Becky Robinson's Blog, page 46

Join Us at the ATD Conference in Atlanta!

The Weaving Influence team is gearing up for another trip to the ATD International Conference & Exhibition in Atlanta on May 21–24. It’s a unique opportunity to explore new ideas and possibilities for our company as we quickly approach five years in business!

WHAT IS ATD?

The ATD International Conference & Exhibition draws over 10,000 talent development professionals each year to explore the latest trends in learning programs and talent development. The conference is designed to equip attendees not only with knowledge to develop talent in their organization, but also with effective strategies to accomplish that goal. With hundreds of keynote speakers, exhibitors, and educational sessions, ATD is a key factor to professional growth for companies worldwide.

To learn more, visit: ATDconference.org.

WHAT WE WILL BE DOING

I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to connect with new faces and visit with those of you who support our work with authors. We will have the chance to network with other professionals and learn new, creative approaches to the work that we do at Weaving Influence.

We’re proud to be able to represent some of the top speakers on business, leadership and personal/professional development. We will be hosting some of those clients at our booth throughout the conference, and they will be signing books!

Here’s a list of the leaders you don’t want to miss:

Bill Treasurer is the Founder & Chief Encouragement Officer at Giant Leap Consulting, a courage-building company that exists to help people and organizations live more courageously. He’s a known leadership expert and the best-selling author of  A Leadership Kick in the Ass.


Ken Jennings, Ph.D., is speaker and active consultant in leadership development and goal achievement, as well as the Founder of ThirdRiver Partners. He is also the author of The Serving Leader.


John R. Stoker has been facilitating and speaking to audiences, helping them to improve their thinking and communicating skills, for over 20 years as the Founder and President of DialougeWORKS. He is also the author of Overcoming Fake Talk.


Mark Miller is a Chick-fil-A executive and best-selling author who teaches how to nurture leaders throughout an organization, from the front lines to the executive ranks. Mark is also the author of numerous leadership books, including his latest, Leaders Made Here.


Chip R. Bell is a customer service keynote speaker and world-renowned authority on customer loyalty and service innovation, as well as a senior partner with the Chip Bell Group. He’s authored twenty-two books, including his newest release, Kaleidoscope: Delivering Innovative Service That Sparkles.


Sean Glaze is an engaging keynote speaker, event facilitator, and the founder of Great Results Teambuilding – a company that specializes in providing smart leaders with an entertaining program of relevant experiential activities and team building events. Among his books, be sure to check out The 10 Commandments of Winning Teammates.


Jennifer Kahnweiler, Ph.D., is a global speaker and bestselling author known as the “Champion of Introverts.” She is a Certified Speaking Professional, serving on the board of The National Speakers Association, and the author of The Genius of Opposites.


Steven Howard is a leading marketing strategist, positioning specialist, consultant, and author with a 35-year marketing and sales career in Asia/Pacific, Australia, and North America. He is the founder of Howard Marketing Service and author of 8 Keys to Becoming a Great Leader.


Cheryl Bachelder is a passionate restaurant industry executive and former CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Cheryl is known for her crisp strategic thinking, franchisee-focused approach,  and the development of outstanding leaders and teams; she’s also the author of Dare to Serve.


Nate Regier, Ph.D., is CEO and co-founding owner of Next Element, a global leadership training and certification firm specializing in communication and conflict skills. As an expert in social-emotional intelligence and leadership, he recently released his latest book, Conflict without Casualties.


Susan Fowler is widely respected as one of the foremost thought leaders on the science of motivation, leadership, and personal empowerment. She’s a globally sought-after speaker, consultant, and author of Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work . . . And What Does.


Tim Irwin has served as a consultant for twenty years, assisting corporations in diverse industries with his work taking him to over twenty-five foreign countries in Europe, Latin America, Canada, and the Far East.  He is also the author of Impact: Great Leadership Changes Everything.

Are you going to be at ATD and interested in learning more about our speakers or services? Stop by Booth #2518 to meet me, Christy Kirk, and Kristin Elliott.

See you in Atlanta!

Millennials Redefine Success & Leadership in the Digital Age

I’m a millennial. Yes, I’m hesitant to say that my generation has been coined as “entitled,” and a group who tends “follow their dreams” instead of concrete goals on a set timeline. As a former Sociology major at Baylor University, labels and stereotypes always tend to fascinate me. With these labels, there always comes an assumption – in this case, it’s that millennials lack the tools and life experience necessary achieve conventional “success.”

Well, what is the definition of success in the first place? Other generations might have been taught that it’s wealth, status, or achievements. But millennials tend to define success as the value and meaning they find both in work and life, as explained in this Forbes article. It’s not just about the paycheck, it’s about the purpose you feel in the work that you do.

A Millennial’s Journey

Older generations might view a typical millennial as savvy smartphone addicts who spend their days hunched over their screens, earbuds in, hoodies up, lost in a digital world and disassociated from real human interaction. This view of a millennial’s aptitude can interfere with the confidence others place in them to become strong leaders.

Millennials are a product of their environment, not the creators. I don’t feel responsible for the world that’s been created around me, but I do feel the pressure to keep up with a growing list of digital demands to survive in it. I created my first social media account on Facebook about ten years ago at the age of seventeen. At first, it was a fun way to connect with friends outside of school; but participation and a continued education in social media and computer skills became a requirement to stay up to speed in my career and in day-to-day life.

From an early age, I was taught by my dad that everyone in a job force is replaceable. My experience in the job force since graduating college is overwhelmed with thoughts of how to keep myself fiercely competitive – which means, in part, to stay digitally savvy. It’s a harsh reality when your skillset on a piece of paper matters more than your integrity and willingness to learn. This begs the question: with our age against us and our digital mindsets seen as a downfall – how can millennials not only re-define what it means to be successful, but what it means to be a leader?

Leading in Today’s World

I think we already have. Millennials have shown that conventional success does not equate to leadership. Your ability to lead is not tied to your yearly salary, your “well-known” name, or your successes. Your ability to lead lies within your choice to make a difference where you are today.

To me, a leader is someone who inspires change or hope by their actions. It’s not always the person leading the charge, it’s not always the person with the fancy words to verbalize the plan of action, and it’s not always the person who has their online “face” perfectly presented. Often, it’s one who leads by example.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.”

Despite your age, economic status, or religion, we are all meant to lead with purpose. We are all meant to show others what’s valuable in life, as we are only here for but a glimpse of time.

Was there ever a time in your life when you felt your ability to lead was undermined?

Millennials Redefinine Success & Leadership in the Digital Age

I’m a millennial. Yes, I’m hesitant to say that my generation has been coined as “entitled,” and a group who tends “follow their dreams” instead of concrete goals on a set timeline. As a former Sociology major at Baylor University, labels and stereotypes always tend to fascinate me. With these labels, there always comes an assumption – in this case, it’s that millennials lack the tools and life experience necessary achieve conventional “success.”

Well, what is the definition of success in the first place? Other generations might have been taught that it’s wealth, status, or achievements. But millennials tend to define success as the value and meaning they find both in work and life, as explained in this Forbes article. It’s not just about the paycheck, it’s about the purpose you feel in the work that you do.

A Millennial’s Journey

Older generations might view a typical millennial as savvy smartphone addicts who spend their days hunched over their screens, earbuds in, hoodies up, lost in a digital world and disassociated from real human interaction. This view of a millennial’s aptitude can interfere with the confidence others place in them to become strong leaders.

Millennials are a product of their environment, not the creators. I don’t feel responsible for the world that’s been created around me, but I do feel the pressure to keep up with a growing list of digital demands to survive in it. I created my first social media account on Facebook about ten years ago at the age of seventeen. At first, it was a fun way to connect with friends outside of school; but participation and a continued education in social media and computer skills became a requirement to stay up to speed in my career and in day-to-day life.

From an early age, I was taught by my dad that everyone in a job force is replaceable. My experience in the job force since graduating college is overwhelmed with thoughts of how to keep myself fiercely competitive – which means, in part, to stay digitally savvy. It’s a harsh reality when your skillset on a piece of paper matters more than your integrity and willingness to learn. This begs the question: with our age against us and our digital mindsets seen as a downfall – how can millennials not only re-define what it means to be successful, but what it means to be a leader?

Leading in Today’s World

I think we already have. Millennials have shown that conventional success does not equate to leadership. Your ability to lead is not tied to your yearly salary, your “well-known” name, or your successes. Your ability to lead lies within your choice to make a difference where you are today.

To me, a leader is someone who inspires change or hope by their actions. It’s not always the person leading the charge, it’s not always the person with the fancy words to verbalize the plan of action, and it’s not always the person who has their online “face” perfectly presented. Often, it’s one who leads by example.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.”

Despite your age, economic status, or religion, we are all meant to lead with purpose. We are all meant to show others what’s valuable in life, as we are only here for but a glimpse of time.

Was there ever a time in your life when you felt your ability to lead was undermined?

Featured on Friday: Culture Works by Kris Boesch

How would you define your workplace culture? Here at Weaving Influence — though we’re a virtual team — I’d describe our culture as unified, supportive, professional, and personable. It’s a joy to be part of the team, to serve our clients and each other. And on the few occasions we get to meet in person, our times are filled with genuine laughter and heartfelt connections, no matter how diverse our personalities and interests may be. A workplace culture like that leads to satisfied employees and a happy team — which leads to a strong, successful business.

“Workplace culture is the context within which your people work. It’s the air they breathe while running your marathon. It’s the emotional health of your workplace.” – Kris Boesch

Sadly, far too often, there is a lack of clarity on how to create such an empowering work environment in which both the company and employees thrive. Today’s featured author penned Culture Works to stand in that gap, and guide us to transforming “happiness in the workplace” from an abstract, elusive goal to practical steps with concrete and tangible results.

Meet the Author —  Kris Boesch

Kris Boesch is the CEO and founder of Choose People, a company that transforms company cultures, increases employee happiness, and boosts the bottom line. Over the past decade she has researched and tested – in a variety of workplaces – innovative concepts and tangible tools to create empowering contexts in which teams thrive. The Choose People 360° Culture Audit is based on more than 1,000 hours of research Boesch conducted with a team of doctoral students in the Industrial Organizational Psychology Department at Colorado State University. Prior to Choose People, Boesch was the CEO of Exodus Moving & Storage. Under her leadership, Exodus became the largest mover in Northern Colorado, with a turnover rate nearly 40 percent less than the industry average and a bottom line twice that same average. Kris is also a proud mother, dancing diva, and dog lover.

Want to connect with Kris? Visit her website, or find her on Facebook or Twitter.

Discover the Book — Culture Works: How to Create Happiness in the Workplace

Imagine walking into your workplace where smiles are real, laughter is genuine, and vibrant energy fills the room. Your team triumphs and your bottom line reflects financial freedom.

Unfortunately, many leaders and managers find culture to be abstract, intangible, and elusive. They want a clear guide about how to actually create an empowering context, helping both the organization and employees thrive. Perhaps you’ve noticed some eggshells and landmines as of late. Maybe your team’s performance is waning due to gossip, silos, or apathy. Perhaps millennials have you miffed or time poverty is a common scapegoat?

Culture Works helps you navigate around and through those kinds of obstacles. In this book, you will learn how to create an extraordinary workplace culture. Not with rainbows and unicorns, but with concrete innovative concepts, enlightening stories, and tangible tools. When you finish, you will be ready to take action with doable, down-to-earth steps to energize your team that yield real deal results.

Intrigued? Visit the book site, add it to your Goodreads shelf, or buy a Kindle copy on Amazon.

What People Are Saying

“An amazing piece of work. Kris really demonstrates that she’s a leader in the field of workplace happiness. Funny, insightful and engaging.”

— John, 5-star Amazon review

“Workplace culture is at the heart of business success.  Kris has written the quintessential practical guide to securing profitability by creating an extraordinary culture.”

— Dr. Diane Hamilton, MBA Program Chair for Forbes School of Business

“Lots of business books talk about workplace culture. This one teaches you what to do about it!”

— Steve Pottenger, CEO of Workwell Occupational Medicine

“There are so many valuable nuggets in Kris’s book – practical ideas from a leader who actually put them to work successfully scaling a company in a tough industry.”

— Verne Harnish, Author of Scaling Up and founder of Entrepreneurs’ Organization

“Whether you’re a small company CEO or big company manager Culture Works is packed with leadership value bombs. This will go down as one of the best business books of 2017.”

— Kevin Kruse, New York Times bestselling author and founder of LEADx

Learn More

Visit the website to learn more about the book and its accompanying workbook, take the Culture Assessment, or join the Culture Works book club!

Leadership Lessons from 4 Years with Weaving Influence

This past month marked my four-year work anniversary with Weaving Influence. Although I only work part-time, the job has had a full-time impact on me in so many ways. Here are just four of the lessons I’ve learned over the past four years.

Start where you are.

As with many of my team members here at Weaving Influence, the story of how I came to be a part of the team is an unlikely one. I had been sidelined from work for a few years, due to severe physical difficulties, and had pretty much given up trying to find a job that would fit both my abilities and limitations. I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing, so I started a blog (and incidentally, wrote a book about dealing with illness), and threw myself into that as if it were a new job.

I spent many hours on Facebook and Twitter, learning the in’s and out’s of social media promotion and networking. I followed other blogs, and started connecting with some of their authors. Somehow I found Carrie Koens’ blog and we started communicating, first via blog comments and then later through Facebook. Eventually I found out about her work for Weaving Influence, which I thought was fascinating, and started following Becky and some of the other team members on Twitter.

Meanwhile, I kept writing for my own blog and promoting it on social media, showing up like a boss for the one small task I could carry out faithfully. One afternoon, Carrie sent me a message on Facebook: “So… did I see somewhere that you did editing for a living?”

I replied that I enjoyed it, and would love to find consistent editing work, but nothing had ever panned out. Then I took a risk and asked: “Do you know anywhere that needs part-time help on a regular basis?”

Her reply: “Not at the moment, but I’ll keep my ears open. Would you be interested in doing any social media work? . . . I’m not offering anything, just trying to get a sense of what you might be open to do in case I hear of something.”

Well, that conversation led to a series of emails, which led to my doing a few one-time tasks for Weaving Influence, which led to a permanent job offer in April 2013. And to think it all happened because I decided to show up and focus on the little things I could do, instead of waiting around for something bigger or better to come along. Faithfulness in small responsibilities often leads to opportunities for greater responsibility.

Growth happens in the discomfort zone.

When I started four years ago, I had little-to-no experience dealing with the corporate world. I grew up in a ministry family, and still serve in a ministry family. Add to that fact that, as an introvert, I’m very happy doing behind-the-scenes work — and you’ll understand how nervous I was the first time I had to speak with a CEO about my work for him.

But I’ve come to realize that people are the same everywhere, no matter what their titles are; and most people care less about your “polish” or business-savvy and more about your integrity, dependability, and personableness. Mistakes happen; but most people won’t roast you over the flames if you own up to the problem and make every effort to avoid making the same mistake twice. Misunderstandings happen; but clear statements of expectations can clear up a lot of confusion, and most people don’t really expect you to be a mind-reader!

I’ve grown in confidence, both as a person and as a professional, by pushing outside my comfort zone in the work I do for Weaving Influence. Whether it’s tackling unfamiliar tasks, learning about new social media platforms, or simply being faithful in my work when I’m not feeling the greatest, there’s always discomfort. But that’s okay — because it means there’s always room to grow.

Values matter.

The first year I was on the team, we set about defining our core values. I still remember the acronym Becky shared with us to help us recall each of our values: G.R.I.P.G.F. It probably doesn’t mean anything to you, but those letters keep the list on the tip of my tongue: Generosity, Responsiveness, Integrity, Partnership, Growth, and Flexibility. (To learn more about each of them, read this.)

Those values aren’t just words to us: we didn’t just stop at naming and defining them. We’ve worked together as a team to analyze where we’re failing or excelling, discuss what we need to keep moving in the right direction, and brainstorm what we can do to keep improving in our service to clients and our work with each other. And the funny thing is, as we become more familiar with each of our values, they start to guide not only our “big” decisions but our day-to-day tasks as well.

For instance:

When I get an urgent message at an inopportune time, I find myself remembering: responsiveness matters — and my attitude improves, and I no longer see it as an interruption but as an opportunity to live our value.
When I receive a request that doesn’t fit with my preferences, but is something I probably should take responsibility for, I remember: flexibility matters — and I find myself stepping up with a can-do attitude and an eagerness to serve others.
When someone asks me for help, and I’m tempted to offer the quickest response possible because I’m pressed for time or energy, I remember: generosity matters — and I take a moment to pause, reset my focus, and step back in willing to provide the best help I can possibly offer.

“Values matter” may sound like a trite slogan, but it’s not. Knowing and living by your values can make a world of difference, at both the company and individual levels.

Everyone can be a leader.

Hang out with Weaving Influence long enough, and you’ll get a profusion of leadership advice. From being a servant leader, to having courage, to handling conflict wisely, to creating a successful workplace culture . . . if it pertains to leadership, we’ve probably said it or promoted at some time or other. And while much of what we share is sage advice from experts on the subject, a lot of it starts to sound the same after a while.

So I was surprised when one of those nuggets hit home for me just in the past year. Due to a team member moving on, there were some gaps in responsibilities, and some tasks and decisions that came across my radar which I was equipped to handle. But first I had to get over the hurdle that I didn’t have a leadership title — and realize I didn’t need permission to take ownership or responsibility where appropriate.

It was freeing . . . and empowering. I’ve found myself stepping up in other ways since, and have come to appreciate the gold mine in that statement: “You don’t need permission to be a leader.” You don’t need a leadership title or a formal group of followers: anyone, at any level, can be a leader.

I’m looking forward to learning many more valuable lessons in the future as I continue serving with Weaving Influence!

Featured on Friday: Conflict without Casualties by Nate Regier

Drama and conflict usually go together like peas and carrots, don’t they? In fact, a quick search of those two words on Amazon reveals almost 1000 books on the topic! That either means we have a real problem with it — or we really want to know what to do about it — or both.

But conflict doesn’t have to be fraught with tension and negativity. It doesn’t have to ruin relationships, waste resources, or frustrate ambitions. In fact, today’s featured author believes we can leverage conflict as a source of positive energy, that will both nurture stronger relationships and use resources more effectively. Handling conflict with compassionate accountability, rather than responding to it with emotion and drama, can transform the dynamics at work and in our personal lives by replacing unrealistic, crushing demands with openness, resourcefulness, and persistence.

Meet the Author — Nate Regier

Nate Regier, Ph.D., grew up as the son of missionary parents in Botswana and Zaire, where he developed his passion for service, love of people, and fascination with the common needs that tie all people together. Growing up amidst political unrest, poverty, and apartheid helped form his global perspective. While in Botswana during high school, he competed on the Botswana Jr. Davis Cup tennis team and achieved a world-ranking in doubles.

A native Kansan, Dr. Regier completed his undergraduate work at Bethel College in Newton, KS, and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of Kansas. He practiced clinical psychology for eleven years, while he developed his skills in social-emotional intelligence, group dynamics, mind-body-spirit health, and neuropsychology. In 2008, he joined three other colleagues to form Next Element, where they leveraged their expertise in the social sciences to help leaders in the corporate arena. Nate specializes in interpersonal and leadership communication, executive assessment and coaching, organizational development, team building, and change management.

An international advisor, he is a certified LOD® master trainer, PCM® certifying master trainer, and co-developer of Next Element’s Leading Out of Drama® training and coaching system. He was the principal driving force behind the design and validation of NEOS®, Next Element’s flagship outcomes measurement tool. He is co-author of Next Element’s first book, Beyond Drama: Transcending Energy Vampires; and author of the recently released book, Conflict without Casualties. Nate also publishes a semi-weekly blog, writes for a variety of local and national publications, and is a sought-after keynote speaker.

Nate and his wife of 23 years live in Newton, KS. They have three daughters, the oldest of whom is in college at Pittsburgh State University. In his spare time, he loves to barbecue and is a member of a competition BBQ team. Vacations to Colorado, spending time working on his yard, and camping with friends are some of the things that fill Nate with joy.

Want to connect with Nate? Visit his website, or find him on Facebook or Twitter.

Discover the Book — Conflict without Casualties

Clinical psychologist and transformative communication expert Dr. Nate Regier believes that the biggest energy crisis facing our world is the misuse of conflict. Most organizations are terrified of conflict, seeing it as a sign of trouble. Life and work are a constant tug of war when people struggle against each other or with themselves to get what they want, causing relationships and entire systems to unravel. But conflict isn’t the problem. It’s all about how we use the energy.

When people misuse conflict energy, it becomes drama: they struggle against themselves or each other to feel justified about their negative behavior. The cost to companies, teams, and relationships is staggering. The alternative, says Regier, is compassionate accountability: struggling with others through conflict. Discover the Compassion Cycle, an elegant model for balancing empathy, care, and transparency with boundaries, goals, and standards. Provocative, illuminating, and highly practical, this book helps us avoid the casualties of conflict through openness, resourcefulness, and persistence.

Intrigued? Visit the book site, add it to your Goodreads shelf, or buy a copy on Amazon.

What People Are Saying

“As an HR Manager, I often am exposed to leaders that view conflict as bad or as something to be avoided or discouraged. This book sheds much needed light on why conflict is anything but, how to avoid the drama and turn this seemingly negative energy into a long list of positives. Highly recommend this read for leaders that would like to curtail the drama in their workplace.”

— Tiffany Hastings, 5-star Amazon review

“Recently I was able to use the concepts of the book to talk to a friend who was in complete despair . . . I showed empathy without becoming her drama ally. I invited her to move to problem solving rather than giving her unsolicited advice, and helped her define her boundaries and commitment for the relationship going forward. At the end of our short conversation, she was ready to embrace her relationship in the compassionate accountability way. The concepts in the book are tried and true!”

— Sandra Gieber, 5-star Amazon review

“Rather than conflict as something to avoid or manage, Regier invites all of us, from boardroom to playground, to embrace the creative energy of conflict . . . ‘Conflict Without Casualties’ truly is a book that is accessible to a diverse audience! I anticipate sharing it with groups of clergy and local congregation leaders who want to sharpen their skills in harnessing the creative energy of conflict rather than surrendering to it. The tools are practicable, productive, and personal. And, I am confident, when implemented will lead to living a more whole-hearted and healthy life.”

— Ashlee Alley, 5-star Amazon review

“Page after page, it has a model for compassionate accountability that can be used to transform conflict into positive change. We can give up the drama of conflict without giving up its energy. We can ensure that people retain their dignity but that conflict gets resolved.”

— R. McConaughy, 5-star Amazon review

“Conflict doesn’t need to be a dirty word and we should snap to attention when it rears up because it means that people may be passionate about something and willing to stand up for what they believe. Nate shows us how conflict should be viewed as a creative force because there is often so much energy behind it. Nate asserts how conflict can be turned around and utilized to grow innovation, build trust, and further engage people. His views will help you change your perspective on conflict, people, and how it can be used to make us more accountable.”

— Lisa Kosak, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Visit the website to learn more about both the author and the book, download the first two chapters for free, and take the ‘Drama Resilience Assessment.’ Also, if you missed the recent webinar with Nate about ‘Compassionate Accountability in Action,’ watch the replay here.

Lessons on Centeredness From a Missing Cardboard Tube

A few years ago, when I saw advertisements for toilet paper rolls that did not have cardboard tubes in the middle, I thought the next new wave of efficiency and waste reduction had truly arrived. Without the cardboard tubes, consumers would no longer have to figure out how to recycle them if they wanted to be environmentally friendly. Entire Pinterest boards dedicated to cardboard tube crafts would be rendered obsolete. When a roll was used up, only air would take up the space previously occupied by a cardboard roll.

It seemed to take a while for the tubeless rolls to make it to Tallahassee, but I was elated when I found them. No more tubes to keep up with! A win-win for the environment and one less thing to manage in our weekly trash process.

As it turns out, tubeless toilet paper rolls are a lot like our inner lives — we may think we are being more efficient by getting rid of something that appears to just be taking up room — but consistent, firm, centering structure serves more of a purpose than we realize.

The cardboard tube keeps the roll spinning smoothly. Without a core, the roll bumps and hesitates as its circles the spindle. Without a solid structure, everything slows down and gets confusing.

Silence distances us from keeping in touch with progress. At the risk of delving into everyone’s private constitutional habits here on the Weaving Influence blog, let’s put it this way: with a tube in place, you can hear that the tube is turning. Its reassuring background audio that confirms the roll is spinning as planned.

The center can easily collapse. If you have ever grabbed a roll of toilet paper for whatever reason (any parent can tell you that it’s sometimes necessary to physically grab the roll to keep an over-enthusiastic toddler from using ten times the necessary amount of toilet paper), you know the tube stays rigid and helps you stabilize the roll-in-motion. Without the tube, you grab the roll and everything collapses. Starting over becomes more of an effort than it needs to be.

You don’t know when you’ve come to the end of the process. With toilet paper on a traditional roll, at the point where you reach the last square or two, you have to give a little tug to separate the last square from the roll because it is attached by a dab of glue. Not so with tubeless. You just find yourself, mid-constitutional, forlornly holding that last square, staring at the spindle, wondering why you are surprised that it is over.

It is trendy right now to talk about mindfulness and being “centered.” I would be a hypocrite to come to this space and try to tell you how to do either one of those things. Although I may be struggling to be any kind of role model or raise up my life as an example of centeredness, as a parent, professional, spouse, friend, and advocate, I know that it is all too easy to strip away what seems like an intrusive “extra piece” in order to try to refine and minimize, when in reality the best investment we can make is putting in place a mindset and choices that remind us what we stand for and how we got here.

One key tenet of mindfulness is learning to stay present amidst of a world throwing distractions at us at an ever-accelerating rate. Sarah Rudell Beach, creator of Left Brain Buddha, writes, “The essence of mindfulness is present-moment awareness.”

Deepak Chopra writes:

“. . . in reality, most people have spent a lifetime learning how to manage and organize their outer life, paying scant attention to what goes on inside. Yet what goes on inside precedes everything external, shapes it, and allows you to understand and respond. Until you develop skills in awareness, you haven’t fully embraced a conscious lifestyle.”

I see the cardboard tube, which I thought I would be so happy to be rid of, as a metaphor for the present-moment awareness we all so desperately need.

Without a firm central core, I’m left aimlessly grasping for air.

Featured on Friday: Eat That Frog! by @BrianTracy

Have you ever tried to eat a live frog? My guess is: probably not. (If you have, please share your story with us!) They say the worst part is getting started — taking that first bite, chewing it, swallowing it. If you’re like most people, even if you wanted to eat the frog (which, however, is not like most people), you would spend your time doing everything but sitting down and getting started: setting up the table just right, positioning the trashcan for convenient access, snapping photos of the frog and posting it on social media, etc.

Have you ever tried to juggle too many important responsibilities or master a never-ending to-do list of critical tasks? My guess is: probably. Isn’t the hardest part to that also sitting down and getting started, rather than frittering your time away getting “prepared” and doing everything but tackling the tasks at hand?

Today’s featured author spent years early on in his career studying the habits of successful people, and eventually concluded that doing our most important work like eating that live frog. Both are tasks that will have great impact on our lives going forward, but both are things we’re most likely to procrastinate doing for one reason or another. Maybe we don’t want to put forth the effort, or maybe we simply don’t know how to get them done. But that procrastination ends up stalling our careers, frustrating our plans and ambitions, and leaving us generally dissatisfied with our trajectory in life. His bestselling book, now in its third edition, shares 21 practical steps that have been proven to help fight that procrastination and increase our productivity, performance, value, and output.

Meet the Author — Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is one of the top business speakers in the world today. He has designed and presented seminars for more than 1,000 large companies and more than 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in 75 countries on the subjects of leadership, management, professional selling, business model reinvention, and profit improvement.

He has addressed more than 5,000,000 people in more than 5,000 talks and presentations worldwide. He currently speaks to 250,000 people per year. His fast-moving, entertaining video-based training programs are taught in 38 countries.

As a bestselling author, Brian Tracy has written more than 80 books that have been translated into 42 languages, including Kiss That Frog!, Find Your Balance Point, Goals!, Flight Plan, Maximum Achievement, No Excuses!, Advanced Selling Strategies, and How The Best Leaders Lead.

Brian is happily married, with four children and five grandchildren. He is the president of Brian Tracy International and lives in Solana Beach, California.

Want to connect with Brian? Visit his website or find him on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

Discover the Book — Eat That Frog!

There just isn’t enough time for everything on our to-do list—and there never will be. Successful people don’t try to do everything. They learn to focus on the most important tasks and make sure those get done. They eat their frogs.

There’s an old saying that if the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re done with the worst thing you’ll have to do all day. For Tracy, eating a frog is a metaphor for tackling your most challenging task—but also the one that can have the greatest positive impact on your life. Eat That Frog! shows you how to organize each day so you can zero in on these critical tasks and accomplish them efficiently and effectively.

In this fully revised and updated edition, Tracy adds two new chapters. The first explains how you can use technology to remind yourself of what is most important and protect yourself from what is least important. The second offers advice for maintaining focus in our era of constant distractions, electronic and otherwise.

But one thing remains unchanged: Brian Tracy cuts to the core of what is vital to effective time management: decision, discipline, and determination. This life-changing book will ensure that you get more of your important tasks done—today!

Intrigued? Visit the book site, add it to your Goodreads shelf, or buy a copy on Amazon.

What People Are Saying

“‘Eat That Frog!’ is a short book, but with big messages; at 119 pages, I believe the average reader could easily read it in just a couple of hours. The sections are short, and I like the index. This would be a wonderful graduation gift for just about anyone.”

— Rebecca Henderson, 5-star Amazon review

“I had tried more motivational tricks and tips over the years and no one gives sound advice better than Brian Tracy. ‘Eat That Frog!’ gobbles up any other resource on procrastination or goal setting in the market.”

— Lisa Kosak, 5-star Amazon review

“This is a short, fast read. It has enough detail to make it worth reading, but at the same time it is not so process heavy that it is hard to get through. . . . it doesn’t go into all the psychology of procrastination; rather, it gets right to the action.”

— Leslie Gornig, 5-star Amazon review

“Mr. Tracy is one of the most venerated experts on performance and productivity. Yet, his book is practical, written in a highly readable style, full of energetic stories that infuse readers with an understanding of how they can apply relevant practices to their own experience.”

— Jane Anderson, 5-star Amazon review

“I highly recommend ‘Eat That Frog!’ as a tool for increased impact and effectiveness. Read one chapter each day, reflect on the questions, and follow through on the exercises. You will increase your awareness of how you use your time and change your behaviors to become more productive.“

— Jon Lokhorst, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Visit the book site to learn more about download a free sample chapter, request a free sticker, and learn about the associated workbook & card deck. While there, take a moment to share one of the beautiful book-related graphics or tweets! Also, if you missed the recent webinar with Brian Tracy, watch the replay here.

Can a Woman Ever NOT Multi-task?

There is all sorts of condemnation online and in books about multi-tasking. It’s unproductive. You don’t get anything done. You feel like you haven’t accomplished anything even when you’re busy. And on and on.

It’s discouraging. Especially as a woman who is easily distracted by the squirrels of life. Am I doomed to failure because focusing is so much harder in a world with email and social media notifications? And cat videos on YouTube?

And isn’t there a book comparing men to waffles and women to spaghetti? Spaghetti??? Does that sound like a person that operates their entire life in a neat, linear, and organized fashion?

Can I get an “Amen!” from all those women out there juggling careers, relationships, errands, volunteer events, school, kids, laundry, doctor/dentist/eye appointments, cooking, etc.?!

I’ve tried the techniques to eradicate multi-tasking. Making to-do lists, turning off notifications, and jotting down ideas that wander through my stream of consciousness if I’m in the middle of another task. I have so many little Post-its with notes all over that my desk looks like an April Fool’s joke. I’m writing this and thinking about dinner, finding a new primary care physician, and wondering when to take the ham down for Easter. I rest my case.

I used to think that all the thoughts I processed in my head counted against me for multi-tasking. I was trying to remember grocery lists and client calls and special projects and marketing ideas while working, and I felt condemned. Destined to live an unproductive life.

Why? Because those articles said so.

I wasn’t focused. I wasn’t all in. I wasn’t giving 110% to the task at hand. Or to life goals. I was *gasp* distracted.

But you know what? I still got articles done. I still cooked meals. I still did excellent work for clients. I took time to feed my spirit. Workout. Love on friends and snuggle with my hubby. I made phone calls, wrote emails, wrote down plans, and created proposals.

Am I where I want to be? No. I can’t do everything. I have to prioritize projects. And I have an ever-fertile mind of curiosity that continuously spits out new ideas to tackle. Could I be a lot more organized? Sure!

But I’m done condemning myself. I’m not going to let the fact that my life mimics a roller coaster more often than not make me feel like I’ll never reach my potential. The fact that my brain is processing multiple projects and I’m STILL being productive is an asset, not a liability. I’m not going to accept the premise that whatever I do is less-than because it was done amongst competing attention-grabbers.

I’m not going to lie. There are days I crush the to-do list, and days I wonder what the heck I did all day — even with a to-do list. There are days I can force all those thoughts into a linear fashion, and other days where I bounce from competing priorities.

I don’t claim to have all the answers or a scientific fall-back. What I do have is ENCOURAGEMENT, especially to the women out there who feel like they’re doing it ALL.

Don’t let them make you feel defective because you won’t “focus” on a career instead of your family. Or that you’re not “all in” because you’re cooking while listening to a podcast. Or if you remember something really important and it requires you to put the current task on hold. Life will do that to your perfect 3-point to-do list anyway. You’ll still get to where you’re going.

Always work on ways to better yourself. If you can make changes, go for it! But ladies, we’re not waffles. Our lives will very rarely be compartmentalized. And we’ll feel ourselves pulled in a host of different directions — sometimes all at once. You’re not a failure. You’re not doomed to an unproductive life. You can still accomplish wonderful things and reach your potential. And for those of us who are married, I’m pretty certain that our husbands appreciate the fact that we can multi-task.

What am I saying?

Maybe we should worry less about how we can’t seem to get it together and more about optimizing how we’re wired to accomplish more.

I believe that women are wired to multi-task. Stop condemning how you’re wired and celebrate it! Maybe we’ll find ourselves accomplishing more when we do.

Featured on Friday: What’s New with @HometownReads

We’re taking a break from our regularly scheduled Friday programming (a.k.a., book launches!) to share some exciting updates for Hometown Reads! Not sure what that is? Hometown Reads is a division of Weaving Influence dedicated to connecting authors across the country with readers in their hometowns, through the #ReadLocal movement. The Hometown Reads website is the first of its kind to organize authors by local community, a design intended to facilitate both networking for authors and exposure/connection to more readers.

#ReadLocal Movement

Hometown Reads officially launched in March 2016. Now, barely a year later, the community has just launched its 50th city (Nashville, TN) and showcases over 1,500 books on the site! Published authors can create an account; add their bio, headshot, and hometown (even if it hasn’t been “launched” yet); list up to four books, including publication information and “buy now” links; and share a link to their personal website, if desired. We also recently added “Find Me Local” buttons that allow authors to link their book to a local bookstore, library, or other resource to further grow the #ReadLocal community.

Speaking of libraries and bookstores — in an effort to direct readers to local sources for purchasing or borrowing books, the option to join Hometown Reads is now available not only to authors and readers, but also bookstores and local libraries! As we continue on the path to incorporating the whole community, particularly seeking to forge strong connections with local libraries and bookstores, we are also working on an Ambassador program, where local authors can volunteer to champion their hometown’s growth and involvement in the #ReadLocal movement.

Hometown Authors

Authors, bookstore owners, libraries workers, and even readers will also find value in the Hometown Authors blog, which features guest posts from various Hometown Reads authors about their own book marketing journeys, encouragement for newly published authors, and tools to help authors connect with their audiences (including tips that might be of interest to local libraries and bookstores).

Since February of this year, we have been holding Thursday Connect, a bi-weekly, casual, virtual gathering for authors anywhere who are interested in learning more about Hometown Reads, contributing to the community as Ambassadors, or partnering with us to reach more readers and fuel the #ReadLocal movement. Interested in joining? Learn more here. We’ve also recently added a weekly newsletter for our authors, with important updates and ways to get involved further.

Join the Movement

Whatever your role in the community, you can be an active part of expanding the #ReadLocal movement!

Authors who want to see your book or city featured on Hometown Reads, join here.
Readers who want to discover great books from your hometown, join here.
Bookstores who want to feature and support local authors, join here.
Libraries who want to connect readers and authors in your community, join here.

Have questions about Hometown Reads, or want to connect with us further? Find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or send us an email!