Becky Robinson's Blog, page 61

Oh, the Places You’ve Been!

Congratulations! Today is your day.

Dr. Seuss has been on my mind lately. This year has been one of the most turbulent of my career, and I’ve been thinking back to all those pivotal moments in the last 12 months spent with employers, mentors, prospective employers, and support from dear friends.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over with care.

About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”

A LinkedIn connection leads to a dream opportunity, or a friend tweets out a job opening at his company and you land the position. Has this happened to you in 2015? Maybe you turned something down this year. How would your life be different today if you hadn’t?

…you may not find any you’ll want to go down.

In that case, of course,

you’ll head straight out of town.

Was your life upended by a move in 2015? Whether for career, family, love or some combination of the three, maybe this Christmas has been a little different. Or maybe the move wasn’t from point A to point B, but from one industry to another, leaving you feeling like a hiker without a compass.

…when things start to happen,

don’t worry. Don’t stew.

Just go right along.

You’ll start happening too.

Oh, the places you’ll go!

Maybe this year you visited once-in-a-lifetime places that top all the rest. Two of my friends recently enjoyed champagne on the Speaker’s balcony at the U.S. Capitol after getting engaged. What a moment for the scrapbook!

Maybe you spent time in a dark, aching Slump. Getting laid off. Walking away from a toxic relationship. Losing a baby.

Did you go through a Slump this year? How did you handle it? (Are you even out yet?)

On these cold days and dark nights when we’re forced indoors, it feels natural to burrow into something comfortable to hibernate. Unfortunately, hibernating can sometimes get you stuck… in the Waiting Place.

…waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

Don’t you just love Dr. Seuss? This was a man born in 1904. He watched every major event in the 20th century. World War I, Prohibition, the Great Depression, World War II—all of it. And this was his take on waiting.

By the way, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” was published in 1990. Dr. Seuss (who was actually Theodore Giesel) died in 1991. I think it’s encouraging that he used the last pages in the last book published in his lifetime to assure the kids of the world (and of course, their grownups too) that we would most definitely NOT get stuck in the Waiting Place.

So what does that mean for your new year?

If you already know you want to write a book, find a new job, or lose 20 pounds, great! Go do it. There are about a million resources to help you, including the high-energy team at Weaving Influence.

I’m most interested today in those of you who, like me, may not really be sure where you are right now, much less where you’re going. Are you in a Slump? In a Waiting Place? Grinding on for miles across weirdish wild space? Leave a comment below to mark this place along your journey.

This wonderful Dr. Seuss book – and the New Year– are for us. They’re an excuse to reflect, reminisce, ask questions, and find a safe place to hibernate if you need to. It’s ok. You’ll be back at the top of the heap when you’re ready. 98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.

About the Author:

Laura Finch joined Weaving Influence in 2015. A native of Wheaton, Illinois, she has eight years of experience in politics and news, including time spent working as a press aide to a U.S. congressman and a stint as a producer for a morning cable news show. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Taylor University in Indiana, a graduate degree in digital journalism from American University in Washington, D.C., and is an alumna of Indiana’s Lugar Series. She has also been published in one book, “The Zambia Project,” about a major student AIDS project completed through WorldVision.

In her spare time Laura loves to run along the Potomac and discover new D.C. restaurants with her husband, Andrew.

Featured on Friday: #WITeam 2015 Wins

Earlier this week Becky shared some of our company wins for 2015, and there were a lot of them! How fun it was to read through and think about how far we’ve come since 2012.

When Becky asked for company wins, she also got a lot of personal wins for the year – some work related, some family related. For some team members, their win was simply surviving the year – I think we’ve all had years like that. I know I have! I remember ringing in 2010 and saying to my husband, “It has to be better than last year, right?” #iamthankful that it was.

As we shared our various wins – everything from surviving to thriving, steps of faith to finding our groove, we thought it might be fun to focus the final Featured on Friday post of 2015 on our team and the many things we are personally grateful for this year. As long as this is, this doesn’t include everyone on our team – a win for growth, right?

Margy (one of the original #WITeam members who returned this year) had some pretty significant wins in 2015 – including getting married, having a baby, and finding the perfect, flexible work! (check out her snowy day wedding photo)

While she shared company wins in her post, on the personal side of things Becky shares that moving the Weaving Influence office out of her home provided an unexpected relief, giving her space to create more boundaries between work life and home life. Ever the runner, Becky also shared, “I’m grateful for the support of my running group and happy I got to run my 2nd marathon this year.” Way to go, Becky!

Kylah’s been working with us for a long time now, but she shared that one of her wins this year was finally settling into a work-for-herself routine that actually works for her. Because of finding that balance, another win was the ability to partially live abroad in China this year (while still working with Weaving Influence), the traveling she gets to do while in Asia, and the flexibility to go back to her family and be present with them while her mom dealt with serious illness. We’re happy to report that her mom is doing better – so that is a win for us all!

Paula shares that she’s grateful to be feeling more equilibrium in her working/caregiving/family life in December 2015 as compared to January 2015, as well as the awesome opportunity to do several fun blogging trips – including one to NASA (see picture at left).

New to our team in 2015, Alicia says she had a lot of personal wins this year. She began this year calling it her “year of hope” after divorce, and it has been full of wins as she sees hope evolve into change for the better. She said she loves the forward motion in her life and is encouraged with every challenge that she overcomes. Stepping back into the workforce for Weaving Influence was a HUGE win for her – and we would agree that it was a win for us, too!

One of our newest Project Managers, Stephanie, says her wins include running two marathons, finishing her masters degree, and finding flexible, steady work with Weaving Influence! We think all of those are pretty great wins to celebrate, don’t you? (she’s the happy looking runner on the right)

From our super talented graphic designer, Rachel, we learn that her win revolved around something many would find stressful: a home renovation. When her family decided to renovate rather than move, the result was more space that gave Rachel a better office area to get her work done – one that includes a door that locks (helpful with small ones at home!). She states that this change of space is helping her find better boundaries with her work and family life – a huge win as those lines tend to get very blurred/non-existent when you work from home!

John (our “web guy”) has had a big year, personally, finally satisfying a long-term debt which paved the way for he and his wife (from Colombia, South America) to begin the residency visa process to move back to the US in 2016. John shares that through his work with Weaving Influence he is also able to support his mother’s household, provide for the welfare of his sister’s children, and assist his wife’s parents. John said it best,

“It is the opportunity to work that allows me to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

Tina’s another new member of our team, joining us after she “retired” from one job earlier this year. We’re so thrilled to have her! Although she had a long and successful career, her retirement was not her biggest win this year. That honor goes to making the decision to assist during the flood this year in Oregon, Ohio. Although it was one of the more difficult days she’s had, Tina counts it as her personal win.

Jessica also joined us this year (you might notice a theme of team growth in 2015!), and her wins include going “back to work after 9 years of being ‘just a mom’,” and rocking it as a full time working mom thanks to the flexible work environment that Weaving Influence provides. It’s that flexible environment that plays into another win of being able to address disordered attachment issues with her son, who was adopted; he gets stressed when at school, but because of the flexibility WI offers he is able to Facetime her twice a day and it has made all the difference! Great support at the school and a supportive work team for the win!

Elizabeth shares that her biggest win was seeing her husband, James, complete his M.Div after 7 long years of seminary (and over 125 credits). They are also celebrating taking concrete steps to move forward into their life’s calling of being missionary church planters. (not sure who’s happier, the graduate or his wife!)

I’m taking over here and sharing that one of MY wins this year was the return of Joanna to our team. She’s stepped right back into being my “wing woman” on the book launches, and I couldn’t be happier to have her back. Joanna lists one of her personal wins as getting back into a routine with work and feeling like her schedule was becoming a little more structured. She said it was also a win to step back into a company with which she was familiar and not feel like she was starting over, but rather being able to jump back in and get back to work.

After a semester abroad, Christina is back and sharing that her wins include coming back from living in Prague and ready to jump into her last year of college, stepping into two leadership positions in addition to classes, and her “wonderful part time work with WI.” I loved that she included this in her list of wins:

“It’s been a lot of leadership and management for me as a Bowdoin senior and actually my WI work has given me access to some leadership knowledge that has been more relevant to me than ever!”

Christy’s personal win was pretty “simple”: Section hiking the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains and living to tell the tale! Way to go, Christy! We’re all thankful she made it back in one piece to resume her outstanding work as our Director of Social Strategy. (our fearless hiking director can be see at left)

Our “other” Christy (who we often refer to as “Christy V”) continues to do outstanding work with Weaving Influence as a Social Media Specialist. On the personal side of things, Christy’s wins include making their house into a home, standing by two of her best friends as they got married, traveling and “realizing more than ever, how blessed I am.” Amen to that, Christy – we all are!

Amanda kept her win simple – but powerful: “My family went though something big last January, something that could have had a negative impact on my family but we came out stronger then ever! It may have actually brought us closer!” That is, indeed, something to celebrate!

And yet another new 2015 team member, Christine, includes Weaving Influence among her wins this year, sharing, “Leaving my teaching job to work at WI and be more present in my children’s lives.” We’re certainly grateful to have her on our PR team! (check out her last day in the classroom with her two cute kiddos in support of her decision) She sums up the thoughts of many WI team members in just two words:

“Forever grateful.”

Cindy (new team member number I’ve-lost-count!) shares that she has witnessed so many “little” wins this year, which I’ll let her share: “My niece adopted a second child from same birth parents as first adopted child, my new job at a wonderful company that puts relationships first with great co-workers, but most of all my dad is still with us this celebration season (we almost lost him recently)! Can’t wait to see him Friday! I am so grateful for answered prayer in all of these ‘events’!” What a great list of wins, don’t you think?

Kate says her personal wins include consistently running/working out (she even joined the YMCA last week to continue that into the new year) and eating mostly homemade, healthy foods, which means she’s getting better at this cooking gig! She also counts it as a win that she has 2 healthy and happy kids and she’s still in love with her husband. Somewhere between personal and work, she says a big accomplishment in the year was helping to bring Glennon Doyle Melton of Momastery to her church in March (a gigantic undertaking). And on the professional side she’s including her work with WI as a win because in addition to providing another (flexible) outlet for her writing/editing talents (something she appreciates as a stay-at-home mom), it also provides some extra income for her family.

Kayla joined Cindy, Kate, and the host of other “new arrivals” at Weaving Influence this year. Although she already had some big wins on her list like graduating from college, finding Weaving Influence, and her mom enjoying good health (and remission) after surviving breast cancer this past year, Kayla’s wins got really big when she very unexpectedly got engaged this week! Congratulations, Kayla!

Whitney also joined our PR team this year and hit the ground running. We are so grateful to have her on our team and benefit from her expertise. Her personal win was taking a BIG leap of faith and leaving a very good, full-time job to spend time with her daughter, Eleanor (now 21 months). While she says this was a no-brainer for her, it was still extremely scary because it seemed like she would be leaving a career behind. She shares, “I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to join the #WITeam which allows me to contribute and grow professionally while still being able to focus on my most important job–that as a mom.” (you can see her enjoying that job in the photo to the left)

Megan’s back this year after taking some time off last year to welcome baby Blake to her family. It’s been a big year for her with a new baby and a big move, plus she’s still knocking it out of the park with her PR work with Weaving Influence. Megan always goes above and beyond when it comes to her clients, and when they’re in her “neck of the woods” she goes so far as to meet them at the airport and even open her home to them. When I asked her what her wins were for 2015, she said, “meeting WI clients in person” – is that terrific or what? (check her out with Chip Bell, David Greer, and Don Maruska)

Whether you are joining those who are just happy to have survived the year with your faith and family intact, or you’re dancing for joy at the success you’ve experienced, I hope you’ll spend some time celebrating these personal wins with our team.

On a personal note: I (Carrie) would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – I’ll see you back here in 2016!

Grateful for Another Year of Great Work

I’m grateful for another year to do great work with an amazing team. We started the year with two focus areas: creating capacity and refining process. We’ve made significant progress in both areas, which you’ll see from our year-end highlights.

Yesterday I met with our team to re-cap the year, and several team members noted specific improvements. And while I had some big goals this year, I am truly pleased and proud of all we’ve accomplished, especially in our partnering with authors to create opportunities for their messages to have greater influence in the world.

Here are some highlights of the year

We launched 20 books this year. Since launching the company in 2012, we’ve now launched more than 60 books total. We celebrated a milestone with book 50, The New One Minute Manager, a new take on one of the bests-selling business books of all time.

We created 20 book marketing microsites this year and designed/developed 6 custom websites for clients. Beyond that, we made significant improvements to our web process, adding a web project manager/sales coordinator to the mix, a role I previously held.

We hosted 25 free webinar events, which highlight our clients’ content. Increasingly, people in corporate, non-profit, government, and education organizations are accessing our events as a key value-add to their professional/personal development. These content-rich events make a difference for attendees, while giving our authors exposure to potential buyers of their books/business services. We hosted our first multi-hour event with our Online Servant Leadership Summit, hosting 7 experts to an audience of over 600 attendees, including several organizations gathered in groups to participate.

We added 11 new team members this year, and welcomed three former team members back to our company. In our goal to create capacity this year, we knew we would be expanding our team. The gain of the year is 14 talented people working successfully who were not a part of the team at the start of the year. We’re all thrilled to have had Angie, Joanna, and Margy re-join the #WITEAM, and to have the new talent and energy that Stephanie, Kayla, Jessica B., Jessica S., Cindy, Laura, Kate, Christine W., Christine V., Whitney, and Alicia are bringing.

Our sense of community and collaboration are stronger than ever! This summer, several of our distributed team members met in person for the #WITour and several others met together in our office. The tour also provided opportunities for many of the team members to meet various clients. These in-person meetings provided a great encouragement to us AND our day to day connections and collaboration, including needing to pull together to work through challenges, have created a deep sense of shared purpose and values. We are strong, together.

Our Lead Change Group Blog has grown steadily this year with dedicated contributing authors. We’re happy to support thought leaders in sharing value-adding content EVERY WEEKDAY on LeadChangeGroup.com. We’re also grateful for mentions on top leadership blog lists this year including CharlesSprecht, SkipPrichard, and PromotionsNOW.

Fantastic media wins and placements for our clients. Our Digital Media Outreach team continues a track record of creating strong relationships with media contacts. We rejoice with our clients about the many media placements they’ve realized this year.

Continuing partnerships with authors. This year, we had the opportunity to launch Whitney Johnson’s 2nd book, renewing a relationship with one of our first clients. We’ve also continued several working partnerships with authors into a 3rd (or even 4th) year. We deeply value these partners and are honored by our opportunity to join with them in making a difference with great content, reaching audiences around the world. We’re also excited about new partnerships that have begun this year, and are especially excited about supporting the work of CTI in the year to come.

We moved the company from my home to a physical location, stabilizing operations with a core employee team. Prior to 2015, I was the only employee of Weaving Influence. As we close the year, we now have 6 employees who are a core support to our virtual subcontractor team. The chance to work together in person is helpful, and I feel supported in this work in a way I have not before.

Team Buzz Builder, our blogger network, continues to amaze us! We would not be able to create the results we do without the dedicated volunteers who engage with our authors by writing Amazon reviews, hosting guest posts, and highlighting books through their social media channels. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Wow! We have a lot to celebrate. We’ll be back later this week with reflections on personal wins for our team this year, including mine. If you’ve been a part of our success this year as a team member, client, media partner, Team Buzz Builder member, webinar attendee, or interested friend, thank you for being a part of the work we are doing in the world. You matter.

 

Featured on Friday: TBB Member @JohnThurlbeck

One of the aspects of my work with Weaving Influence that I enjoy the most is getting to know the individuals who make up Team Buzz Builder.

Each person brings something unique to our work, sharing different lessons learned from the books we launch, and reminding me each and every time that we could not do it without them.

Today’s highlighted team member is no exception!

Meet John Thurlbeck!

Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for me, John. First question:

Why do you like being a part of Team Buzz Builder (TBB)?

I love the sense of community and of serving others. I believe that leaders lead by learning, by serving and by sharing. I like to lead by example and being part of TBB fulfills that for me.

What benefit do you think you receive from being a part of TBB?

Besides being part of a very diverse community, who also clearly love to serve, I get advance notice of new developments in the literature around leadership, and occasionally other subjects. I have a passion for leadership, so when a PDF arrives I am always excited to get the author’s take on their particular focus. It helps to stretch my thinking, challenge and refashion my perspectives and provides an avenue for me to share that with a wider audience. I also get some cool resources for promoting the books, which helps broaden the focus of my own social media activity and an ever-growing knowledge base that I might otherwise not have invested in.

If someone asked you why they should join, what would you tell them?

Why is simple – If you are keen to serve others to better develop our wisdom about the world of leadership, join now. Do it now! [U.S. | International] Leaders take action and this is one action you must take. If they need anything else, and they are interested in extending their personal connections with some of the leading characters in our field, this is definitely one way to do it! S. Chris Edmonds, Frank Sonnenberg, Ted Coiné, and Mark Babbitt are some that I am now closely connected with as a result of promoting their books.

Tell me about your work/family/life/hobbies…

I am passionate about developing people and enabling individuals, teams and organisations make transformational change. However, the real loves of my life are my soul mate and wife,  Lesley, and our son, Jack.  They are my first priority. We all share a huge passion for travelling. Les and I are heading to Bali in March and we are so looking forward to it!

In between helping people with transformational change, I write, I coach, I curate stuff, and I volunteer as chair of a voluntary youth charity. I will be bringing out a new blog in 2016, as I rebrand my business, and am currently writing my second book, which is focused on leaders and curiosity, building on nearly 40 years working with people in various settings.

My hobbies include travel, gardening, reading, meditation and keeping fit.

Connect with John Online

Twitter: @JohnThurlbeck

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.thurlbeck

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnthurlbeck

Book Website: http://www.energizeyourleadership.net/

7 Things To Keep In Mind As You Get Started On Periscope

Periscope is Twitter’s live broadcasting tool, and it’s fast becoming the place to be to grow and develop your online brand. Large companies like Nestle, Tide, Fiat, and Taco Bell were quick to use Periscope for customer service, tutorials, Q&A sessions, and marketing campaigns.

Leadership and self-help experts like Michael Hyatt and Chalene Johnson, as well as celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon, are leveraging this tool to reach their fans directly and further develop their personal brands. It could be a great resource for your personal brand, too.

Here are 7 things to keep in mind as you get started on Periscope:

There are 10 million+ users. That’s how many people started using the app in just the first 4 months. They watch around 21 million minutes of content each day, in 25 different countries. That’s a big audience you could reach. Periscope is also now viewable on Apple TV. Pretty cool, huh?
Create your profile today. Periscope is still in its early days, so jumping on now means you have a better opportunity to build your profile, get followers, and gain an audience for your streams. Hint: make sure your profile name is your brand’s name or URL.
Dedicate time to a regular stream. Just like with other social media platforms, consistency is key. Michael Hyatt is doing a daily Periscope chat. While you don’t have to commit to a daily broadcast, choosing a regular day and time to stream will go a long way to help build your fan base. Keep in mind that most people view live streams. Video is only available for 24 hours and replays only account for 10-20% of viewership.
Create content that adds value to people’s lives. Yes, you can just show us what you’re having for lunch — but you won’t keep many viewers. Create content that’s interesting and delivers value. Consider live Q&A sessions, webinars, tutorials, streams of your live speaking engagements, and mini-trainings. Your only limit is your imagination. Think of what a powerful tool this could be for launching a book! You could conduct weekly book club readings and discussions. Readers would be thrilled to spend a few minutes each week discussing a book with its author and getting a deeper understanding.
Respond and interact in real-time. One of the beautiful, and very helpful, functions of Periscope is that you can immediately interact with people. This is not a space for you to pontificate from on high. Take time to connect, respond, and really develop relationships.
You’re not making videos, you are sharing your world. I’ve heard some people say that they aren’t good at making videos, so they don’t think Periscope will work for them. Periscope is about giving fans access to you, your life, your thoughts, your time, your attention. You don’t need any video skills. This is a purely point and shoot kind of thing. Just make sure the lighting is good. Your audience wants to see you. You can also use a tripod for your phone to make it easier as you’re talking, or enlist a friend to shoot for you during your live streams. Think of it as a window into your world… not the documentary of your life.
Experiment, evaluate, and reassess. Social media is about finding the outlet that best connects you with your unique audience. You don’t have to use very platform or every tool, but it is worth trying them out to see what fits. I suggest taking 4-6 weeks to experiment with a weekly or daily Periscope stream. At the end of that run, take a look at the numbers, evaluate what you’ve learned, and then determine if it’s the channel for you.

The future of social media is constantly evolving and changing. Periscope is the latest iteration, and it’s demonstrating some real power to bring people together.

Will you give Periscope a try?

 

Image credit:

Featured on Friday: Holiday Gift Ideas

Mysterious boxes have been showing up on my doorstep for the last month, which have now turned into beautifully wrapped presents peeking out from under our tree. I love the holidays! It probably has something to do with being born in December – both a blessing and a trial – but also with the fact that I love everything about the season.

First and foremost, I love the personal reason I celebrate (my faith), but I also love the sights and sounds, the baked goods, and the challenge of finding the “perfect” gift for every person on my list. Of the seven people in my immediate family (not counting in-laws and grandkids), it’s a pretty safe assumption that a book will be a gift appreciated by most of us – we are a family of readers.

If you have any last-minute gifts on your list, get a pen or have your credit card ready to click through these links and finish your shopping this weekend! Any one of the 20 books that we launched in 2015 would be perfect for a co-worker, entrepreneur friend, or that “reader” in your family. Want to give an extra “gift” to the authors? If you’ve read any of these books but have yet to leave a review, type up something while you’re buying a book for a friend and spread some extra joy this holiday season!

The Weaving Influence 20 in 2015

Refire! Don’t Retire by Ken Blanchard & Morton Shaevitz (also available in large print)

The Hidden Leader by Scott Edinger & Laurie Sain


Sprinkles by Chip Bell (side note: I was very excited over his latest newsletter!)

Flying Without a Helicopter by Joanie Connell (great for any parents on your list)

Talent Mindset by Stacy Feiner (FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited, if you want to read it too)


Dare to Serve by Cheryl Bachelder

The Politics of Promotion by Bonnie Marcus


Chess, Not Checkers by Mark Miller


Wind in Your Sails by David Greer


The New One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson


The Disciplined Leader by John Manning


Wired for Authenticity by Henna Inam


The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute

The Genius of Opposites by Jennifer Kahnweiler (you might recall my earlier post about the opposites on our team)

Unseen Tears by Beau Sides (buying this book supports the work of Global Partners in Life)


Co-Active Leadership by Karen & Henry Kimsey-House


Disrupt Yourself by Whitney Johnson


Collaboration Begins with You by Ken Blanchard, Eunice Parisi-Carew, and Jane Ripley


The New Social Learning by Tony Bingham & Marcia Conner

Mastering Leadership by Bob Anderson and Bill Adams

BONUS:

We did a 1 year bump for Raise Your Voice by Brian Sooy (if you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for FREE!)
Bob Tiede launched his FREE ebook this year, Great Leaders Ask Questions
A non-book related idea: buy shoes for school children in Cambodia and help Linda Freeman support the work of Cambodian Care

Happy Shopping – Happy Reading!

Leading Before I Was Ready

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to be political, and neither do I wish to discuss the political situation. Rather, it is meant to illustrate my personal experience in a national time of danger.

The first time I heard it, I wasn’t sure what it was. The siren echoed throughout all of Jerusalem, but as I stood on the train with my friend, casually chatting about the upcoming week, I assumed it was coming just from our train car—maybe it was a fire, maybe a bomb, it could be anything here in Israel.

Immediately, the train stopped and everyone ran to take shelter in nearby buildings. Still unsure of what was happening (unlike most of the country I had never experienced a war before), my friend and I decided to run the 4 blocks back to our apartment where I knew the participants on the program I was leading must have been as shocked and confused as I was.

When I finally made it inside our building, I heard people talking from what I thought was just a basement, but came to understand was the communal bomb shelter (almost every building has one). After the “all clear” sound came, I finally understood: we were at war, and the siren was an air raid siren. Later, I found out that the rocket actually fell very close to where I lived.

When we all finally gathered in our living room, I quickly realized that although I, like the participants on the program I was leading (a 4-month study/internship program in Jerusalem), was from a quiet and safe place in the USA and had never experienced such direct violence before, I was being looked at to lead.

Immediately the questions come flooding in: “What do we do? Should we go home (in tears)?” And then, phone calls from parents: “Should we bring our daughter back? How can we be sure she will be safe?”

“Don’t worry”, I said with an assuring smile, “we’re perfectly safe where we are.” I followed the news, I organized activities for the girls that would be re-assuring, and I led a prayer session. I learned to be a pillar for those girls, and in turn, they helped ignite within me an inner strength I did not know I possessed.

That was the first time I was really called upon to lead when I was not ready. And I did become more of a leader that summer, because I had no choice. Many of the girls would ask me, “Aren’t you scared? How do you stay so strong?” “Yes, I am scared. I’m not so strong,” I wanted to tell them, but instead I answered, “I just have to be.”

And now, amidst the current wave of violence and terror here in Jerusalem, I find myself once again being forced to lead, albeit from a different perspective. Since that summer of war, I have gotten married and am thinking much more about what this world will be like for the next generation. Suddenly, life is not just about me and my personal safety, but about this new family my husband and I are creating together, and the kind of future we hope to carve out within this crazy and beautiful land.

When relatives call frantically from abroad, I must assure them, “Don’t worry, we’re safe.” When everyone asks me, “Aren’t you scared?” I respond, “I feel the tension, sometimes a bit of anxiety, but I don’t feel fear.” And I have to say—this has become true.

Of course, we take every precaution we can: avoiding many public areas, carrying pepper spray, staying inside, but at the end of the day, we choose not to let fear rule our lives, and in this way I can really see how much being forced into leadership made me more prepared to lead myself, my family, and, G-d willing, a small part of the new generation which I pray will never be forced to find an inner peace amidst so much terror.

Many people wonder why, despite all the instability, we choose to live in such a place. I don’t really want to go into that now (there is a lot to say), but I will say that living within this reality makes me appreciate life so much more—the simple pleasure of being with family and friends, the sound of the rain, everything. It makes me stronger, and clearer about who I am and what is important to me.

It makes me (or forces me to be) a more confident leader in so many ways.

And I am grateful for that.

Featured on Friday: #MasteringLeadership by @leadershipcir

Every Monday morning the Weaving Influence Directors (Becky Robinson, CEO; Amy Driehorst, Director of Client Services; Christy Kirk, Director of Social Strategy; and me, Carrie Koens, Book Launch Director), start our week by checking in with each other about priorities, concerns, and company development work. With one month remaining in 2015 our primary focus is finishing strong this year, and setting plans in place for continued growth in 2016.

When I started working with Becky in 2012, there were six people on the team. By August we were down to four, with Amy bringing us back up to five when she came on board in September. Today we are a mix of contractors and employees, local and remote, all doing our part to weave influence for our clients and develop meaningful community with members of Team Buzz Builder. We’re working on some really exciting new ideas for both audiences in 2016, which fits right in with a standout phrase found in the Introduction to Mastering Leadership:

Leaders set the agenda for the future. 

It’s important to the Directors, as well as the team, to set a strong agenda for the future of Weaving Influence. We believe that the work we do makes a difference; whether it’s by selling books or making new connections or offering meaningful work-from-home opportunities – the future is bright!

If you’re interested in setting the agenda for the future and getting 2016 off to a strong start, then allow me to introduce you to the authors of our final book launch of 2015…

Meet Bob Anderson and Bill Adams

Robert (Bob) J. Anderson is a pioneer in the field of leadership development & research. He is the Founder and Chairman of The Leadership Circle and the Full Circle Group; and creator of The Leadership Circle Profile.

Over the past 35 years, he has dedicated his career to exploring the intersections between leadership and mastery, competence and consciousness, spirituality and business. Bob holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from John Carroll University and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development from Bowling Green State University. He serves as adjunct faculty for the Executive Education Center at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business.

Bob and Kim, his wife of 32 years, make their home near Toledo, Ohio, but enjoy traveling the globe for both work and play with their three adult children.

William (Bill) A. Adams is known for partnering with leaders to unlock breakthrough performance, develop deep leadership capability, and produce transformational business results. He is the CEO of The Leadership Circle and the Full Circle Group; and co-author of several books, including The Whole Systems Approach and The Quest For Quality. His clients range from Fortune 500 corporations to start-ups across multiple industries. He sits on numerous boards in the for-profit, education, and non-profit worlds.

Bill holds a Master’s Degree in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication from the University of Montana. He and his wife live in Utah. The two are most at home in the outdoors, working with youth leadership and spending time with their four children and a growing crew of grandchildren.

Connect with Bob & Bill on Social

If you’re on Facebook, we recommend looking up The Leadership Circle page and giving it a “like,” or follow their business account on Twitter @leadershipcir. You can also connect with both Bob and Bill on LinkedIn.

Discover Mastering Leadership

“Many people talk about the significance of an effective leader but often struggle to describe one… until now. Anderson and Adams offer a simple yet dynamic model that can guide and assist you in understanding what makes great leaders great. This universal model encompasses the skills, capabilities, and principles that stem from real leadership. A transforming and insightful read.“
~ STEPHEN M. R. COVEY, AUTHOR OF NY TIMES BESTSELLER ‘THE SPEED OF TRUST’

Is your leadership a competitive advantage, or is it costing you? How do you know? Are you developing your leadership effectiveness at the pace of change? For most leaders, complexity is outpacing their personal development and today’s escalating global complexity puts it at a premium. Mastering Leadership involves developing the effectiveness of leaders – individually and collectively – and turning that leadership into a competitive advantage.

Next week (November 30 – December 4) is the OFFICIAL LAUNCH of Mastering Leadership, and the best spot to go to learn more about this “masterful” book is their book website: masteringleadershipbook.com. There you can find a free sample chapter (including the quote about leaders setting the agenda), more information about the book (like where to order), and beautiful share graphics and tweets to send out next week in support of the launch.

If you received an early-review copy, or if you’re one of the folks who already purchased it for your Kindle, go ahead and get the promotion started this weekend by leaving your review on Amazon. REMEMBER: Short, sweet, and to the point, or long and detailed – book reviews are one of the best (and easiest) ways to show your support for an author and their work, so head on over to Amazon today!

DID YOU MISS THE WEBINAR? If you missed the free webinar with Bob and Bill earlier this month, watch the recording now!

Want to do more?

Send this tweet now and show your social support!

“Leaders set the agenda for the future.” #MasteringLeadership by @leadershipcir is launching November 30th! http://bit.ly/MLamz {Tweet Now!}

Underneath the Drywall

I have been unable to get the image of this simple wooden beam out of my mind over the past few days.

An acquaintance of mine here in Tallahassee, Stacey, passed away at the age of 46 recently. She had been a true shining light in countless lives. Although I did not know her well, an overwhelming number of people in my social circle were taken to their knees in grief as they said goodbye to their friend.

On her memorial page, one of the pictures that was shared was one of the wooden beams which were part of the structure of her church. She had written a sentiment on that piece of bare wood before it was drywalled over and turned into a “finished” place of worship. Her friends and family found solace in the verse she had chosen, and I am sure they would all confirm that she lived by the verse she chose: Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your path.

This piece of bare wood got me thinking about two other times I have seen someone write on the “raw” construction components of a building.

Once, when my previous employer was transitioning to a new Third Party Administrator, we were taken on a tour of their contact center as it was under construction. One of the workers had written “a sentiment” on a bare piece of wood. My Spanish isn’t that good, so I asked our tour guide what it said. She said, “You don’t want to know.” I’m thinking the message wasn’t “may this business serve every child of Florida as if they were our own sons and daughters.” Probably something more profane than profound!

About ten years ago, when my church was constructing a new sanctuary, we were invited to come to the unfinished church and write on the bare wood underpinnings as a perpetual message and a way to bless the future of the congregation. My son was very small; I am pretty sure his contribution was a line drawing at best or perhaps a scribble. I don’t remember exactly what I wrote, but I attempted to prayerfully convey my hopes and dreams for the future of this parish as it tried to fulfill its mission.

All of us have some type of “raw wood” at the core of who we are. We cover it up with fashion and makeup. We embellish the things we say with attempts to fit in, to appear to be more than we are, to impress and persuade.

As I read people’s comments about Stacey, my acquaintance, I read example after example of how she encouraged, empathized, and motivated others to be the best selves they could be. I thought about how many times in this state capital town I have dealt with people who have completely lost sight of who they are at their core, who make personal choices which hurt those they love as they give in to stress, a hunger for power, and confusion about what really matters.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself mindful that so much of our lives are covered up with window dressing and exaggeration. And I ask myself if the words on the “raw wood” of who I am shine through in what I write, the words I say, and the way I interact with others.

What would you write on your “raw wood?” It’s never too late to strip away the superficial and inscribe a new message.

 

Featured on Friday: Linda Freeman @iamthrivingorg

Note: If you’re looking for an “out of the box” holiday gift idea – KEEP READING!

This is a much longer-than-usual post, but I ask that you hang in there with me because it’s so important and offers opportunities to get involved, give generously, and be inspired this holiday season. Thanks! ~ Carrie

In the autumn of 2012, Linda Freeman entered my life as my next book launch client… and never left! Once a month I have the opportunity to speak with Linda on the phone – allegedly to talk about our work for her and recommend best social practices, but in actuality, to hear about her work in Florida and Cambodia. I leave every phone call energized and inspired.

Her passion for the work in Cambodia, her determination in making a difference for the children of incarcerated parents, and her love for her own family bring a smile to my face and encouragement to my heart. Linda is a woman on a mission.

Last month I used our time to interview her about the work going on in Cambodia. What follows are just highlights – mere snippets – of everything we discussed over 45 minutes, but include an amazing opportunity for YOU to get involved! Keep reading!

Cambodian Care and Light of Future Schools

Last year Cambodian Care was started by the former executive director of Teen Challenge Cambodia, Koy Chhim, and his wife, Reny. After receiving their Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status (non-profit for those of us in the U.S.) from the Cambodian government, they set right to work starting the first Light of Future School in the capital city of Phnom Penh.

Since then, Cambodian Care has started two additional schools, with 512 children enrolled and actively participating! The next goal is to make sure they meet the standards of government run schools in order to gain government accreditation. Linda shared with me that those in Cambodia see spiritual growth as a part of life, not to be separated from learning and other experiences. Because of this belief, Light of Future Schools is able to incorporate spiritual growth (from a Christian perspective) into the curriculum and overall educational process.

The Town with No Name

In 1971, Snoul was taken over by the Communists during the Vietnam war; but in 2015, Snoul became the “hub” for Linda and her team, driving out each day to a small village that sits approximately 5 hours from Phnom Penh, and 15 minutes from the Vietnam border. Because of their proximity to Vietnam, the trade language is actually a mix of Vietnamese and Khmer – the local dialect, which provided a challenge to the team’s Cambodian translators.

When the village leaders found out about the work of Cambodian Care, they reached out to Koy and asked for a school, informing him that the villagers had already agreed to give a piece of land for the building.  This open invitation is how Linda and her team from Florida found themselves bouncing down a road to the Kratie Province this past August, ready to meet the villagers who couldn’t read or write, but knew they wanted to learn.

Welcomed by one and all, Linda and her team focused on hosting a medical clinic during their days in the village (which ties in to the unique Christmas gift opportunity – just keep reading!). The stories from their time there could fill a blog, and Linda has written some incredible posts about their experiences, including When More Happens, What Love Will Do, and Great Things Start Small – you should read them all! 

Education: One Answer to the Sex Trafficking Issue

Cambodia is, sadly, well known for sex trafficking. On a previous trip, Linda and her team worked with She Rescue Home (SRH), founded by Australian sisters, Leigh and Hillary. SRH opens their doors to receive girls who have been referred by a government agency, often as a result of being rescued during a sting operation. Hosting around 30 girls at a time, the staff work with them for up to 18 months, offering counseling, trauma therapy, medical care, and education, and employ social workers to find an alternative placement if going home is not an option. For those who do return home, the SRH team works with the families, finding ways for them to create self-sustaining income opportunities rather than selling their daughters to the sex trafficking world.

GIFT IDEA #1: If you’re looking for a great cause to donate to this holiday season, the work at She Rescue Home doesn’t come cheap – they have staff and social workers, and cover the girls (often extensive) medical care – so consider making a donation this year.

However, before the girls arrive at SRH the sex traffickers first have to find them. In many cases they head out to the country, to towns like Snuol, and villages with little to no literacy or income potential, offering “opportunities” for parents to make money and girls to leave the village. Once they are sold, the traffickers take them back to the capital (hours from home), with no way for the girl (often a young child) to communicate with her family, or even know where she is living or what’s expected of her.

Enter education! By locating schools in these rural villages, both the current generation (and their parents) and future generations can gain the education they need to become self-sustaining through literacy and job development. When the traffickers deceitfully offer educational “opportunities” and access to “health care,” the villagers can say, “We don’t need to send our daughters to the big city for that, we have a school and access to health care right here!” Providing for their educational needs and supporting self-sustaining families through economic growth are great tools in the fight against sex trafficking.

Linda’s desire is to be involved in the Light of Future School project until the first students graduate from high school 10 years from now. In order to really be sustainable, responsible, and practice good stewardship, Linda is committed to stay connected and, in her words, she’s “in it for the long haul,” desiring to see the difference this can make in the children’s lives.

The 5-Year Shoe (CHRISTMAS GIFT!)

While hosting the medical clinic, Linda and her team noticed a lot of foot injuries and issues. From bad cuts to infections, the team did their best to clean up and patch up, but felt discouraged as they watched the newly cleaned and doctored bare feet head off into the dust. After returning to Phnom Penh, Linda observed the filth (dirt, waste, and bodily fluids) that the Light of Future students walked through each day – barefoot – in order to learn. The wheels started turning, but it wasn’t until she returned home and was talking to her daughter-in-law about it that a solution presented itself.

Meet: “The Shoe That Grows” – footwear specifically designed for children in developing countries where both sanitation and resources to replace outgrown shoes is an issue. The Shoe That Grows is intended to last up to 5 years, or 5 shoe sizes, and comes with it’s own shoe bag for storage at night or when not in use.

August 5-19, 2016, Linda and her team intend to go back to all three schools, once again providing medical care to the feet of the students – but this time, sending each child away with a Shoe That Grows. To fund that, Linda has set a goal to raise enough money to purchase 600 pairs of shoes (allowing for school growth from the current 512 students) before their next trip.

Her daughter-in-law, Daniella, volunteered to use her birthday this week as the fund raising kick-off, requesting donations instead of gifts, and set up a fund raising site for the 600 Shoe Goal. To accommodate our desire to help, Linda and Daniella have agreed to extend their campaign through December 31st – so if you EVER wanted to justify buying a pair of shoes, NOW IS THE TIME!

GIFT IDEA #2 Donate Today!

Another easy way to help with this is to vote (by “liking” it) for #MyGivingStory about The Shoe That Grows on Facebook. With enough votes, Linda could win up to $5K to put shoes on these kids feet! VOTE NOW!

The End.

If you’ve hung in with me this long, I appreciate it. I know it’s not because of my writing, but because of the amazingly exciting work that Linda is generously allowing us to be a part of. Although the world often feels like it’s going crazy with attacks in Paris, bombings in Lebanon and Nigeria, and a slew of shootings in the U.S., it’s hope-inducing to read about the work of people like Linda and Koy, and to see the positive impact being made on future generations in Cambodia.

Support She Rescue Home. Give shoes to everyone on your Christmas list without filling their closets. Or (GIFT IDEA #3) buy a copy of Linda’s book, Inspired for Greater Things – all book sale proceeds are donated directly to Cambodian Care.

Happy Thanksgiving!