A Week of Reflecting, Reading, and Regrouping

December 26, 20231 Comment

One of the joys of the Holiday Season is taking some time to be still. Unlike the rest of the year, the week between Christmas and New Year’s typically runs at a less frenzied pace. For many, these golden few days offer a respite from running out the door for school, work, sports, or meetings.

With the world at our fingertips via our phones, it’s easy to fill the void of activities with meaningless distractions. Now that’s not completely fruitless, but there are some purposeful ways we can use our time to set us in a positive direction for the new year. Here are a few ideas:

Reflecting: Take a moment to write down three of the best things that happened in the past year. It may be a success at work, an addition to the family, or a new friendship or hobby. Next, reflect on what did not go well. Think about habits you want to change or things you want to do differently. Finally, consider three hopes or dreams for the new year.

Reading: Consider areas that intrigue you or grab your interest and find one book on the topic. Begin reading it during these un-rushed days. You may even want to hunt down one book per month to read for 2024. If we want to continually improve each year, we must look for ways we can learn and grow through what we choose to read.

Regrouping: What are some ways to stay more in tune with family and friends in the coming year? Our connections with others are an important part of our satisfaction, joy, and growth. When we make an intentional plan to love, serve, and connect with others we enrich our own lives. Think of a few simple ways you can deepen connections this year.

We all need some time to rejuvenate. I hope this last week of December will offer some quiet moments of reflection, reading, and regrouping so that you can begin the new year on a purposeful path. Most importantly, take time to pray and seek God’s guidance and direction as you set your goals for 2024.

For more ideas on living a life of purpose and connection, check out my latest book Positive Connectivity.

A Hint for Happy Holidays

November 24, 2023Leave a comment

Thanksgiving is an everyday occurrence in my life. I’m not talking about the food (although wouldn’t that be fun?), but I am talking about the focus. Yes, it has become a joyful habit in my life to start each day by giving thanks to God for at least five blessings. Psychologists now confirm that daily gratitude can elevate our level of happiness, and the more specific, the better.

With my first cup of coffee each morning, I journal my thankful reflections over the past twenty-four hours:

Thank you Lord that I happened to see Patricia at the grocery store.

Thank you Lord for my husband cleaning up the dinner dishes.

Thank you Lord for the phone call from my daughter in Philadelphia.

Thank you Lord for extra space in my schedule to catch up on emails (a rarity in my life).

Thank you Lord for the sweet hugs from my grandkids and time to play together.

It does my heart good to think about the daily blessings God brings into my life. It reminds me that He is continually at work, and there is always hope. Even in the rough spots of life, I can thank God for His presence and the life lessons I am learning. On days when it is difficult to see the good, I may need to look a little harder for the glimmers of hope. It’s always there, it just may be more challenging to see.

Aren’t you glad that Thanksgiving comes right before we enter the Holiday season? Sometimes we need an extra dose of thankfulness as we encounter crazy traffic, stressful shopping, and not-so-easy family members. Let’s maintain a heart of thankfulness and a habit of daily gratitude as we walk through this busy yet glorious season.

May our lights shine brightly with hearts full of His joy as we reflect on His many blessings.

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

The Power of a Smile

October 24, 2023Leave a comment

It may seem simplistic, but a confident and sincere smile is an important part of the equation when it comes to communication. A smile speaks a thousand words. It says:

“I’m glad to meet you.”

“You are important.”

“I care about you and am listening to you.”

“I believe in what I am presenting to you.”

“I feel confident about my product.”

A smile welcomes others and makes them feel comfortable and relaxed. It speaks confidence, openness and understanding. Savvy salespeople know that a smile, even when they are talking on the phone, can be perceived by the listener and changes the tone of the conversation. Now you may be thinking; but I don’t feel like smiling. I’m not saying you should wear a fake smile – everyone can see through that. Be honest and real with how you feel, but think of a smile as a gift to other people – it’s not about you. When we smile, the serotonin level (the happy hormone) in our brain is elevated. So, smiling can actually make us happier people! When you smile, you are not only building up others, you are also benefiting yourself as well.

When my dad, was a young insurance agent in Bloomington, Illinois, his office was in the downtown square near the city courthouse. On days when dad didn’t have a lunch appointment, he chose to walk the city square, not only to get exercise and a little sunshine, but also to practice the art of smiling. He smiled at everyone he encountered and soon smiling became a natural habit. Interestingly, I learned the habit of smiling from my dad. While I was at Baylor University, many people seemed to comment on my sunny disposition. In fact, that is one of the traits that attracted my husband, Curt, as he saw my consistently upbeat demeanor on campus each day. Give the gift of your smile to uplift others – you never know what doors it may open.

This blog is an excerpt from my new book, Positive Connectivity. Click here to order your copy.

Make a PLAN

September 26, 2023September 26, 2023Leave a comment

Study the word PLAN. Prepare Logically — Adapt Needfully. In other words, make thoughtful, definite plans. Then, adapt and modify those plans as the situation might require. Great salespeople, like effective performers in all walks of life, are those who are organized, flexible, and adaptable. They size up situations and, when the occasion demands, they quickly, effectively and confidently alter their original course and go to “Plan B.”

In the Navy, this kind of adaptability is referred to as “changing the course.” In the Boy Scout training, it’s called “improvising.” In football, it’s “calling an audible.” In selling, it’s adapting the prepared agenda to meet the need. In other words, the situation is the boss. In every sales encounter, you must learn to adjust and adapt. When the prospect starts making objections and offering resistance, “call an audible” — adjust and adapt.

Display flexibility. Move ahead to achieve your goal – another satisfied customer. Remember that in order to be able to adapt needfully, you must be prepared. Ad-libs are for amateurs. Preparation will give you the confidence to adapt, should the situation require it.

This is an excerpt from the new book I wrote with my dad, Garry Kinder. It’s more than just a business book, it is an “inspiration for life” book. Click Here to order your copy of Positive Connectivity.

Construction Photo by Shivendu Shukla on Unsplash

Positive Connectivity

August 21, 2023August 21, 2023Leave a comment

We live in a society that is attached to our mobile devices. In fact, psychologists recently coined the term nomophobic (no-mobile phone phobia) for those who have a fear of being without their phones. Honestly, who doesn’t have a bit of a sinking feeling when their phone is nowhere to be found? Perhaps we all are a little nomophobic now and then. Yet, despite the fact that we are constantly electronically connected, most people feel disconnected when it comes to human relationships.

A recent Harvard study found that 36% of Americans are experiencing “serious loneliness.” Whether we are engaging with friends, family, clients or business relationships, we must go beyond merely messaging or emailing to experience a true sense of understanding and connection.

One thing we have learned through the recent global pandemic is that people are not created to be completely isolated from one another. On the contrary, humans need authentic interaction. In fact, most people thrive through healthy connectedness – feeling heard, seen, and valued by another person. In the next few weeks on this blog, I want to help you spark that kind of positive and lasting connection. I want to encourage you to relate in a deeper and richer way with the people in your life, both family and friends.

How does that kind of connection happen? We will explore areas such as perception, presence, the power of words, perspective, potential and purpose. Bottom line, when we think about satisfaction in life, it begins with the satisfaction of experiencing lasting and meaningful relationships. Let’s never stop learning to build deeper and stronger connections with the people God puts in our lives.

Check out my new book, Positive Connectivity.