I received an email from Rachel Snyder after I sent her an email regarding campaign and political posts on her blog. She was nothing but positive and respectful in return. It confirmed to me that for true leaders, even if we disagree we can do so with grace, compassion and respect.
I encourage all to read through Rachel's blog and certainly to post.
~stacy
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Less About Rain and More About Attitude
"some people walk in the rain...
others just get wet..."
-Roger Miller
others just get wet..."
-Roger Miller
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Appreciate by Rachel Snyder
Every day of the year (not just as Thanksgiving!), appreciate everything you've been given-especially the chance to be a mother. consider yourself lucky, even during those times when baby is cranky and none of your clothes seem to fit.
Slow down for a second and appreciate a moment of silence. Be grateful for the stillness. Appreciate just how blessed you truly are--that you have friends and family you can count on, that your home is warm and your child is loved.
Appreciate the people who make your life a bit easier: your baby's day care provider, your pediatrician, kind strangers who hold open doors for you while you struggle to maneuver your little one's stroller. Find a way to show your thanks, even if it's as simple as a word.
Rachel Snyder lives in boulder, Colorado, and is the author of 365 Words of Well-Being for Women (Contemporary Books, 1997).
This was found in American Baby - November 98 edition.
Slow down for a second and appreciate a moment of silence. Be grateful for the stillness. Appreciate just how blessed you truly are--that you have friends and family you can count on, that your home is warm and your child is loved.
Appreciate the people who make your life a bit easier: your baby's day care provider, your pediatrician, kind strangers who hold open doors for you while you struggle to maneuver your little one's stroller. Find a way to show your thanks, even if it's as simple as a word.
Rachel Snyder lives in boulder, Colorado, and is the author of 365 Words of Well-Being for Women (Contemporary Books, 1997).
This was found in American Baby - November 98 edition.
Appreciate.
“Every day of the year (not just at thanksgiving) appreciate everything you have been given,” says Rachel snyder. She goes on, “slow down for a second and appreciate a moment of silence. Be grateful for the stillness. Appreciate just how blessed you truly are.”
Come on Rachel, aren’t there times when the complexity of life overwhelms your basic sense of appreciation?
just the other day my son approached me with the kitchen magnet in hand and asked if “it was THIS kind of day”. Note: the magnet reads “I try to take one day at a time, but lately several days have attacked me at once.” I appreciated the interruption, the laugh we shared and the big hug and kiss before he left.
But, that is not always how this Gemini reacts. My sister sent me an email about a videogame programmer named Matt. When I first received the email, I resented the interruption. “Another thing to do,“ said my overburdened mind. But, I watched it. I watched it to understand why she had sent it. Matt didn’t like his job, so he quit and decided to travel. A travel buddy encouraged him to videotape himself doing this funky dance during their journeys. The video was placed on a website to keep family informed of his travel. Somehow Stride Gum found him and the rest is history. Matt now travels the world introducing the world to his dance. My lesson? Appreciate the sentiments sent my way. Appreciate the unique dance I bring to the world.
When I think “appreciate”, two children books come to mind: the velveteen rabbit and Alexander and the Wind Up Mouse. In the first example, the rabbit didn’t know that being worn = loved = real and in the second example the mouse didn’t know true friendship until he thought he had lost one. The common theme in both is loss. Loss = a realization of what was before them all along and regret for not appreciating it when they had it.
I do not want to be a could have, should have, would have kind of person. I want character building opportunities. The ones that others see as obstacles or challenges. I want the people I meet and choose to call friend to always know the authentic me. I want to live a life with my family that isn’t dependent on words, because my actions say it all. My struggle is getting the “I want” into the actionable “I will.”
But back to the Rachel Snyder question. Does she have days? I bet so, I bet many, but I also bet her attitude and approach get her by. My wish for you is this: that you enter today appreciating you are a better person then yesterday, appreciating the treasures that surround you and celebrating the unique dance you bring to the world.
-Stacy
Velveteen Rabbit can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_m054tLKvs
Come on Rachel, aren’t there times when the complexity of life overwhelms your basic sense of appreciation?
just the other day my son approached me with the kitchen magnet in hand and asked if “it was THIS kind of day”. Note: the magnet reads “I try to take one day at a time, but lately several days have attacked me at once.” I appreciated the interruption, the laugh we shared and the big hug and kiss before he left.
But, that is not always how this Gemini reacts. My sister sent me an email about a videogame programmer named Matt. When I first received the email, I resented the interruption. “Another thing to do,“ said my overburdened mind. But, I watched it. I watched it to understand why she had sent it. Matt didn’t like his job, so he quit and decided to travel. A travel buddy encouraged him to videotape himself doing this funky dance during their journeys. The video was placed on a website to keep family informed of his travel. Somehow Stride Gum found him and the rest is history. Matt now travels the world introducing the world to his dance. My lesson? Appreciate the sentiments sent my way. Appreciate the unique dance I bring to the world.
When I think “appreciate”, two children books come to mind: the velveteen rabbit and Alexander and the Wind Up Mouse. In the first example, the rabbit didn’t know that being worn = loved = real and in the second example the mouse didn’t know true friendship until he thought he had lost one. The common theme in both is loss. Loss = a realization of what was before them all along and regret for not appreciating it when they had it.
I do not want to be a could have, should have, would have kind of person. I want character building opportunities. The ones that others see as obstacles or challenges. I want the people I meet and choose to call friend to always know the authentic me. I want to live a life with my family that isn’t dependent on words, because my actions say it all. My struggle is getting the “I want” into the actionable “I will.”
But back to the Rachel Snyder question. Does she have days? I bet so, I bet many, but I also bet her attitude and approach get her by. My wish for you is this: that you enter today appreciating you are a better person then yesterday, appreciating the treasures that surround you and celebrating the unique dance you bring to the world.
-Stacy
Velveteen Rabbit can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_m054tLKvs
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Leave a Legacy
Developing outstanding leaders is fundamental to any company's success. Strong leaders have a positive, profound, and measurable influence on retention, but more important inspiring commitment through demonstration of leadership in action.
From Leadership Challenge we are reminded that there are five practices of exemplary leadership™:
1. Model the Way
Do you set an example through your actions? Do you attempt to unravel bureaucracy or create it? Do you create opportunities for victory not just for yourself, but the team that you lead?
2. Inspire a Shared Vision—
Do you passionately believe you can make a difference?
3. Challenge the Process—
Do you search for opportunities to change the status quo?
Enable Others to Act
Do you foster collaboration even with dissenters and build spirited teams? Do you create an environment of mutual respect where trust, authenticity and dignity are the most important tenets?
5. Encourage the Heart
Accomplishing the extraordinary is hard. Do you keep determination alive by rewarding team members for their efforts? Do you celebrate accomplishments even the small ones?
Some of you may remember the story that my mom would tell me of the mighty oak tree. It is a story about leaving a leadership legacy, not about mass acorn production. It is about the added steps in helping others take root, find their path, to enable discovery of their own unique power. Helping those who choose to work with you find something that matters, something to care about at work or a place where they can excel, that is the leadership challenge. Whether or not you leave a legacy depends on if you have succeeded at becoming an extraordinary leader.
To help leaders develop their full potential and leave a leadership legacy, my compnay is committed to using Extraordinary Leader (Zenger Folkman) as their leadership model.
I share this book with each of you as the next step of your leadership journey. If you were measured by your actions today, what leadership legacy would you leave?
- Stacy
From Leadership Challenge we are reminded that there are five practices of exemplary leadership™:
1. Model the Way
Do you set an example through your actions? Do you attempt to unravel bureaucracy or create it? Do you create opportunities for victory not just for yourself, but the team that you lead?
2. Inspire a Shared Vision—
Do you passionately believe you can make a difference?
3. Challenge the Process—
Do you search for opportunities to change the status quo?
Enable Others to Act
Do you foster collaboration even with dissenters and build spirited teams? Do you create an environment of mutual respect where trust, authenticity and dignity are the most important tenets?
5. Encourage the Heart
Accomplishing the extraordinary is hard. Do you keep determination alive by rewarding team members for their efforts? Do you celebrate accomplishments even the small ones?
Some of you may remember the story that my mom would tell me of the mighty oak tree. It is a story about leaving a leadership legacy, not about mass acorn production. It is about the added steps in helping others take root, find their path, to enable discovery of their own unique power. Helping those who choose to work with you find something that matters, something to care about at work or a place where they can excel, that is the leadership challenge. Whether or not you leave a legacy depends on if you have succeeded at becoming an extraordinary leader.
To help leaders develop their full potential and leave a leadership legacy, my compnay is committed to using Extraordinary Leader (Zenger Folkman) as their leadership model.
I share this book with each of you as the next step of your leadership journey. If you were measured by your actions today, what leadership legacy would you leave?
- Stacy
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