Molly Fletcher's Blog, page 19

My Letter To Every Girl Who Plays Sports—and her Parents

I see you running your heart out on the field and court,

your braids bobbing, your face all kinds of determined to win. You love to play and win, and each time gives you a reason to stick with your sport. That’s your competitive heart—the desire to be the best. And I see your parents on the sidelines, pulling for you so hard, and sometimes the pressure that creates in a family. I know because I’m a mom of three girls who play sports, and I competed in NCAA Division I tennis. In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, I have two important words for you.

Keep going.

It’s so wonderful to see you test yourself and fly as high as your wings will take you. When you’re passing, serving, swinging, catching, you’re doing a whole lot more for your entire self and the world. There’s a saying that women hold up half the sky. It means that you as a daughter, and your mom and sisters and all of us, are strong and powerful and significant. By competing, you are making yourself even stronger and better at holding up the sky for everyone, including dads, brothers, uncles, et al. Everyone benefits when you are your best you.

Keep going.

When you score more, kick further, jump higher, doesn’t it feel good? There’s something else going on too when you have those breakthroughs. You’re learning patience and grit. You’re learning to set a goal and keep going to get there. You can take this skill and become a better student, a more thoughtful friend, a well-rounded person, a great leader.

Keep going.

When adults like me and your parents see you play, we have a lot of feelings. Sometimes we see our younger selves, when we competed at your age, and we hear our parents all over again. We know how much all your hard work means. Sometimes it can be hard to know the line between encouragement and pressure. Sometimes we don’t say the right thing at the right time. No matter what the final score is, the best thing we can say is, “I loved watching you play.”

Keep going.

When something unfair happens, like a bad call, I love seeing you handle that with class. I know how hard that is when you feel emotional. Sportsmanship (why don’t we call it sportspersonship?) is inspiring. You may not realize how important your action today is for making decisions when you get out on your own. The more you do the right thing in sports, the more likely you are to live the same way: with character.

Keep going.

When you listen to your coach, ask questions to make sure you understand, and try your best, you are coachable. That matters even if you are not in the starting lineup. It’s especially important after you have made a mistake. Everyone is called on to perform in life, and the higher you want to go, the more coachable you have to be. To be the best you, you’ll need to take feedback from your teachers, your college professor, your boss, your partner. When you are listening to the person who can help you improve, and trying your best to reach your potential, you are preparing yourself to reach your goal—in sports, in school, in work, in life.

Keep going.

I am cheering that you win every time, but realistically, everyone deals with losing. No matter what the score, you win when you control your attitude, concentrate the best you can and do your very best. It’s only about you and your team, not about your coach and parents, who have all the support in the world for you. Because the courage, strength and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls need to become the confident leaders of tomorrow, and we love the you that you are becoming.

Cheers,

Molly

Molly Fletcher competed for Michigan State’s women’s tennis team and is raising three daughters who play sports. She works to inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A  keynote speaker  and  author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world. Sign up  here  to receive our monthly newsletter.

 

The post My Letter To Every Girl Who Plays Sports—and her Parents appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

Why Your Personal Mission Statement Matters

Recently I was away from home at a personal development retreat, working on crafting my personal mission statement. I was feeling great about my progress when I called my husband, who aside from handling his professional career, was handling all the normal daily issues at home with our three girls.

While I was feeling inspired, rested and focused from my time at the retreat, I could tell my wonderful husband had experienced an exhausting day.  Sometimes those long distance parenting calls can be challenging when you aren’t in the same physical location to support each other.

This call was a bit different, and this moment became a turning point for my work—all because of my personal mission statement. I want to share this process with you so you can see the great value in focusing on your best purpose, the best you, and how it benefits others—especially those closest to you.

In that phone call, I did not default to trying to fix or rescue the situation. I paused to reflect on my 10-word mission statement (To connect, inspire and lead with creative courage and optimism), which guided me to new behavior that was healthier for everyone in my family. Instead of frustration or caving in, I reflected on my mission statement. How could I connect, inspire and lead with creative courage and optimism inside this one conversation with my husband?

My entire response changed. So did the conversation, and the next one with my mom, and the others after that. I was focused on my mission, not fixing, not getting frustrated but rather offering my best thinking and support to those I love. When I can keep the mission statement top of mind, it changes the entire dynamic of the conversation in healthy way.  For me, these three words are my why, be it professionally or personally. 

My personal mission statement has become so much more than words for me.  When the check out person at Publix isn’t fast enough, I think about my mission statement and check my impatience.  In a conversation with my employees, I think about my mission statement and dig deeper.  In parenting my three daughters, I think about my mission statement and help them pick themselves back up when they stumble.  This phrase grounds me and helps me bring my best self to most (because it’s a work in progress) moments every day.

So let me tell you how I drilled down to come up with these 10  words.

Stating Your Truest Mission

In my retreat, my task was to identify my mission statement. To do that, I needed to know why I was here. One way to back into this is to think about who you are when you are at your best, your truest self.

Thinking about that time, ask yourself any of the questions below:

What makes you proud of yourself?
What matters most?
What makes life worth living?
What are your deepest values?
Who do you want to be?
What legacy do you want to leave behind?

It’s important to remember that there are no right answers. Personal mission statements take work, and you won’t find one right off the top of your head.

Beyond Feelings, Look at Actions

A personal mission statement can capture your behavior when you are at peak performance. It is at these moments that you know what your best looks and feels like. Your personal mission statement reflects who you are, and want to be, at your best.

Some questions that helped me drill down:

How do you lead when you are your best self?
How do you think when you are your best self?
How do you react and recover when you are your best self?
Who are you emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and relationally when you are your best self?
What is your best version of yourself in your main roles (family member, employee, supervisor, friend, parent, etc.)?

Revising the Script

A personal mission statement marks a moment in time in which you aspire to rise above the thinking and behavior that may have been getting in your way. The following questions can help you sort the past, and shape what you need for optimal performance.

What is your old story, i.e. what have you been telling yourself that limits your best self?
What is your new story? (Start this answer with “The truth is …”)
What are your new behaviors and rituals that affirm your new story?

Your Game Changer Takeaway 

A personal mission statement is a compass to guide our way through the inevitable moments of discomfort and uncertainty en route to our goals. Taking time to drill down to your essential beliefs and personal story will help you understand your true self – en route to your best self. In only a few words, you have a motto that is easily accessible when you need it most.

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post Why Your Personal Mission Statement Matters appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

How to Trade Your Comfort for Courage

When I think about courage, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. comes to mind. He inspired so many of us through his belief that we each are measured not by where we stand “in moments of comfort and convenience, but at times of challenge and controversy.”

It’s that moment of decision that is so key. Do you stay in your comfort zone or do you choose courage? Is it possible for every one of us to trade comfort for courage?

Yes, and here’s how.

1. Change the story you tell yourself.

Each of us stay in one place because of the story we tell ourselves.. We think we cannot change or should not change, for one reason or another. Often it’s fear of what people will think, or expectations placed on us by others. My earliest personal experience with this was breaking my engagement. One definition of courage is the “acquired ability to move beyond fear.” Comfort is a story that we tell ourselves; courage comes with changing the story we tell ourselves.

2. Tap into your heart.

Courage comes from caring, and if you are reading this, you care about this subject and how you can benefit from more courage or help others benefit from courage. Caring about something that is bigger than you can be a powerful way to take action. Think about championship caliber sports teams. When they come together and play for one another, they are able to far exceed the sum of their individual parts Your caring heart harbors the courage to move you out of your comfort zone.

3. Accept your weaknesses.

If you wait until you have yourself completely together, you will never trade comfort for courage. “When I…..” is my least favorite line. Embracing vulnerability is often the first step to finding your bravest self.

4. Notice and navigate the noise.

The noise comes from all the voices, all the stories, expectations and external pressures. They aren’t yours unless you accept them and make them important. The noise is loud, but it is only real if you allow it to be in control. When you decide what is most important, your priority cuts through the noise that keeps you comfortable and helps summon your courage.

Your Game Changer Takeaway

Courage is a tool necessary for living authentically. As Dr. King pointed out, there are moments where you much chose between safety and listening to what your heart tells you is right. Don’t be afraid to make that move and take a risk.. . Trade comfort for courage.

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post How to Trade Your Comfort for Courage appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

A National Championship Contender’s Motivational Message

This year’s college football championship features a team with the motto, “Bring your own guts.” BYOG has become a powerful motivational message for the Clemson Tigers, and it has helped them pull together and survive a long, difficult season to make it to the title game.

What I love about this acronym is that it assumes each of us is responsible for offering something. Every day, we each bring our own _________ to our work, our goals, our family, our relationships. How do you fill in that blank? What is your motivational message to yourself and others on your team?

For inspiration, look closer at Clemson’s catchy BYOG motto.

Teamwork is personal

BYOG became a Clemson trademark after the team beat highly ranked Notre Dame by two points in the pouring rain. Coach Dabo Swinney could have called it courage or perseverance, but he picked a word that spoke to each player’s grit and fighting spirit. “We give you scholarships, we give you stipends and meals and place to live,” coach Dabo Swinney said after the game, recalling his motivational message to his players. “We give you nice uniforms. I can’t give you guts and I can’t give you heart.’ And tonight, it was BYOG: bring your own guts.”

Shake up the status quo

The high-energy Clemson culture contrasts to the chilly professionalism of the opposing Alabama Crimson Tide, which has won three national titles since 2009. “I don’t think anybody would say fun is a term that is really used around our program very much,” said Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. “You’re not here to have fun. You’re here to win. Coach [Nick Saban] said it before: you win the trophy, you hold it up, you take a picture, you hand it back and you go try to win the next one.” What works for Alabama isn’t what works for Clemson, so getting clear on your BYO motivational message is about claiming authenticity.

Momentum inspires others

BYOG is such a motivational message that even people who aren’t Clemson fans use it to describe great determination by other teams that have nothing to do with football or Clemson. When others copy your motto, you are onto something much deeper than yourself. Your message is motivating others.

Your Game Changer Takeaway 

What do you “BYO” that makes each day fulfilling to you and your team? Does your mindset give you the spark of energy that pushes your performance to the next level? Focus on the power you have to bring your own unique resources to your goals. When you become clear that you bring your own _________ to everything you do, you will be a step closer to authentic leadership and a personal motivational message that inspires others.

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post A National Championship Contender’s Motivational Message appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

Emily Boyle Joins the Molly Fletcher Company

VETERAN ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE EMILY BOYLE JOINS THE MOLLY FLETCHER COMPANY

— Boyle to serve as Chief Relationship Officer —

ATLANTA, December 21, 2015— Atlanta veteran advertising executive Emily Boyle has joined The Molly Fletcher Company as Chief Relationship Officer.

In this role, Boyle will oversee new business development, strategic partnerships and the company’s online learning division.

“We are thrilled to have Emily join our growing team,” said founder & CEO Molly Fletcher. “She has an amazing track record of leading growth and brings a diverse set of sales, marketing and leadership skills to our organization.”

Boyle spent the past 16 years at the Atlanta Business Chronicle, most recently as Advertising Director for the past seven years. Awarded the American City Business Journal’s #1 Advertising Director in 2010, Boyle consistently produced the highest revenue in the field while managing the largest sales team nationwide.

Prior to be promoted to Advertising Director, Boyle spent three years as the Chronicle’s events and marketing manager, executing 12 major events annually. She began her career at the Chronicle in advertising sales in 1999.

The Molly Fletcher Company inspires fearless growth in organizations, teams and individuals through a variety of services, including: keynote speaking, online learning, team building and coaching. Its founder, Molly Fletcher, parlayed a successful career as a top sports agent into an influential platform as a popular motivational speaker and author. For more information, visit our website at https://mollyfletcher.com.

 ###

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post Emily Boyle Joins the Molly Fletcher Company appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

4 Easy-to-Remember Productivity Tips

Another new year promises so many new possibilities. Aren’t you eager to make the next 12 months your best ever? Here are four go-to methods for getting the most out of your time and resources, in an easy to remember list.

1. Deliberate and anticipate.

I spend part of Sunday night reviewing my past week and looking forward to the coming week. What is realistic for me to achieve amid the scheduled events, deadlines and expectations? Am I staying true to what is important to me and the goals driven by my mission? Being intentional is a constant challenge and Sunday night is where I meet that challenge by deliberating and anticipating. Focus on what is essential for you and remove the rest.

2. De-clutter.

A close look at my calendar and a reminder of my mission clarifies my priorities—and what I don’t need to do, have or be. To achieve my best self as a business person, parent, wife, and other important roles, I must ask: What do I need to let go of? I challenge myself to think of this in various categories: emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically and relationally.  We often think of clutter as physical “stuff” but often it’s the other types of clutter in our lives holding us back.  De-cluttering allows me to focus on what is essential.  We can’t do it all, and de-cluttering helps remind us that less is more.

3. Delegate.

Time is finite. Energy is not. Manage your energy more, then your time and productivity will increase. One way to do this is through delegating. Who can help you take care of tasks that will free you up to do what only you can do? I think about all the roles I play in my life and identify areas where I can delegate to be more productive.  Sometimes passing things off helps you be your best self so you can in turn serve others better.

4. Delight (in being grateful).

To counter the stress that invades so much of life, practice gratitude. Gratitude helps us all connect to what is right in front of us and what really matters. Let’s face it: Things happen. Unexpected events, crises and loss inevitably come up. Gratitude helps build your resiliency and create greater fearlessness. No matter what happens, you know that you will find something for which to be thankful.

Your Game Changer Takeaway 

What these productivity tips boil down to is paying attention to your “why” and thoughtfully deciding how to use your energy in pursuit of what is most important to you. One author boiled it down this way: “I try to ask myself, ‘Is this really what I want to be doing?’ If the answer is no, the next question is, ‘What could I be doing that would feel more productive, or satisfying, or relaxing?’” This is the kind of intentionality that makes a huge difference in productivity, and these four easy-to-remember tips (deliberate and anticipate, de-clutter, delegate and delight) will help you get there.

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post 4 Easy-to-Remember Productivity Tips appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

The Best Blogs of 2015

As we count down the final days of 2015, we take a look back at our most popular blogs from the year. From peak performance to leadership development to team dynamics, here’s what you were reading in 2015.

Before you leave this page, be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more content!

1. 4 Traits of An Ideal Teammate

When you think about the type of teammate you most want on your corporate or sports team, what qualities do you desire?

Like this? Then you’ll also like: 3 Dynamic Team Building Ice Breakers; 5 Characteristics of Successful Teams

2. The Extraordinary Leadership Trait (That We All Have In Us)

The very engine that keeps you reading to find out more can be a tremendous asset for a leader. What is it? Curiosity. Here’s why curiosity may be the most undervalued leadership trait.

Like this? Then you’ll also like: Love, Learn Launch: 3 Leadership Lessons from Parenting; 5 Leadership Books To Inspire Your Team

3. What My Frequent Flyer Points Say About My Parenting

Parents like me know that as the frequent flyer points rack up, so can guilt. How do you keep from going there?

Like this? Then you’ll also like: One Golden Tip for Better Work Life Balance; A Broken Engagement Taught Me The Power of No

4. Here’s Rule No. 1 for Effective Communication

Most of us avoid difficult conversations. But if you want to connect, you must dare to move in the opposite direction. Here’s how to embrace those tough dialogues.

Like this? Then you’ll also like: Use These Communication Exercises to Deliver A Message That “Sticks”; Develop Your Leadership Philosophy

5. A Letter To My Younger Self: Be Fearless

Sending a letter to yourself aged 16 is a great way to assess and share the wisdom you have gained through your life and find meaning in your experiences, and even share them with others if you choose. Here’s mine.

Like this? Then you’ll also like: Why It’s Never Too Late to Reinvent Yourself; Find Your Inner Fearlessness

6. 5 Lessons in Greatness from Serena Williams

Observing elite performers at the zenith of their careers can help boost your own success. And there was no better example this year than Serena Williams’s relentless and historic pursuit of greatness.

Like this? Then you’ll also like: 4 Tips To Being Relentless from Those At The Top; When Pressure Gets Big, the Best Performers Think Small

7. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Why in Negotiating

Negotiation is often a long process, filled with doubt and uncertainty. We have to be able to tap into our motivation for why we are making the ask. Read more in this excerpt from A Winner’s Guide to Negotiating: How Conversation Gets Deals Done.

Like this? Then you’ll also like: When Negotiating Gets Emotional, Try These Three Tactics; Show Me The Money: A Guide to Negotiating from the Female Jerry Maguire

8. How Hiring Student-Athletes Will Spark Your Corporate Team Chemistry

Recruiting new talent to your team? You might want to consider the pool of collegiate student-athletes. The reasons we love watching college athletes compete are what also makes them great employees.

Like this? Then you’ll also like: Trust Equation Helps Teams Go Beyond X’s and O’s; Does Your Team Have Too much Talent?

9. Make Gratitude A Daily Habit

Gratitude is a powerful way to change our outlook and perspective on life. Inspire your family or work team to create a Gratitude Jar as a way of demonstrating our shared value of appreciating what we have.

Like this? Then you’ll also like: Authentic Gratitude Is A Favor To Yourself; Flying The Chaotic Skies: The Power of Pause

10. Seeking A Mentor? Look Around.

Some of the most valuable guidance is found where you least expect it. The more we share our successes, our mistakes, and our “aha” moments, the more we return the favor and become mentors ourselves.

Like this? Then you’ll also like: Erase These Seven Toxic Words; Has Your Passion Turned Into A Grind?

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post The Best Blogs of 2015 appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

The Hidden Gifts of Rejection

This time of year isn’t very festive for college football coaches whose teams have had a bad season and who are now out of work. There are so many fired coaches that some sports websites keep track of who’s out and who’s in. There’s similar attention when leaders at the highest levels of corporate success are forced out or fired.

We’ve all been there. The critical question is: How do you turn a big setback into an awesome comeback?

I’m a big believer in looking forward, not back. Over and over, I have seen great performers and achievers encounter rejection with centeredness and grace. To them, rejection is like an unwelcome guest who came through the door just ahead of a beloved friend.

These achievers look past the present hurt and disappointment to anticipate what I call the Hidden Gifts of Rejection.

1. The Hidden Gift of Resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from rejection. How can we recover faster from “no” so we can go get the “yes”? I learned this lesson when trying to publish my first book, The 5 Best Tools to Find Your Dream Career. After countless rejection letters, a door finally cracked open with Jist Publishing. A chance to present my book to their executive team, to sell it. I flung opened that cracked door and flew out to meet their team. We struck a deal and my first book became a reality. Viewing no as feedback rather than the end is the key.

2. The Hidden Gift of Growth. Working through fear and rejection can unlock great energy, and this is the basis for a . Even when you experience rejection, a growth mindset focuses on your innate potential for maximum performance. Success depends on how hard you are willing to work consistently and adapting to performance feedback. A fixed mindset looks back, rejecting the dynamic potential of hard work and holding on to rejection. A hidden gift of rejection may be to get rid of the thinking that holds you back. My friend Jim Loehr teaches it this way: identify your old story holding you back and replace it with your new story—one which includes a formula for being your best self.

3. The Hidden Gift of Insight. Some coaches who get fired move into broadcasting, and the booth gives them a completely different view of their sport, literally. This new position gives them the chance to gain new insight on the media and share their coaching insight with a broad audience. It keeps them in front of their peers, which can lead to them rejoining the coaching ranks—and they have gained new insight on their sport. Rejection offers a path to valuable insight that often can only be gained this way.

4. The Hidden Gift of Perspective. Rejection presents us with many choices. There’s no one way to deal with it. You gain perspective when you see more choices, when you step way back and see the big picture. One option that’s hard, but it’s still an option, is to not take it personally. Results are separate from who we are. This distance is so important. The more that we make it about us, the more emotional we are likely to get and the less likely we are to move past rejection into our best selves.

5. The Hidden Gift of Opportunity. Home Depot co-founder and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is an example of finding the opportunity inside of rejection. In 1978, Blank and then CEO Bernie Marcus were fired from the home improvement company Handy Dan during an internal power struggle. How did they respond? Together, the two co-founded that little company we know as Home Depot. Looking for other famous examples to inspire you? Michael Jordan didn’t make the varsity basketball team. Oprah was fired from her TV anchor job. Steve Jobs was fired from Apple. The trick is to see the opportunity inside of rejection.

Your Game Changer Takeaway

The next time you face rejection—and if we living fulling it’s going to happen—remember the Hidden Gifts of Rejection. Look for the opportunities waiting as you get past the initial pain. Use this adversity to reconnect to your mission in life build resilience, insight and perspective, and make this setback into your next remarkable comeback.

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post The Hidden Gifts of Rejection appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

Holiday Stress? Choose Less

Parties, gifts, traditions—our culture tells us to cram in as much activity as we can during the holidays. But it doesn’t make us happy. It’s a recipe for stress.

It doesn’t have to be that way if you remember two words: Choose Less.

That idea may send chills down your spine. You might be thinking, “But I don’t want to miss out on anything!”

What I’m suggesting is to join the JOMO crowd—the people who have discovered the Joy of Missing Out.

By mindfully choosing to do less, you actually bring more of what you want to your life. Here’s what you get when you thoughtfully consider every opportunity and strategically say no, especially this time of year.

Saying no to something is saying yes to something more important. We all need time and space to re-energize and put more fuel in our tanks. Don’t wait until the light goes on—when you start to get sick, tired and cranky. Less is more. Map out a reasonable schedule of activity and build in free time to unwind.
Saying no reinforces clarity of what is important to you. When we automatically accept meeting requests and party invitations, we allow outside forces to control our time. And how we use our time is a reflection of what is valuable to us. Don’t let that tail wag the dog. Avoid these energy drains. Look hard at every request for your time, and if it doesn’t mesh with what is most important to you, practice gracious regrets.
Saying no can be a gift to those closest to you. I have observed that a ton of holiday stress comes from family expectations; for some of us, we have work obligations on top of that. There’s a real fear of letting down the people who are important to us, so we push ourselves to live up to what we think we need to do for them. This is a great opportunity for leadership. When my teenaged daughter begs to do everything her friends are doing, I aim to help her negotiate a schedule that is healthier and ultimately more satisfying for all of us.

Your Game Changer Takeaway

Give yourself the gift of time and intentionality this season. Go to bat for yourself by saying no to the activities and offers that do not align with your most important values. Claim time for yourself and trade Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) with Joy of Missing Out (JOMO).

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post Holiday Stress? Choose Less appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

Make Gratitude A Daily Habit

My family is trying out a new idea for Thanksgiving that could benefit any family or work team. It’s called the Gratitude Jar, and it’s a simple and powerful way to create an incredible positive energy source and make it more real to everyone. This is how it works.

Start with an Old Jar and Paper  

The Gratitude Jar can be a recycled glass jar with a lid or something like a fishbowl. You can use a box, but I like glass because seeing the contents is important.

Near your jar, keep a pad of paper or notecards. Anyone can jot down a note of thanks and put it in the jar. As the jar fills, you know the expressions of gratitude are increasing.

If you want to get fancy, you can put a ribbon or decoration on your jar, but that’s not necessary. The jar works from the inside out.

How the Jar Works

A family that I know made a Gratitude Jar that really inspired me as I saw how much they enjoyed it and how it connected them.

On their notes, they celebrated the special moments and people in their daily lives: a Sweet 16 celebration, a baby taking the first step, the dad’s super yummy babyback ribs, a caring teacher at their school, the special talks when they all sit on their comfy red couch.

Intentionality is so important. Those little notes showed that each family member took time out of their busy days to reflect and appreciate their blessings.

The Gratitude Jar reminded me of the words Sheryl Crow uses in “Soak Up the Sun”: It’s not having what you want. It’s wanting what you’ve got.

I like the jar idea because it builds on what this holiday is all about for my family. We always go around the table to share what we are thankful for on Thanksgiving, and I am always filled with such gratitude during those moments, especially when I listen to my young daughters share what they are thankful for and watch them soak it all in.

Many people make the Gratitude Jar a new Thanksgiving tradition. Each Thanksgiving, empty the jar and share the notes inside. You’ll be amazed how powerful this activity is. The jar we start this year may become our way of bottling that moment and making gratitude more intentional before we get to the table and long after we leave.

Why Gratitude Helps Us

Gratitude has been so powerful on a personal level and I have seen it transform others. If you struggle with the scarcity mindset (that you never have enough or are never good enough), gratitude can help you do a 180. It is claiming the measurement of your life and environment as your own; you’re not comparing what you can do, be or have with anyone else.

Gratitude shifts the way you see life and helps us all connect to what is here and what matters. This is vital to remember when unexpected events, crises and loss inevitably come up. The Gratitude Jar can be a tool in helping build your resiliency and create greater fearlessness. No matter what happens, you know that you will find something for which to be thankful.

So much of neuroscientific research around happiness and fulfillment mentions the power of gratitude. It’s worth noting that the simple act of looking for gratitude can boost your mood.

To amp up the effect of gratitude’s positive effects, make your Gratitude Jar notes specific and personal. The more you connect with what is most precious to you and how that is revealed in the world around you, the more you will connect with others. With every note in the Gratitude Jar, you reinforce your why.

Your Game Changer Takeaway

Inspire your family or work team to create a Gratitude Jar this season as a way of demonstrating our shared value of appreciating what we have. If we don’t have time to think, write and drop a note in the Gratitude Jar, that also reflects our mindset. As your Gratitude Jar filling up, how is it changing your outlook?

Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author , Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world.  Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.

The post Make Gratitude A Daily Habit appeared first on Molly Fletcher.