To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Grit

Bold thinking

blog_732335_2801591_1446515295WE ARE CALLED TO BE BOLD.

We are called to make the most of our life. Our gifts. Our passions. To change the world we live in for the better. Being bold requires bold thinking. 

Bold thinking is different than our everyday thinking because it makes us anxious. It moves us out of our comfort zone and makes our heart race. Most of the time, when we begin to think boldly, we back away quickly due to these uncomfortable feelings.

I propose that we come up with a game plan to push through the adrenaline and into the realm of what is possible.

A “thinking” mindset is where we find inspiration. Getting this “flow” of thoughts generally needs to be intentional. We can literally go months and maybe years without getting into this mode if we don’t set up a plan.

blog_732335_2801592_1446515295Rock climbing/hiking is a great place to push yourself and get into that “thinking” mindset. Over the weekend I got to do a little hike through Red Rock Canyon, and although it was only a couple of hours, the very act of exerting myself a bit and getting out of my routine refreshed my mind and set me on a path to do some thinking.

Honestly, I need to be out there for a few days to get where I want and need to go mentally, but the point is it doesn’t take much to get you into this place where you can actually think. I mean really think. Almost everywhere you look there are beautiful parts of our cities, our homes, to help get us into this “thinking” mindset.

I have a friend that does a personal retreat about once every two months. It’s a Saturday morning at a local park, but I admire her a ton for this.  I need to take her lead and follow suit…

I don’t know about you, but I have so much I want to do to honor the people and places God has put in my path at home, work and in my community…To do that I want to be BOLD in my thinking so that I can act BIG! I hope you’ll join me! 

 

The brilliance of courage

blog_731142_2798643_1446129417Courage is always brilliant.

Courage is stepping into a board room prepared to give a killer presentation. Courage is going into an interview for a job you desperately need. Courage is signing for your first big purchase… and second…and third. Courage is bringing your first child home from the hospital. Courage is rising to the occasion to help someone in need. Courage is facing a tough loss and making something better out of the situation! Courage is taking the long road to leave your home and cross borders to achieve your goal. Courage is seeing the good in bad situations with great faith.

Courage is:

Mindy Corporen: My dear friend who has faced incredible loss and instead of hiding, is the very definition of “rising.” Creating an organization, “faith wins” to focus on the good versus evil in this world. And in the midst, galvanizing thousands to do the same in their personal situations.

Alli Pflueger: My colleague and friend who is a young professional, and a newlywed. Facing a new chapter with a rising career, new family and a passion to help others.

YOU: All of us display courage on a daily basis through our everyday choices and actions. We step in and step up and we change lives for those around us.

Go be BRILLIANT!

Fueled by good decisions

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A little history lesson:  John Deere was born in Vermont in 1804. His father died at sea, and he was raised by a single mother who had a meager income. John, at a young age, made some decisions, which resulted in his great success. As you may know, John Deere is the namesake of the global company that provides us with world-class machinery that started with farming equipment and has expanded over time. As Ralph Waldo Emerson says so well, sometimes, the universe conspires to help us be greatly successful once those decisions are made!
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of my favorite concepts I have learned over the past few years is this idea of making “pre-decisions.” At first it was a parenting application, sharing with my boys that when sticking with their values, the first step is making a “pre-decision.”  If you make a commitment to yourself to do or not do something important, well then, that is likely to be exactly what happens.

The thought then came into the area of health and fitness. Making a “pre-decision” at the beginning of each year to complete the “Daniel-Fast” for 21 days, was the catalyst for me getting on the right road to health!

After some reflection, I realized my whole life I have been making these personal agreements or decisions on how I wanted my life to look at the end of my “run,” so to speak. Decisions to pick the right friends, to make a difference, to encourage others daily, to be a person of excellence and lead well in my career. Somehow, giving it an actual term helped frame it and helps me to share those thoughts with my boys and others.

The application of the idea of making a “pre-decision” is well laid out once you look at the few key steps to John Deere’s success. I always believe that looking at historically great people who have impacted our world is a good idea when the topic is ‘how to be the best I can.’

Here are a few decisions Mr. Deere made:

  • He decided to go out boldly and leave home, leaving his family so he could help provide and learn his skill.
  • He decided to actually create what he thought just might work, to make his job easier (note that this is no different than what it is today, he simply decided to be fearless.)
  • He decided that to do this in the best way, he needed to partner with others who could help him move forward.
  • He decided after his company was well-oiled, to get engaged in the community. He held several leadership roles in his hometown, including mayor.

What decision do you need to make today? Where are you on life’s path? Time to dive into the community where you can help others or make a child laugh? Is it time to go after that new role at work that you have been teetering about for months?

Step in and make a decision today! I’m cheering for you and the whole world will conspire for your success. I believe that!

Three reasons to celebrate at work

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I love hosting a version of this team-building exercise at work. It is a great example of celebrating others.

You simply take a large flip chart pad and put everyone’s names on them, post across the room, and then others go around with fun colored markers and write down the positive they see in their fellow team member. It is nothing but positive and it accomplishes so much! Both the writer and the receiver feel GREAT in the end!

Today, we will wrap up the series on celebrations. I feel there is so much left on the table with this topic, so I’m glad New Year’s is a mere three months away, as I’ll surely hit it again!

Here are three really good reasons you should plan a celebration today  (by the way, the reasons to celebrate are true in virtually any setting):

CELEBRATIONS… 

  1. CREATE MOMENTUM! One of my favorite life experiences so far was attending the speed skating event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. It was a scene of ongoing celebration. What I learned was that for the Netherlands, speed skating is their national sport, much like baseball or football in America. I loved the sea of orange representing their national colors and the celebration that ensued at every play.  The celebration and cheers created momentum and ultimately helped them no doubt to achieve a medal on that winter day! When taking time to celebrate others we are in essence “cheering” them on to their next victory. We all need more victories!
  2. YOUR CULTURE DEPENDS ON IT! The Ancient Greeks initiated the Olympics in great part to promote peace during wartime. It was a chance to pause and allow disparate agendas to come together. The culture of our nations are notably more positive during these international games! I think a terrific example of planned celebrations. An old leadership adage (also applicable to parenting and friendship) is “What we focus on expands.” If we focus on creating an environment where we celebrate each other we are focusing on something we all want to expand and be a part of:generating positive energy, and thus, a positive culture. 
  3. MAKES US ALL BETTER! “A rising tide rises all boats.” We have all heard this and it’s one to always remember. This one is short, because of how obvious it is: we must be the ones that ‘raise’ the tide. Celebrations are one way to do this!

Have a strong wrap to your week and I hope many celebrations have ensued so far! I’d love to hear how you have celebrated, both small and large!

Celebrations change our perspective

blog_722549_2785436_1443487062As promised, we are sticking with the theme of celebration. Why take the time? Here are some thoughts to get your mind focused:

  1. Celebrations allow us to call out the positive in life. God knows we have enough daily challenges or nuisances to drag us down,but only if we let them!
  2. Celebrations ensure we are focusing on others! This is a pretty simple known fact. Taking the focus off of ourselves is a key to happiness.
  3. Our lives are short and it’s a shame to simply let the days go by without cherishing the wins and those we care about! Enough said.

Here are some simple ideas of who to celebrate to get your thinking started…

  • That co-worker who cracks you up or simply brightens your days: You know who you are Coretta Paige and Darci Evans, really, could you be more genuinely kind? LOVE THAT!
  • Your college roommate that you haven’t seen in 20 years and you think of them weekly: Debbie Briggs, you were the best!
  • That teacher who you can’t believe puts in the hours and passion and makes our next generation have the opportunity to THRIVE: Rebekka Wampler, you are unbelievable.
  • Your best friend’s half birthday: Lisa, yours isn’t until December, but I celebrate you everyday!  What an honor to be your sister. 
  • A friend’s child that you have developed a bond with over the years: Connor Luchtefeld, I am coming at you this week to celebrate what a terrific young man you are becoming!

I hope this post gets you thinking. I am thankful for all of my readers and I toast to each of you! Have an awesome week!

WORLD CHANGING PRAYER

blog_717887_2776636_1441767722I love Sundays!  They are a day of rest and recreation, and a day to REFLECT.

I have heard some version of this quote several times in this past year.  Often it ends with the thought, “Would the world look any different, or just yours?”  POW!  That hurts….At times, we are all selfish, praying for arriving safely and having a good week at work.  Because this little “thought”  keeps finding it’s way into my newsfeed, on to my facebook… I believe it is trying to find a place INTO MY HEART.

PRAYER is POWERFUL.  There are stories that blow my mind about PRAYER and honestly, I need to THINK BIGGER, BELIEVE FOR GREATER,  ENLARGE MY DREAMS…

Today I am REFLECTING on this thought-  I would love a world where everyone is fed, safe, rescued, restored, lifted up, believed in, THRIVING, JOYFUL… I NEED TO PRAY BIGGER PRAYERS….  How about you?

I found my “MOJO” and 12 Tips to finding yours

blog_717879_2776633_1441768333So the story goes, that I was golfing with my son the week before he left for Michigan State! Go SPARTANS!  (Find them on College Game Day on ESPN this Saturday!)  I don’t play much, but anything to spend a few quality hours with the young man that I love before he left the “nest” so to speak.  You could say that I had “sliced” it right, “sliced” it left, and sliced it right into any water source on the course.  A good day for ball retrievers, a bad day for me-  That is, until I found my “MOJO”– The ball above of course.

Actually, I did find the ball that now sits on my desk, as a reminder of that special day with Sam, but my game didn’t improve sadly.  The good news is that “MOJO” is real and you can find yours if it’s lost, and heck, if you haven’t lost it, you can go out and get your “MOJO”!  Below, I have highlighted 12 tips that the Huffington Post drew from Marshall Goldsmith’s now famous book of the same title, “MOJO”, which was a New York Times best seller in 2010.    Some great insights here from a true thought leader.  (I especially like the “NOJO” which are also found below…#3, 7, 9 and 10 are my favs!)  What’s yours?

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Definition of MOJO: “the moment when you do something that’s purposeful, powerful, and positive and the rest of the world recognizes it” – 
MOJO TIP #1: Take responsibility
Take total accountability for your success. The buck rests with you, no one else.
NOJO (No Mojo!): Playing the victim

MOJO TIP #2: Move forward
Ideate next steps and complete them.
NOJO: March in place

MOHO TIP #3: Run the extra mile
Do more than is required, not less.
NOJO: Satisfied with the bare minimum

MOJO TIP #4: Love doing it 
Do work that you are passionate about!
NOJO: Feel obligated to do it

MOJO TIP #5: Appreciate opportunities
Express enthusiasm for the work.
NOJO: Tolerate requirements

MOJO TIP #6: Make the best of it
Do everything you can to make every day a success.
NOJO: Endure it

MOJO TIP #7: Be inspirational
Example positive behavior 24/7.
NOJO: Painful to be around

MOJO TIP #8: Be grateful
Express your gratitude that you get to do what you do.
NOJO: Feel resentful

MOJO TIP #9: Be curious
Find new things that interest you weekly.
NOJO: Uninterested

MOJO TIP #10: Be caring
Everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect. Lead the charge.
NOJO: Be indifferent

MOJO TIP#11: Have Zest for life
Live fully!
NOJO: Zombie-like existence

MOJO TIP#12: Be awake!
Look for opportunity every where!
NOJO: Be asleep

Never Be The Last Person To Leave A Party

blog_715800_2772572_1441075586Living a LIFE OF EXCELLENCE starts out with simple advice sometimes!  On Friday, the Kansas CIty Business Journal hosted their annual Women Who Mean Business luncheon which honors the latest group of Kansas City’s female business executives, named as the top 25 women in business (for profit businesses only) in Kansas City.

During the event, each honoree offers the audience their best advice.  This one was a UNIVERSAL FAVORITE!  Unfortunately, I didn’t capture her name, but trust me, I’ll track her down, because there’s not much better than a smart, well accomplished leader, with a sense of humor!!

No matter if you are talking to a 13 year old going to their first birthday party sans mom and dad, or you are a corporate executive, this stands as SOLID ADVICE.

Here’s why:

  1. As “mom” always said, “Nothing good ever happens after dark….” (Or past midnight…. you get the point.)  As I always remind my friends and colleagues, “I go to bed after Lawrence Welk.”
  2. It’s always a good idea to HAVE FUN but not TOO MUCH FUN!
  3. If you are the last person to leave the party, you may end up with a bad tattoo!  Think dolphins swimming in different directions, an ‘ode to how much you love Kale, or a photo replica of your favorite president.

Two take aways:

  1. Seriously, a life of excellence is forged by creating GOOD HABITS that mirror your values and bring honor to your life goals.
  2. By all means, HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!  Life is simply too crazy not to stop and laugh!  This gal knew how to bring a laugh to the entire room! I loved that and so did everyone else!

Have a blessed day and thanks again so much for reading!

Beautiful Chaos! Part 3

blog_712171_2766195_1439864114For those of you following this closely, THANK YOU for sticking with me!  Sunday’s are designed to be focused on the spiritual side of living a LIFE OF EXCELLENCE. I don’t know about you, but my story of “beautiful chaos” always (and I do mean always) ends up with God being square in the center.  Even though I am 47 years old, I feel like I am being constantly reminded to “be still and listen”- I have never been good at quieting my soul. Can anyone identify with that?

I know in my soul that God is leading and I am simply a character He is using to help elevate and improve our world.  I know that by enduring some tough situations, He refines me and I am better able to be the person I am designed to be.  To be a better listener, more empathetic, a better friend, and more equipped.  They say He uses our tests to create our testimony. That’s proven true.  It is much easier to walk through a situation with someone who has been there before!

As we wrap up the week, I hope this small message will remind you that no matter how messy and chaotic our lives can be, He is still there, speaking to us and creating beauty in the most unexpected ways. He chooses us and you my friend are QUITE BEAUTIFUL!

Praying for you and yours to have an amazing week!

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Beautiful Chaos! Part 2 Epic Beauty

blog_712164_2766191_1439863370(On Thursday’s of each week, I am focused on general LIFE EXCELLENCE!  I like this photo because it is screaming “MAKE IT EPIC…”  The key word MAKE IT… We always have that choice!)

The theme this week, “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” is all about finding the beauty in our hectic lives. Beauty literally surrounds us.

Even when I look back at the hardest times of my life, I can see that beauty was very much present.  When I was a child, I had a pretty rough up bringing, but I remember my sister and I launching each other from bed to bed and even her and her friends tossing me off of the apartment balcony wrapped in an army blanket. (She denies that still by the way- Funny how our minds can displace that of which we know we would have gotten in big trouble for!  HA HA).

I remember going to A&W Root Beer on Tuesday nights for what I think were 50 cent chili dogs and root beer in cold mugs. I remember laying in the back window of our old maverick, and sitting on the wheel wells of my grandpa’s pick up truck sailing down the highway. (As a side note, I think all of that is illegal now, by the way.)

Whatever life brings you, we always have the option to CHOOSE to look for the good.

The most impressive example I have shared below, and it is downright life changing…seriously. The video is a short 1 minute, 22 second featuring Holocaust Survivor, Alice Herz-Sommer, who when the video was done was a young 109 years old.   WORTH YOUR TIME! “I SEE THE BEAUTY EVERYWHERE.”  THANKS ALICE.

Have a great wrap to your week and remember that despite it’s chaos, you can indeed find EPIC BEAUTYall around you!