Giving From Within

 ”Anything that has real and lasting value is always a gift from within. ”          

  – Franz Kafka

 As the Christmas carols start to hit the airwaves it is hard to believe that the holidays  are upon us once again. Thanksgiving is only days away, kicking off the countdown to Christmas and all that happens in between. As I write to you this morning I really feel  at peace with the holidays ahead. I find that I am looking forward to the possibilities of family time and connecting with family and friends near and far.

When we were kids we would have about $20.00 to buy presents for everyone.  As our family grew, we had to become quite creative in order to stretch that $20.00.  This was accomplished by really focusing on what small gift (purchased or made) would make the recipient smile come Christmas morning.  It wasn’t the value of the gift that brought on the smile but just being acknowledged and remembered.  

It seems moving into this holiday season to hold that factor close when thinking about gifts for others.  What is it that we can give that would really mean the most to those we care about and love?  With money at a premium how can we give without putting ourselves in debt in the process. Perhaps it amounts to taking a little more time to look at a gift that would really matter the most.  

My kids when they were really little, with no money, made coupons of things that they would do for us from washing dishes to rubbing my back.  They were precious and greatly appreciated.  Perhaps those are the kinds of gifts we can add to the stocking stuffers this year.  Spending the time we cherish with those we love.

How about things like a special dinner out, a lunch or breakfast and a hike?  There are many things we can do when we put our mind to it.  In fact there are things much more important than “stuff” sometimes that fit the bill just as well. 

The key perhaps is staying connected with the sprit of giving in a way that conjures up the holiday spirit in your own heart and soul.  Sharing a sunset with someone, baking cookies,  or singing a Christmas carol bold and out loud when you hear it on the car radio.  

You may have received an email from me this past week about a tele-seminar I hosted on Wednesday on Mental Weight Loss.   It was the introductory call to a series on Meditation that Bonni Doherty of BInspired Wellness is sharing the first four Monday’s in December.  I have been very passionate about this topic because I know what a huge difference even 15 minutes a day of meditation can make our lives.  

Take a listen to the full call at this link to give yourself a little extra meditative time this week (The entire call is about 50 minutes long).  If you enjoy it and it fits into your schedule it could be a great way to enter the holidays with a lot less stress. The cost is minimal at $39.00 or $29.00 if you are a Victory Circles member.  A small price tag to help in giving you some piece of mind this holiday season or maybe even an early gift for someone on your list.   

I hope that your Thanksgiving finds you at a table with those you care about and those who care about you.   Yesterday afternoon just before dusk I had the pleasure to take a beautiful walk with my family (complete with Travis who is home!) that filled me with a great sense of peace.  Wishing you those moments and that peace that can only add to the joy of the season ahead.

Being of Service

“Sow good services; sweet remembrances will grow them.” – Madame de Stael

 

 My mind these days has been wrapped around something we all enjoy partaking in,  and that is not only good, but excellent customer service. When you feel that your doing business with a company makes a difference. The smiles you get, the gratitude you feel by your doing business with someone.  

Saturday I found myself doing something I rarely do and that was go to the Shopping Mall.  First of all, the good economic news was that many people were in fact participating in this past time that requires for the most part that money be spent.  What the economists said isn’t happening – was happening in droves in Broomfield, Colorado.   

The second thing I noticed was the difference between store to store and the “service” or the lack thereof that existed.  You would think that with the economy being the way it is that stores would have ramped up their service to increase bottom line sales.  There was a lot of price slashing going on – but not much in the way of some stores even acknowledging my existence. Very strange when you really stop and think about it.   Several stores in fact I walked all the way through without one staff member even speaking to me.  Amazing!  

The one store that did make me feel like a customer, someone that mattered to his or her organization, is the one known for quality customer service and that was Nordstrom’s.  This occurred even though they were just as busy as the other stores with a big sale going on.  

The sales clerk, Christian, who introduced himself to me, not only assisted me with the boots I was interested in but also went the extra mile to show me some other’s that were similar.  Sure he might have been working on a commission – but whatever was his motivation it worked because he helped me to buy the boots I was only considering prior to his coming on the scene.  I made the purchase I might not have on my own because he helped me find something I really liked at a very good value.

Value is something that good customer service brings to the surface, getting more and being more than just someone who is spending money in an organization.  Several weeks back I shared with you that I had just had my victorycircles.com website redone.  It was an incredibly positive experience that gave me, the Members and the Facilitators a great new site to not only be proud of but that gives us a lot of valuable information.  Kevin with Buena Consulting was a dream to work with and last week sent me chocolates to thank me for my business.  I was floored and delighted, a simple effort that made a huge impact, I felt appreciated!     

So here is my request of you this week.  First, can you respond to this Victory Letter by sharing with me a company that you have worked with recently that has given you great customer service?  In the weeks ahead I want to interview these companies to find out what makes them tick.  To understand the systems they put into place to assure that each and every customer feels incredibly well taken care of each and every time.  This could be from the restaurant you enjoy eating at to a supplier for your business.  My hope is to interview those organizations for an e-book I am writing.  

Second, let me know how you handle customer service within your organization.  What is it you do or your company does on a regular basis that makes a difference to those you come in contact with it on a regular basis?  What is that the key factor that attracts others to you?  

As you move forward in your week ahead look around you and notice the service that you receive – as well as the service you give out.  Does it put a smile on your face?  Do you put a smile on others faces?  Does it give you or do you give real value to others?  

Wishing you a week ahead that brings you sweet remembrances!

Perceived Value

 ”Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to  attempt.”  - William Shakespeare

 For the past couple of weeks I have been rushing around whenever I get a chance trying  to bring my garden to its full winters rest.  Not an easy task to do this time of year,  especially as warm as it has been.  Some plants have been hanging on and its hard to  cut them down to begin protecting them from the winter that is no doubt going to  come.

 But yesterday I was determined to make it happen.  With my clippers in tow and compost ready to throw down, I spent many hours envisioning what would be next spring if my plants were snuggled in now for the winter.  How much happier the plants would be if the soil was enriched all through the winter months.  I even chopped down the rest of my beloved lavender plants after hearing from a  “lavender expert” that they would do much better in the spring if cut them down to the nubs now.  

It was so hard chopping down those plants I love so much, but I savored in the smell of their essence while cutting them, imagining how much healthier and stronger they would be in the spring.  Yes, it is this time of year that tests a gardener.  When there is much work to do with no signs for the work for about six months.  A little lady bug even meandered by reminding me of the life that continues to go on in the garden.  

Last Tuesday night we witnessed something like that when the impossible became the possible.  The improbable became a reality.   It was not only inspiring that the dubbed “inexperienced” candidate became President of the United States but also the class act that John McCain welcomed the decision with was just as heartwarming.  Finally, they did it – they played nice!!  With a new hope, celebrations were not only held here in the US but amazingly – throughout the world.  

Hope does come about when we see change happening and a light at the end of the tunnel.  Now I know everyone receiving this letter may not have voted for Obama.  But I can’t help but to think that I one thing we can all agree on is that when there is hope in our lives for something better to happen, the sun just shines a little brighter.  When we put our doubts and fears to rest and give all that we have to give, letting others do the same,  we win much more than living in doubt.  

There were a variety of discussions I heard this past week about many American’s having the feeling being lost.  And with the hope of the new administration the possibility of no longer being lost is a reality.  

Donny Duetsch on his show the Big Idea one night last week talked about looking at the bailout of Main Street as opposed to so much attention put on Wall Street. I like that idea because as I discussed last week it gives us each the power to do something to “fix” what is broken.  We can do it ourselves instead of waiting for the proverbial big brother in Washington to do it for us.  We can all make the improvements and steps forward collectively for a much more powerful result.  

Another idea I heard last week – and I can’t remember where – was in giving more value than perceived.  While spending has not stopped, each of us just wants to make sure we get the most for our money.  So the question becomes what do you do of value that makes a difference not only in your life but in the world around you as well.  Do you give more value to others than they expect?  Do you delight others with what you do?  

In interviewing a consultant last week, Robert Skrobe, for a publication I write for, he discussed an interesting concept for creating systems in your business that allow for the increased probability of giving more value.  His idea was to write FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) about your business for a week.  All those questions you might answer regularly about what you do and how you do it.  Just write the questions in the week ahead but don’t write the answers.  

Save the answers to your FAQ’s for the following week.  Then spend that week fully answering the questions you created.  The result will assist you in moving your business forward with answers that can help you to build systems.  With systems humming along it will allow you to in fact give the fullest value possible.  You can really apply this to many other aspects of your life as well, from a job search to making your home life more enjoyable.  

I have decided to do it for my business in the week ahead to see what I come up with that could make a difference.  What if you did the same?  I would love to hear how it works for you. Onward we go to make a difference!  Wishing you a great week ahead!

Bring It On

“We are each individually unique”          
- Gloria Steinem

Yesterday afternoon I amazingly stood among the books at Borders as Gloria Steinem stood across the aisle speaking to about 50 of us who had gathered to hear her words.  She had come to Colorado just days before the election to raise political awareness. Her message was for each of us to listen for our own truth, which she admitted has been a bit hard to hear through all the noise raised by the media and political parties over the last year.

I found her calm viewpoints comforting and reassuring after the disagreeing that we all have been experiencing.  It also was so very inspiring to hear this 74 year old woman still working for the things she is passionate about in her life.  With Bailey by my side I hoped that she could feel the passion that Gloria had for reaching out and touching others, for taking the time and effort to make a difference.  

No matter the outcome of the election tomorrow I hope that we can get back to the ability to live our own lives without thinking that who ever gets elected is going to miraculously  “fix things”.  How many people have you heard lately say, “I can’t even think about anything until after the election.”  Not because they are involved in volunteering for the election but because the whole process has become overwhelming.  

In my humble opinion it’s not up to Obama or McCain to do the fixing but each and every one of us.  As I typed those words I heard in my head those age-old words from childhood “but it’s not my fault, why should I have to fix it.”

Fault or not, I would like to imagine that each of us has the power to do everything possible to make our lives matter.  To step up to the plate and not only play nice (as I eluded to a few weeks back) but to look life head on and shout out the words, “Bring it On!” And mean it.  To take the bull by the horns and make our lives all they can be.  

Political parties don’t make the difference – people do.  Gloria talked about the need for each and every one of us to tell our story.  She surmised it to sitting around the campfire and not only listening to the stories of others but also in letting our story get told.  It really represents empowerment at a simple and basic level.  

Little things can make all the difference in propelling us forward.  This past Thursday I launched a new website for the Victory Circles (www.victorycircles.com) and for me it was empowering to finally have a website out there to be proud of.  One that represented not only what I have been working hard to create the last three years but one that also represents the women that are behind it.  Thinking about it this morning an analogy pops into my head between making that happen and what it takes for each of us to get what we want in our lives.  Four steps seemed to bring it fruition: 

1.    Gain a clear vision of exactly what it is you want.
2.    Make the definite decision you are going to change the situation.  
3.    Surround yourself with the people who see your vision.
4.    Work tirelessly towards seeing your vision come to life. 

Sure there are bigger picture items that we can’t change tomorrow such as global warming, but there are little things we can start doing today – like recycling.  We have more control and power than we know.  

Bring back your power. Stop the blame game and challenge yourself to do more than place a vote (though that is important!) in the week ahead.  Take your place at the helm and make a difference. 

Here’s to an empowering week ahead!