s actually cathartic.

During John Robert’s early years, I used to write a daily blog whenever he was in the hospital, and a lot of my followers subscribed to his “Sparkysfriend” Carepage [Carepages is no longer active, we have created a new page on the CaringBridge site. Those interested in receiving updates should let us know and we will send you an invite to the page].  The first 7 years of my blogs were all grouped by month, and were eventually formed into my book, Motivation Now! There were many blogs about John Robert overcoming challenges, and I think that I will re-read my book to get the motivation I need to get me through this.

Everyone needs motivation to get through their challenges in life.  I have the cutest, bravest 11-year- old son.  We are all saying our prayers and hoping that the surgery is uneventful.

This summer, we were all in Punta Cana for a week.  Then we went to Canobie Lake Amusement Park, and finally had a wonderful time swimming at Foxwoods. All in all, it has been a great summer.  John Robert also did a week of Boy Scout camp, 3 weeks of summer school, a week of dance camp, and will be ending the summer with 2 weeks of drama camp.

We have done our best to keep him busy and keep his surgery off his mind.  He is going to be fine.  I repeat this mantra daily, and I now actually believe it.  He was doing so well, and even his scar was almost invisible. Nothing ever stays the same in life.

Change is the only constant.

With gratitude and best wishes,
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker

“It isn’t how much time you spend somewhere that makes it memorable: it’s how you spend the time.”      — David Brenner

June 21^st officially marked the first day of summer, and my family sure didn’t waste any time enjoying it —we kicked off summer on June 26^th with a family vacation at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It was great having a week without cooking, cleaning and doing laundry.  We snorkeled, swam, and went on an island tour.  We all really needed a break, since our last vacation time was exactly the same week last year.  That one was at the Orange Lake Country Club, Orlando, Florida—and that ‘s also when we planned this year’s Punta Cana trip.

Do you know the best time to plan a vacation week?  It’s when you’re on vacation!That’s exactly the time when you’re in a planning type mode, enjoying your present break—whether you’re on a trip or taking a “staycation”—deciding what activities you want to do and having fun doing them.  It really is worth it to plan vacations ahead of time, and there’s a bonus, too: doing it this way affords you plenty of time to look forward to your next getaway.

Ours was a very restful and relaxing vacation this year—just what the three of us really needed.  How about you?  When was your last real family vacation?  What did you do? What do you wish you had done that you didn’t do?   What things can you put on the agenda for next year’s vacation?

We always go on vacation in June-July; it marks the halfway point of the year, when I pick up my goals from January and check how I’m doing against them.  (Time certainly goes by quickly—doesn’t it seem as though 2018 just got started?)

I encourage you to readdress your own personal goals, as well. And if you haven’t already made up your goals?  Never mind, it’s not too late.   Take some time now to consider some goals for the rest of the year.  If you need a little help, go to the first chapter of my book, Motivation Now! on Goal Setting.  If you don’t have my book, you can get the first chapter for free on my website, www.LisaSasso.com.

For planning a vacation, you need to first come up with a place, and then a budget.   Second, you need to choose your transportation (plane, boat, car, train or bus).  Then third, you can research the location and come up with fun activities and entertainment to enjoy during your stay.  This year, we saw a musical show each night at the Hard Rock Resorts Theater.  That was great; my family enjoys that type of entertainment.  How about you?

Top 5 Ways to Make a Vacation Memorable:

5. Don’t do any work
4. Don’t talk about work
3. Don’t take any work phone calls
2. Don’t read any work-related books.

And finally,
1. Don’t do any emails.

Instead, do the Top 3 Things to Capture Memories:
3. Write in a journal daily.
2. Take lots of photos.
1. Talk with your family; reconnect with them and capture mental memories.

I didn’t even bring my computer along on our trip to the Dominican Republic, so I couldn’t be tempted to look on Outlook, Linked In or even Facebook.  It was great.  I would highly recommend it.  As I write this, I realize now that not checking in on email might sound extreme, but it is great to completely unplug for a week.  Get away from everything. One week of down time is not going to kill you.  It will help you to come back rested and relaxed.  I strongly recommend it.  It was the best thing that I did.  It allowed me to spend quality time with my family.  How nice!

Here’s to your next vacation!  Make it a priority!  If you need help planning it, just ask.

With gratitude and best wishes,
Lisa Sasso, Executive Coach & Motivational Speaker