by LT | Nov 30, 2021 | Attitude, Business, Enthusiasm, Goals, Gratitude, Leadership, Podcast
“My idea of Christmas whether old fashioned or modern is very simple: loving others ”. Bob Hope
“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” Mark Twain
Ah, one holiday down one to go. Or two if you’re already looking ahead to New Years. I hope that you had a wonderful holiday and that you’re not beating yourself up over the extra calories consumed while making those wonderful memories. Speaking of those extra calories, I believe we added two new traditions at our household. One is Panettone French toast. Oh, so decadent and delicious. Using Panettone bread for your base takes traditional French toast to a whole new level. And the second is pumpkin gnocchi. We found a recipe online by who else than the great Emeril Lagasse and it is a keeper. Emeril would say “if you think big then it’s going to be big”. His pumpkin gnocchi are a big deal at our house. Moving on to Christmas, we must remember to add the merry to our Merry Christmas.
Holiday blues are natural
Holiday is a time of cheer, but if you are like many of us this holiday left us exhausted and maybe with a tinge of the blues. That is natural. The commercialized view of the holidays makes them seem flawless and filled with endless energy and cheer. The reality for most of us returning to work after the holiday today is that we don’t feel refreshed and energized from the long weekend like we feel we should. Rather we feel like we need a holiday from the holiday. Realizing that the season has just begun has perhaps terrified you as much as the scale in your bathroom.
Here is the thing, and therefore why this is being discussed on a leadership podcast. I have said many times before leadership is inspiring others’ actions through our own actions. Speed of the leader; speed of the team. Those that look to us for how they should feel every other time of the year are depending on us now during the holidays. Does that mean you need an S on your chest and superhero powers? Certainly not. But if you find a way to manage your stress and anxiety during this busy time you will help others manage theirs.
Add the Merry to Your Merry Christmas
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by LT | May 4, 2020 | Business, Diet, Gratitude, Leadership, Self Development
Be a leader with Optimism
“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but actually you’ve been planted.” Christine Caine
This week I am adjusting my schedule to what the new norm will be. It’s been nice writing and recording on Monday mornings, but the reality is when the stay at home is lifted I most likely won’t be free Monday mornings. So I encourage you – if you’ve started something new during the pandemic – reading – walking – writing – running whatever it is think about how and when you do it now and how and when you will do it when our lives move into the new normal. You’ve come this far – don’t give it all up because it doesn’t fit into that schedule. Start shifting your schedule now. I sent out a challenge a couple of weeks ago to try and get up 10 minutes earlier every day – that’s a great place to start. Heck – right now – even setting an alarm to get up in the morning may be a great place to start.
Proud parents of an MSU grad
This week was very special for our family. Our daughter Mattie graduated from Michigan State. We couldn’t be prouder. Of course she didn’t get to walk, so my Aunt, who is probably the most positive and optimistic person I know, picked up the ball and ran with it by scheduling a Zoomuation. The power of Zoom is not just for business and education it is a great way to connect. Truly having experienced this yesterday I would choose Zoom over a real graduation any day.
- not sitting for 2 hours just for the 5 seconds they announce your grads name
- with family all over the country we were limited to who could have been able to attend
- with the camera on we were able to focus on each other instead of breaking up into little clicks
And for Mattie instead of competing with thousands of other grads she truly got to be the center of attention. The day was all about her.
This quote makes me think of my Aunt’s actions
“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control instead shift your energy to what you can create.” Roy Bennett
She completely created an amazing event for her niece with her optimism.
Why you should be a leader with optimism (more…)
by LT | Apr 20, 2020 | Business, Gratitude, Leadership, Self Development
Gratitude changes everything.
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. ~Epictetus
Today is April 20th 2020 and this week marks one month of the stay at home order here in Illinois and much of the nation. Fear, angst, anxiety, stress, you name it I’ve felt it just like many of you I felt hopelessness, despair and depression over losing a job that I loved with my whole heart . . .and then . . . I stopped . . . and I thought for a moment about what was really going on.
I was choosing fear over faith and once I had that moment, that moment of discovery that I was in control. That this again was another choice and I could choose to not feel fear, I could choose to let go of anxiety. I could choose to not feel hopeless. I realized what a true blessing this time is. How grateful I should be and when I changed the way I looked at things things changed. Gratitude changes everything.
This is what I now saw
This ah ha moment that I experienced reminds me of what Steve Jobs said (more…)
