Tiny Breaks are Big

Because I've spent my life swimming, water skiing, fishing and being flown in small planes, I'm likely more weather wary than many.  I'd planned to run after work on Friday, but a darkening sky and rumbling thunder accompanied by a light rain shower thwarted my plans.  However, within 30 minutes, the sky lightened slightly and the thunder and rain stopped.  I decided to take this tiny break in the weather to at least run around the block, thinking a bit of exercise was better than inactivity.   As I rounded the first block the sky began to clear and my tiny break turned into a lovely 3 mile run.

When we take advantage of tiny breaks, the impact can far exceed our expectations.  

Bigger Than Life

As I was running, on this beautiful morning, before church, it was fun to see how large my shadow was.  It reminded me that when we shine a light on others, we help make their impact far larger.  

Big Splash - Little Cash

What's not to love about high, positive visual impact with very low investment!  We love fresh cut flowers strategically arranged in favorite vases in the entry, living room, family room, my home office, powder room and kitchen.  Nine days ago, Edgar brought home 2 beautiful bunches of cheery yellow daisies that allowed me to fill all the normal vases and add bouquets in his home office and the master bath.  The flowers are still perky, with only a few stems removed.  He frequently surprises me with fresh blossoms of various kinds, which is awesome.

My inspiration to mention it now is the longevity of these blooms, the number of arrangements and the very modest investment, less than $10 including tax.  We all owe it to ourselves to bring inexpensive cheer into our lives, whatever forms the cheer may take.

Permission

Perhaps the start of school, and the memory of years of permission slips, made me realize that we all need them.  Fortunately, we don't need to officially document and return paper forms.  However, we all need to give ourselves permission to:

• enjoy every day
• take care of our own needs, before or on parity, with the needs of others
• laugh a lot
• exert influence, power and impact wherever we are
• be successful where we are, not where we strive to be
• pursue our passions
• ask for help or advice
• make small, inconsequential mistakes or omissions
• do nothing for a day
• be rather than do

Make a Day

My day started with a 7:00 a.m. conference call  At my second meeting, a stranger complimented my attire, and late in the day, colleagues I rarely see mentioned how put together I always am.  Though I make it a point to find positive comments for family, friends and colleagues; as the recipient of these unexpected positive observations, when I didn't think I was necessarily at my best, I fully realized that a little positive and sincere attention to others can really make a day.

What a Difference a Year Makes!

It's hard to believe that I've been running for a year!  Little did I know at this time last year that the novel activity I accidentally tried would become an important and positive part of my life.  This one year milestone caused me to think about why something I'd never considered embracing would make such a difference.  There are so many positives including:

• Open to new activities and ways of thinking
• Influenced by positive role models
• Focused on health
• Balancing active and busy
• Setting and achieving a fitness goal 
• Enjoying the outdoors
• Seeing neighbors
• Don't have to schedule it, able to just lock the door and start the route on my time frame
• Time to think and pray without distractions

Positive Four Letter Words

It's fun to think of the many positive four letter words that encourage, inspire and motivate us:

• love
• home
• hope
• will
• give
• help
• live
• care
• free
• play
• most
• dear
• idea
• your
• plus
• wows
• best
• soul
• hold
• joys
• epic
• good
• well
• pray
• keep
• baby
• give
• zest
• join
• pure
• glad
• kudo
• true
• hero
• best
• luck
• mate
• fine
• tact
• wish
• pact
• yeah
• wish
• edgy
• kind
• life
• gems
• have
• know
• look
• edge

What four letter words encourage, inspire or motivate you?

Ripple Effects

One of my precious friends has opted to leave a toxic, but lucrative environment for a less financially rewarding, yet soul rewarding culture.  She's an amazing individual who will thrive in any organization.

Though she didn't intend to change her former company culture with her announcement, it appears that she has started the much needed corporate discussion. Her departure has prompted others to question what positive changes they must enact to retain talent of my friend's caliber.  The ripple effect of her announcement has prompted others to question if they are settling for the way things are rather than the way they should be.  Bluntly, one of her ripple colleagues questioned if she and her colleagues had been part of the culture for so long that they had become "abused wives". 

When we do what we know is right we never know how many others we may positively impact.

Make Other Feel Special

There are myriad ways to make others feel special and I've highlighted thirteen.  It's a win-win, because we also benefit from positive interactions with others. 

• Recognize and acknowledge positive things about them. 
• Actively listen to what they are communicating.
• Smile.
• Remember significant milestones and special occasions.
• Tell others about their expertise and successes.
• Recommend them.
• Engage in meaningful conversation.
• Be fully present when in their presence.
• Share tips, tools and resources.
• Provide constructive feedback.
• Send an unexpected greeting.
• Make helpful introductions.
• Give sincere compliments.

There's Always Something Nice to Say

It's amazing to me, how many people have made my day with a lovely, unexpected comment.  We each walk through the door each day with our own skills, attitudes, issues and experiences.  It doesn't take much effort to make someone's day.  There is almost always something nice to observe about someone we encounter.  When we take the time to make a positive comment, we often make the other person's day.  And the extra benefit, is that their enthusiastic reaction can make our day, too.

Two Negatives Make a Positive

Yesterday a lunch meeting that I'd scheduled a month ago canceled (first negative).  Rather than taking this found time to grab a salad from Grace's deli in the building and work through lunch, I sent a message to 3 colleagues asking if they were available for a spontaneous lunch.  They all responded instantaneously and two were available. 

Just after we'd ordered lunch, our previously unavailable colleague arrived because her lunch appointment also canceled (second negative).  The two of us, who had the canceled engagements, immediately caught up with a recent career change that a mutual friend outside the company had made.  This led to an admission from my friend that this was the kind of opportunity that she would love to have.  I mentioned a similiar opportunity that I knew about at another organization that my colleague considered perfect (positive). 

I had not mentioned the job to my friend because she had not previously expressed an interest in this area.  As a result of a lunch meeting that overcame multiple obstacles to occur, a talented friend and organization that I admire have the opportunity to connect.

Who Has 500 Things to Share?

Amazingly, I've created 500 posts to share in the past 16 months, one post at a time.  We need to encourage our family and friends to share their thoughts, experiences and recommendations.  When we gain and share the input of others, we expand our influence and impact.

You're so...

When a positive comment enters our brain it should exit our lips.  When a negative comment reaches our brain, we need to grab it, analyze it and decide if it's necessary or important to share. 

Iked

When our corporate office was severely damaged two years ago by Hurricane Ike, we assumed that our temporary office arrangement, co-located with a Banking Center and Commercial Banking team, would be short-term.  A number of factors caused this temporary situation to last for 2 years. 

Though we were severely space constrained, a number of positives emerged. Of course the banker and customer relationships that resulted are #1.  And by being able to directly and consistently interact with retail and commercial bankers on a daily basis, we developed a deeper understanding of the joys and challenges they face.  Because meeting rooms were limited, we utilized previously under-utilized spaces.  The rut was also broken for standard venues for out-of-office breakfasts and lunches, as our Houston geography moved from 610/290 to Westheimer and the Beltway.  Oddly enough, I also realized a timing benefit.  The past 2 years are the first in my long career when an in-office end time became important.  When the Banking Center drive-through closed at 6:00 p.m., I knew I had a maximum of 20 minutes before the security system would be set. 

Change is always disruptive. When we accept change and look for silver linings, we're often rewarded in unexpected ways.

Live the Life You Have!

I always benefit when I attend our Sunday church service, and this week was no exception.  The lesson conveyed from the Gospel applies to all of us regardless of beliefs - "Live the life you have with integrity."

We can all wish for, dream about, anticipate or prepare for another reality.  But, we all have the hand that we were most currently dealt.  Those of us who choose to love the life we have can positively impact ourselves, our families and those with whom we interact.

Regardless of our jobs, we should do them to the best of our abilities.