Becky Robinson's Blog, page 48

Featured on Friday: Lilac Dreams by @BonnieHathcock

Stories are powerful tools. We relate to them. We connect with the characters, their struggles, and sometimes their victories. In them, we find role models to follow, principles to emulate, and pitfalls to avoid. In memoirs, the most personal form of story, we meet real people who have poured their real struggles and mistakes onto paper so that we might learn from their experience.

The best of memoirs lead us by example. They offer real-life lessons of grit, determination, and resolve. They share humble promises of joy and offer honest encouragement to keep on living, keep trying, one day at a time. They give us hope that we, too, can fight through our harsh realities to one day reach our dreams.

Today’s featured author has penned such a book. She writes in the first chapter, “Before there can be dreams of lilacs, there is almost always a harsh reality to struggle through.” And her early realities were harsh indeed! Her story travels the path from abandonment and poverty, through hard work and determination, to a distinguished success as the highest ranking executive of a Fortune 100 company and the top of her field in human resources.

Meet the Author — Bonnie Hathcock

Bonnie C. Hathcock has over 35 years of experience in corporate America. For most of those years, she held C-suite positions at the top of Fortune 100 and 200 corporations. Bonnie began her career at Xerox Corporation, where she spent a decade learning world-class marketing concepts.

Her business and marketing acumen eventually caught the attention of a high-ranking executive from Siemens A.G., who promoted Bonnie to the position of vice president of human resources for one of the largest Siemens companies in the United States. Bonnie would eventually be promoted to vice president of Human Resources for US Airways, and senior vice president of Human Resources for Humana Inc.

Bonnie’s work ethic and drive for excellence awarded her the distinction as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Women in Human Resources in 2005. In 2007, Bonnie was named Human Resources Executive of the Year, a national award presented by HR Executive Magazine. In 2010, Bonnie was inducted as a fellow into the National Academy of Human Resources.

Bonnie has an MBA and has completed post-graduate studies at the Stanford University School of Business. She resides in Tennessee with her husband, Lee, and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cubby.

Want to connect with Bonnie? Find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or contact her via email.

Discover the Book — Lilac Dreams

Bonnie Hathcock never wanted anyone to know how humble her roots really were. As she sat in the mahogany boardroom of one of the largest corporations in the country, she worried about being worthy enough to be there. She had made it to the top as one of the highest ranking officers of a Fortune 100 corporation. She kept her background out of view, because she feared being looked down on.

That was until the day she chose joy. Bonnie realized she was suspending the presence of joy in her life. She thought joy was something off in the future, when she wasn’t working and when she didn’t have so much pressure. Through a series of encounters with special people in her life, she realized she could be happy most of the time. She boldly embraced the pathway to unlocking her inner joy. It took work and practice. She began by confronting her shame: shame about her humble beginnings, her mistakes, and her limitations.

In confronting her shame, she made a discovery that changed her life’s perspective. Her past made her who she is and actually created the success she attained. In her struggles, she learned to overcome. In her disappointments, she learned how to hope. In the mistakes, she discovered how to be better.

Bonnie wrote Lilac Dreams to share the story of her youth…with its mistakes, hardships, and struggles. Despite her circumstances, Bonnie still had her dreams. Dreams of making something of her life and of going beyond her own limitations. Lilac Dreams is a book that will move you to look beyond your current circumstances, help you to push past your limitations, and affirm your worth in this world. Bonnie believes if she can do it, you can do it.

Intrigued? Visit the website to learn more, add it on Goodreads, or buy a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

What People Are Saying

“The book offers readers an intimate look into Bonnie’s life and her pathway to success but her story is more than a retrospection into the past. ‘Lilac Dreams’ also inspires its readers to look and move forward in their own lives and to work tirelessly to achieve their dreams.”

— Melissa Russell, 5-star Amazon review

“Moving. So very moving. I read this book cover to cover in one sitting because I could not put it down. It felt like I was THERE with Bonnie in Shippensburg . . .”

— SGMaurer, 5-star Amazon review

“A powerful story for women especially, to see how the past affects us, and molds us, but does not necessarily define us for the future. I want y granddaughters to read books like this as they grow up.”

— Doc Myron, 4-star Amazon review

“I was thrilled beyond words when I received ‘Lilac Dreams.’ I read it immediately, from cover to cover, savoring every word. I am re-reading it again today. This book was written straight from the heart and I am so very proud of Bonnie for all of her superior accomplishments in life.”

— CLKANN, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Stop by Bonnie’s website to learn more about her book, find tweets and graphics to share with your friends and coworkers, and start reading her blog for practical insights on being a leader and finding joy.

Is It Time to Re-Design Your Website?

How often do you need to re-design your website? It’s a big decision—one that no business takes lightly. A new website requires significant investment of time, money, and resources.

Considering how fast and frequently technology changes, a website rarely stays fresh and engaging for more than three years. Besides simply aging out, there are a few major reasons to consider a website overhaul:

Your organization wants to overhaul their content. Often, what are perceived to be “minor” changes in content are often so extensive that a new website designed specifically for that content may be the better option.
Your organization is going through a re-brand. Perhaps your company got acquired or acquired another company, or you have decided to change the name, colors, logo, etc. Any dramatic change to the core business may be a good reason to consider a new website.
The website does not reflect the organization. Weaving Influence recently went through this when we realized that our website no longer represented the cutting-edge digital marketing knowledge we possessed. We designed a new website and updated our branding so our website and brand represent the best of what we can do.
The functionality of the website is not working effectively. You may have a theme that has expired and no longer updates, or perhaps your website is not mobile responsive. If your website is not able to perform the technical functions you need, a new website designed and developed to fit your needs may be your only option.

Figure Out What’s Right for You, Right Now

If your website is still fulfilling most of your needs, you may not need a full re-design. If the branding, functionality, and overall look of the site is still appealing to the majority of your customers, you may just need to do a content refresh. Make sure all of the information on your site, including phone numbers, emails, social media accounts, bios, etc., is up to date. Spice up your copy a bit, especially on the home page.

A Good Website is an Investment

Deciding whether you need a new website requires stepping out of your comfort zone to consider how your potential customers view you, and how you want them to view you. Ask yourself: “If my ideal customer came to my website, would they be blown away by my design, content, and branding?”

The way your website looks and functions can directly impact the success of your business. No matter how much experience you have, if your website looks out-of-date or unprofessional, potential customers could quickly assume that you, in turn, are unprofessional, and click off before even taking the time to learn about who you are and what you have to offer.

Be honest with yourself. Whether you just need some minor updates, or a major overhaul—now is the time to consider the future of your website and, in turn, the success of your business.

Interested in exploring a website update? Contact Weaving Influence to talk to an associate!

 

 

Featured on Friday: Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work by @FowlerSusanN

What motivates you to dream big and work hard? To choose to pursue one goal and ignore another? To schedule time for work and time for rest?

We all have particular things that motivate us to do, or not do, whatever comes across our paths — from deriving a sense of identity, to demonstrating particular values, to simply desiring enjoyment and pleasure. We are all motivated by something, whether internal (such as autonomy) or external (such as approval) rewards.

Today’s featured author believes that, only as we move away from dependence on external rewards, and reach toward more internal rewards, can we begin to find meaningful and sustainable motivation for everything we do in work and life itself.

Meet the Author — Susan Fowler

Susan Fowler implores leaders to stop trying to motivate people. In her bestselling book, she explains WHY MOTIVATING PEOPLE DOESN’T WORK… AND WHAT DOES: The New Science of Leading, Engaging, and Energizing.

Susan educates leaders on motivation best practices based on solid science communicated through compelling storytelling, case studies, and real-life examples. Through her writing, speaking, consulting, training, and coaching, Susan is dedicated to providing leaders around the globe with a cutting-edge framework, dynamic model, and pragmatic course of action to shape workplaces where people flourish while producing sustainable results.

Susan is the author of by-lined articles, peer-reviewed research, and six books, including the bestselling Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager with Ken Blanchard. She is a regular blogger for the Huffington Post and LeaderChat. Tens of thousands of people worldwide have learned from her ideas through training programs such as the Situational Self Leadership and Optimal Motivation product lines. Susan is a professor in the Masters of Science in Executive Leadership program for the University of San Diego and a rotating board member for Angel Faces, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping adolescent girls with severe burn and trauma injuries.

Want to connect with Susan? Find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Google+.

Discover the Book — Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work . . . And What Does

Top leadership researcher, consultant, and coach Susan Fowler says stop trying to motivate people! It’s frustrating for everyone involved, and it just doesn’t work. You can’t motivate people—they are already motivated, but generally in superficial and short-term ways. In this book, Fowler builds upon the latest scientific research on the nature of human motivation to lay out a tested model and course of action that will help leaders guide their people toward the kind of motivation that not only increases productivity and engagement but that gives them a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Fowler argues that leaders still depend on traditional carrot-and-stick techniques because they haven’t understood their alternatives and don’t know what skills are necessary to apply the new science of motivation. Her Optimal Motivation process shows leaders how to move people away from dependence on external rewards and help them discover how their jobs can meet the deeper psychological needs—for autonomy, relatedness, and competence—that science tells us result in meaningful and sustainable motivation.

Optimal Motivation has been proven in organizations all over the world—Fowler’s clients include Microsoft, CVS, NASA, the Catholic Leadership Institute, H&R Block, Mattel, and dozens more. Throughout the book, she illustrates how each step of the process works using real-life examples. Susan Fowler ‘s book is the groundbreaking answer for leaders who want to get motivation right!

Intrigued? Download a free sample chapter, add it on Goodreads, or buy a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

What People Are Saying

“This is a phenomenal book. Rather than writing about self-determination theory, Susan unpacks it in a way that provides access, demonstrates mastery over the material and gives you scientifically grounded access to using it within your life and your teams . . . This is an incredible tool that the world very much needed.”

— Gabriel B. Grant, 5-star Amazon review

“This is a great book that you’ll enjoy the first time you read and, if you’re like me, turn back to time and again for a refresher.”

— David Witt, 5-star Amazon review

“This is one of my Top 10 reads of all-time. I love this book so much that I have a hard copy and the kindle version. It will be one of my desk reference books for the unforeseeable future. The way Susan makes it easy to understand the Motivational Junk Food we try to feed employees (and volunteers, our kids, etc.) is exactly what we must use to change what is now the conventional wisdom. “

— Rembach, 5-star Amazon review

“The information Susan shared in this book is priceless, especially for those leaders that really want to serve their people and customers, because after all, the nature of human motivation is not about making money, is about making meaning and having a sense of purpose.”

— Sonia Farace, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Watch Susan’s recent webinar, which explains the science behind people’s top 5 motivations and the lessons of her book Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work…and What Does. Stop by the book site for a free downloadable chapter, as well as beautiful graphics that you can share with your friends and coworkers. Or visit her website to read Susan’s blog, take the free motivational outlook assessment, and find other resources to nurture your understanding of optimal motivation.

When Unsure How to Respond: Observe, Remember, Do

“What do I do here?” is a question I have asked myself many times. Sometimes the choice was minor; other times, larger outcomes were at stake.

When I was at my friend Kimmi’s bat mitzvah eight years ago, toward the end of the service, baskets full of hard candy were passed around. Watching what the people around me did, I took some of the candy, not really knowing why I was taking hard candy at a religious service — I had never seen this done before.

AND THEN PEOPLE STARTED THROWING IT TOWARD THE RABBI AND KIMMI.

Finally someone said, “It’s what we do. It’s a good thing,” and I started throwing candy too, joining a tradition that represents “showers of blessings” (for a thoroughly entertaining explanation, read this).

Turning A Negative Situation Around

When a synagogue here in Tallahassee received hate mail recently, community members decided to counteract the negativity with positive letters of support.

Congregation Shomrei Torah held a community shabbat service on February 17, to thank Tallahasseeans who sent letters of support. When the synagogue president began his remarks, he described the moment when he was sitting in his office, reading the hate mail and feeling alone; then he terminated the arc of events by describing the deluge of positive letters from throughout the Tallahassee community he received in response. While these positive letters did not erase the initial act of negativity, they affirmed how much he and his congregation, which has been a part of Tallahassee for 40 years, are valued and cared for.

Remember and Observe

As I participated in the community service, I was struck early on by the emphasis on how “remembering” and “observing” were inextricably linked with one another through this line in an opening prayer: “’Observe’ and ‘remember’ in a single utterance.”

Although an interpretation of remembering, observing, and the relationship between the two should be left to far better theological minds than mine, the bond between the two words spoke to me as I, an Episcopalian, set next to an Imam surrounded by people of all faiths, as well as the Congregation’s members.

This community situation was transformed by a third word: DO. 

How Do Letters Bring Us Together?

Although we have all grown accustomed to electronic communication, text messages, and snapchat shares that go away within 24 hours, a letter has a permanence, as well as a physical and emotional weight, that only paper and ink can achieve.

One congregation member described a letter written by a child that said, “I am writing this on paper with a pen.” I love the literal thinking portrayed in that letter! And I love the fact that clearly it meant something to that child to commit his or her thoughts in ink. On paper.

Among those of us attending the service, we had observed choices among our fellow humans that threatened to divide us. Although the observe referenced during the Shabbat service had to do with holding the sabbath day holy, when I heard it at the beginning of the service in the same line as remember, I was reminded that it is one thing to think compassionate thoughts for another, yet a different thing to do something tangible to show that compassion.

It is in remembering what it feels like to be rejected by our fellow humans that we tap into the reserves of empathy that lead us to say, “That’s not our town. That’s not me.”

One congregant chatting with me said, “I have seen other houses of worship in our town defaced by graffiti and other derogatory symbols and images. While I felt bad for them, it didn’t occur to me to send them letters. What happened here, when community members sent us letters, was that they taught me to be a better Jew.”

Like me, sitting in a synagogue uncertain of what to do with a handful of hard candy, the woman I was speaking with needed to know, for the future:

What do I do here?

Now there is a stack of letters, a fresh bond among people of disparate faith traditions, and the knowledge that together, we will not be moved (one of the songs we sang in unison), to inform her.

By connecting with one another over mail, we saw a perfect example of observing what was happening, remembering what it feels like to be the subject of rejection, and deciding “what to do here.”

Featured on Friday: Pacing for Growth by @DrAlisonEyring

Are you a runner? Even if you’re not, odds are good that you have countless friends who are. Long-distance running has grown in popularity over the past decade by leaps and bounds (or should that be “meters and marathons”?). It’s moved beyond a simple athletic event to the social-fitness realm, becoming a popular way to get in shape, shake off stress, meet the community, and boost cardiovascular health.

But long-distance running is certainly not easy. The endorphin rush is great, but it takes a lot of hard work to get there both physically and mentally. It also requires a smart approach to pacing. Run too fast, and you’ll burn out before you reach the finish line. Move too slowly, and you quite literally get left in the dust.

Pacing is also important in other areas of life — running a business, for instance. Force artificial growth and your company will likely fizzle out like a firecracker; ignore the need for growth and it will wither away into oblivion. Today’s featured author knows firsthand about the importance of pacing in both of these realms. As both an endurance athlete and a successful business owner, she has interesting perspective to share on the concept of pacing for long-term growth.

Meet the Author – Alison Eyring

Dr. Alison Eyring is a global thought leader on building organizational capacity for growth. Founder and Chief Executive of Organisation Solutions, as well as an endurance athlete and trained organizational psychologist, Alison has twenty-five years of experience in large-scale organization design and change and executive development.

Alison works closely with global and regional executives from Fortune/FTSE 500 and some of the world’s most innovative high-growth companies on leadership and growth. She is also Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore Business School.

Want to connect with Alison? Find her on Twitter or LinkedIn, or contact her via email.

Discover the Book – Pacing for Growth

Whether you’re running a race or running a company, pacing is everything. Go too fast and you’ll burn yourself out—too slow and you’re left in the dust. So how can leaders find the right speed? Growth expert Alison Eyring, who is also a long-distance runner and triathlete, found the answer in endurance training.

It’s a concept she calls Intelligent Restraint. Eyring shows leaders how to evaluate their company’s and team’s current capacity for growth and identify the right capabilities and pacing strategies to increase growth steadily and sustainably. She masterfully weaves physiological and psychological research, in-depth business case studies, examples from real leaders, and practical tools with her own narrative of endurance training. The result is a revolutionary new mindset for enduring success.

Intrigued? Download a free sample chapter, add it on Goodreads, or buy a copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

What People Are Saying

“Alison gives you a roadmap for growth by looking at your capacity, your capabilities and the right pace to sustain results. She also shares the rules of Intelligent Restraint to help you focus and build capabilities for success. If you are a leader in business or in your community, I highly recommend reading this book to look at the impact you are making in your life and those around you.”

— S. O’Dell, 5-star Amazon review

“‘Pacing For Growth’ offers a sound and practiced approach to growing our organizations within capacity . . . Alison shares stories about icons that have flourished or failed over the years, leadership tools and tips for pacing growth and capacity, and keeps us mesmerized with her own personal stories and experiences.”

— Lisa Kosak, 5-star Amazon review

“Leading a global business means delivering performance today AND preparing for growth in the future. Alison Eyring’s fresh approach to meeting this challenge is an invaluable guide for any leader that wants to successfully grow their business for the long-haul.“

— Lee Kirk, 5-star Amazon review

“Dr. Eyring has hit a home run with ‘Pacing for Growth.’ This book is extremely well-constructed to provide a clear message with examples we can incorporate into our personal lives as well as our work lives . . . It is a book that I will refer to again and again in the future.“

— Dan Ward, 5-star Amazon review

Learn More

Watch Alison’s recent webinar, which explains more about why pacing is everything — in running, business, or life itself — and defines the concept of Intelligent Restraint. Or visit her website to discover the services her company provides, read the Grow! Magazine, or learn more about about Alison’s new book.

Managing Social Media Expectations

Remember when social media was the new cool kid?

Somewhere after the wanna-be MySpace age, the IT thing was to get your brand, business, or organization on Facebook and any new social channel that popped up.

Remember feeling overwhelmed with all the social channels that all the “experts” said you HAD to be on, to be where the eyeballs were?

I remember one of my first “jobs” in social media, at the direction of the marketing VP with an actual certificate in digital marketing (the CEO always joked that he got it from a Cracker Jack box), was to go to every social network I could find and create an account for their new product line — complete with description and photo. #DigitalMarketingFail

When it comes to social media, I think we’ve come along far enough on the journey to have a proper understanding of what social media is and isn’t. The hype has died down, the list has boiled down to a few main networks to focus on, and the need to be on everything — even if poorly — has thankfully gone away. A few things have driven this trend, and they help to set our social media expectations.

Targeting

When organizations first tackled social media, it was with a “build it and they will come” frame of mind. Let’s throw this against a wall and see what sticks. Focusing on a target market helps to select the right social channel, refine content, and show up in searches to answer the right needs.

The latest Pew Research can give us some insight into where your target market is. Looking to target the below-30 crowd? Instagram might be where you want to focus. Got a product or service for women? You’ll want to invest some marketing dollars in Pinterest. Interested in the college-educated group? Facebook and LinkedIn are safe bets.

Search

Digital Marketers have a love/hate relationship with Google. Love because their data can help us focus on what is needful. Hate because they change the rules every so often to make sure we don’t abuse that data to game the system. For example, keyword stuffing is no longer going to help you get found online. Simply giving people what they’re looking for — no games, tricks, or manipulation — is what your focus really needs to be on. And the one that, with consistency, will bring the best results. Results that won’t suffer when Google changes the rules. Again.

Content and Value

Ever heard the phrase “content is king”? That’s because it is. Being on every social network ever created is pointless without the content that answers the question to someone’s problem. What value do you bring to the table? It’s better to be on one network and rock that out, then to be on five with mediocre effort.

Paid Advertising

The space is crowded now, and getting found or seen is not as simple as it used to be. Many social networks offer paid advertising to help alleviate this. While it’s never fun to have to bust out the wallet, it does help us to focus on all the above mentioned.  

None of these represent a magic bullet. Instead, it helps us get a basic understanding of how things relate in the social media realm, and therefore manages our expectations on what it does or doesn’t do. It’s a part of doing business in this digital age — and having the right expectations helps put it into the proper marketing perspective. It’s fair to say that, whatever new social channel is developed or however the current ones change, the dynamics of the above will remain the same.

 

Featured on Friday: Kaleidoscope by @ChipRBell

What was your favorite childhood toy? Perhaps it was a toy train, jack-in-the-box, or a tricycle. Memories from our childhood can be so endearing, representing the nostalgia of a simpler time in life. Our toys were objects of our affection because of one key principle – they entertained.

Kaleidoscopes have been a popular child’s toy since their creation in 1816 by Scottish inventor, David Brewster, and they have continued to delight and fascinate generations of children to the current day. They are known for their array of enchanting colors and mosaic patterns that change by a simple rotation of the animator. With each turn, a kaleidoscope reveals new patterns to charm the observer time and time again. The summation of a “kaleidoscope” experience is one of enchanting, intriguing entertainment!

Our featured author took the concept of a “kaleidoscope” experience and used those principles to provide a metaphor for customer service. Customer don’t want just “good” service, they want service experiences that are unique, charming, and enchanting.

Meet the Author – Chip R. Bell

Chip R. Bell is a renowned keynote speaker and a senior partner with the Chip Bell Group, managing their office near Atlanta. Global Gurus ranked him in both 2014 and 2015 as the #1 keynote speaker in the world on customer service.

Prior to starting CBG in 1980, he was Director of Management and Organization Development for NCNB (now Bank of America). Dr. Bell holds graduate degrees from Vanderbilt University and the George Washington University. He was a highly decorated infantry unit commander in Viet Nam with the elite 82nd Airborne, and a guerrilla tactics instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School.

Chip has served as consultant or trainer to such organizations as GE, Microsoft, USAA, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Home Depot, Marriott, Universal Orlando, Chevron, Harley-Davidson, Cadillac, Verizon Wireless, Lockheed-Martin, Allstate, and Victoria’s Secret.

Want to connect with Chip? Find him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or contact him via email.

Discover the Book – Kaleidoscope: Delivering Innovative Service That Sparkles

Kaleidoscope is about the different shades of colored glass inside the “kaleidoscope” of value-unique service. Each chapter reveals a different shade of its charisma and depth, and gives ideas about what is needed to bring innovative service to life. In Chip’s own words, ”Innovative comes from your core; it evokes an experience of genuineness, a sense that its source is deep, not superficial.” The book offers powerful, practical advice, along with engaging stories of ways a novel service experience can also be one that is profound.

Learn more about the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.

What People Are Saying

“Chip Bell articulates perfectly some of the fundamental truths of creating loyal customers that few people have been able to put into words so clearly. His passion for exceeding customer expectations is contagious . . . it’s hard to walk away from this book without feeling inspired.”

— Scott Scherr, CEO, President, & Founder of Ultimate Software

“Kaleidoscope speaks to the fundamental values that drive innovative service: trust, authenticity, and genuine care.”

— J. Allen Smith, President & CEO of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

“Chip Bell’s ‘Kaleidoscope’ is packed with powerful illustrative stories that clearly convey timeless principles that are essential to grasp in today’s service economy. Compress the learning curve to customer excellence and learn from a master teacher!”

— Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A

“Chip Bell’s ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a wise book with delightful stories on how to inspire your customers by keeping them at the center of all you do.”

— Liz Smith, CEO of Bloomin’ Brands

Learn More

Watch Chip’s recent webinar, which guides you on how to deliver innovative service experiences, or what Chip calls, “seriously sparkly service.” You may visit his website to learn more about him, read his blog, and discover his other services. Be sure to stop by his books site to share tweets or graphics to support the recent launch of Kaleidoscope.

What I Learned from My Cat

This post is part of our 2017 Team Buzz Builder Guest Blogger series. Today we are pleased to introduce you to bestselling author and customer service expert, Chip R. Bell. 

Week before last, I visited the Key West home of famed writer Ernest Hemingway. The descendants of Hemingway’s many six-toed cats still live on the grounds and join visitors as a part of their tour. His quote about cats got me thinking about what I learn from my cat. “A cat,” wrote Hemingway, “has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.”

I know some people don’t like cats; I have friends who are allergic to cats. And I think I have read all the idioms that express negative myths about cats (e.g., scaredy-cat, fat cats, herding cats). Still, I watch my 11-year old black cat in action (or inaction) and marvel at what life might be like if I lived it more like a cat.

“Any cat who misses a mouse pretends it was aiming for the dead leaf.” –Charlotte Gray

Except for trips to the vet, my cat seems to enjoy every moment. She never panics even when there are loud noises nearby. She approaches every day with a pace and rhythm that is graceful, deliberate, and celebratory. Life seems, in part, to be about taking deep breaths with a focus on being… not just doing, doing, doing. When I make a mistake, I worry and sometimes punish myself inappropriate to the hiccup. When I goof, I wish I could just pretend I was aiming for the dead leaf.

“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.” –Terry Pratchett

There is an obvious self-confidence about my cat. Being liked seems to be nice, but not necessary. Perpetually measuring up is fine. but certainly not the driver of her identity. She is centered and poised, even in circumstances that might warrant a bit of anxiety. You get the impression she completely owns her life experience without one ounce of victim, blame, or excuse. She is not cocky, just confident. I wish I could live more of my life with her emotional invincibility.

“After dark all cats are leopards.” –Zuni Indian Proverb

I think my cat believes she is a gift and fully embraces that sense of privilege. From the day we brought her home from the shelter, she demonstrated in her attitude how lucky WE were; she was just along for the joy ride. It is not that she is unappreciative; she frequently shows her gratitude for her privileged station in life. But when I watch her pounce at anything that could be mentally converted into an adventure, I sense she is always on a glorious hunt. I wish I could approach every day like it was an adventure, not just another day.

“Cats know how to obtain food without labor, shelter without confinement, and love without penalties.” –William L. George

My cat washes herself a lot. I know an elegant coat has DNA roots to the survival of her cat-family ancestors. She just does it with such luxury. There is nothing quick and on-the-run about it. And she seems to relish the ritual as her way of getting a daily massage. I wish I could take care of my body, mind, and soul with the delicacy she uses to envelope her shiny cold-black coat. It means treating each day was an opportunity for betterment.

Cats are amazing animals. They are also a metaphor for how to live life to the fullest. And they are smart enough to focus on what matters, not on the trivial distractions that rob energy and spirit. As Jeff Valdez wrote, “Cats are smarter than dogs; you can’t get eight cats to pull a sled through snow.”

Let this year be your year of the cat!

 

 

My Love Letter to Weaving Influence

Three years ago, my husband and I were in the City of Light, celebrating our “last hurrah” before we settled down and finalized the adoption of our five kids. We didn’t realize that it would be almost three more years before that was completed and the kids were home, so we made the most of our time in Europe and enjoyed being together, eating good food, and grateful for each moment.

Three years later, I’m not only celebrating Valentine’s Day with my husband and our kids, but I’m also celebrating our middle daughter’s 7th birthday which falls on this day of love. Much has changed in the last 36 months, including my role with Weaving Influence, but I find myself overflowing with gratitude and love for the way that I have been allowed to continue my connection with the team, while learning how to juggle being a mom of five.

When I talked to Becky earlier this year about the possibility of returning to Weaving Influence in a different capacity, I wasn’t sure how it was all going to work. However, while Weaving Influence has grown and I have changed, Becky remains the same in her dedication to her team, and her willingness to work with each one to find a way for them to fit doing work they love into the life they live.

This aspect of Weaving Influence means more to me now than it did during my time as the Book Launch Director. Now, as a consultant working a few hours each week while learning how to juggle kids, laundry, and snow days, the flexibility that I have in my Weaving Influence work has been a gift.

I am grateful for the freedom that Becky has given me to once again help provide for my family while doing work that I love. I appreciate the way that my former co-workers have welcomed me back – for however long – and have allowed me to ask questions as I try to get my “mom brain” back into work mode. When everything else in my life is changing on a daily basis, it’s been nice to have an outlet where I can work and thrive because I feel confident in my skills.

Some people choose a company to partner with because they like the price of the package or the quality of past clients. Some choose a partner because of a personal recommendation or a previous engagement with the team. I don’t know why you might be here at the Weaving Influence blog, or if you are looking for a book launching team to join you in your journey, but I can tell you that as a contractor, this team – and its fearless leader – care about the individual. They want success for you, whether you are an author, a Buzz Builder, a part-time blogger, an employee, or a tired mom who is trying to squeeze in some contracting work between school runs.

After almost five years, Weaving Influence continues to weave their influence online and in the lives of those who are fortunate enough to be a part of the WI community. As I have adapted to my new role within the company, I find myself feeling very much the same as I did during those golden days in Paris: enjoying regular engagement with people I love, savoring the work, and grateful for each moment.

Featured on Friday: Discover the Joy of Leadership by Willy Steiner

“What happens if we spend training funds developing our people and then they leave us?” says a CFO to the CEO. “What happens if we don’t and they stay?” the CEO replies. So goes the fictional — yet all too realistic — conversation in Willy Steiner’s new book, Discover the Joy of Leadership.

Far too often, leadership development is ignored or overlooked in yearly or quarterly plans. True, some problems can and should be addressed on the spot. But the immediate urgent needs can easily overshadow the important long-term goals, and busy leaders and managers end up failing to address critical issues like time-management and relationship-building… issues that will lead to failure, if ignored, or long-term success, if cultivated and nurtured.

This book is a perfect starting point for busy leaders, since it offers a buffet of methods from other leadership experts — like having dozens of leadership books in one handy resource.

Meet the Author – Willy Steiner

Willy Steiner has been an executive leadership coach for 20 years serving senior leaders on three continents in a wide variety of businesses. His goal is to help leaders get better results – by being better leaders.

He has held senior corporate leadership positions at GE, RCA, and Galileo International. He led various Management and Executive leadership programs at both GE and RCA and has also taught Organization Behavior and Leadership at the Graduate school level. He also owned Steiner Enterprises, a wholesale distributor operation that sold in several Midwestern states.

He resides in Evanston, Illinois, and has been involved with Habitat for Humanity and Breakthrough Ministries for many years. He is an avid reader, golfer, storyteller, and the proud dad to three grown children.

Want to connect with Willy? Find him on LinkedIn, or contact him via email.

Discover the Book – Discover the Joy of Leadership

Leading organizations and managing people are daunting tasks, especially in this rapidly changing world. Discover the Joy of Leadership: A Practical Guide to Resolving Your Management Challenges is Willy Steiner’s handy guide for managers and leaders that provides insights for a wide variety of challenges. In it, you’ll find:

Time-tested models and theories from the very best practitioners and experts.
Easily digestible chapters to assist in quickly identifying ways to respond to the challenges that confront you.
Superior resources for leading others, making the best use of your time, communicating for influence and impact, dealing with change and developing relationships that matter.
Targeted solutions to cut through the “noise” in your work world, based on Steiner’s 30+ years of corporate leadership and coaching.

Providing the right tools at the right time, Discover the Joy of Leadership will help you become your own best leadership coach!

Learn more about the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

What People Are Saying

“This is a terrific ‘how to’ guide for leadership. It covers all of the competencies I coach to with my team. The way the book is laid out I’m able to quickly assign a chapter or two to a team member and then follow that up with a conversation about how they can use the ideas for improvement. This book is chockfull of common sense ideas to improve your own skills or those of your team.”

—Five-star Amazon review

“This book is a wonderful reflection on the breadth of Willy’s insightful counsel that he has provided to me and many of my leadership team over the years.”

—Paul E. Purcell, Chairman, Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc.

“This book contains [Willy’s] absolute best thinking on the topics most pertinent to leaders in any industry, based on real-world scenarios from the clients he’s coached, as well as time-tested models and theories from some of the world’s smartest minds. Willy is also an amazing story-teller with a great sense of humor, which makes this book both highly practical and genuinely enjoyable to read.”

—Zack R., Amazon review

“This book is the ‘how to’ handbook on leadership. Anyone who considers themselves a leader at any level should have this book in their library… and USE IT.”

—Rita Schaefer, Publishing Executive

Learn More

Watch Willy’s recent webinar, which provides targeted solutions to cut through the “noise” in your work world, or visit his website to learn more about him, read his blog, and discover his other services.