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Spreading Contagious EnthusiasmTM |
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In This Issue:
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August 2007
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Where in the World is Barbara?
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News at Barbara Glanz Communications
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Idea of the Month--"Think About Immediate Needs"
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Article of the Month --"Life Lessons Learned from Swimming"
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Product Special -- 50% off CD of "The Simple Truths of Service Inspired by Johnny the Bagger"
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"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy."
Anne Frank (1929 - 1945)
"When you give your heart to life, it is not lost; for a thousand hearts come back to you, and each contains a bit of your own."
Robert Sexton
"The effects of kindness are not always seen immediately.
Sometimes it takes years until your kindness will pay off.
Sometimes you never see the fruits of your labors, but
they are there, deep inside of the soul of the one you touched."
Dan Kelly
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."
Marcus Aurelius
"Keep true, never be ashamed of doing right; decide on what you think is right and stick to it."
George Eliot
"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes
ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and
hostility to evaporate."
Albert Schweitzer
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FILMING FOR IQUESTIONS.COM
I had a very special experience this past week in California. I had been asked by Unity Group to be a faculty member for a new website called IQuestions.com. The purpose of the site is to answer questions people might have on many issues, including work and family life. The site is currently in beta testing and will launch officially in January. Some of the other experts who have participated include Lou Gelsinger of Intel and Gary Smalley, one of the most noted experts on marriage and family relationships, so I am honored to be part of such a prestigious group.
In preparation I listed a series of questions that someone might ask me about all my areas of expertise -- workplace morale, retention, customer service, management style, leadership, adult learning, presentation skills, recognition and appreciation, communication, work life balance, creative ideas for more fun in the workplace and in the home, ideas for stay-at-home Moms, how to survive the deaths of loved ones, and how to bring your faith to work. I shared as much of my accumulated knowledge from both my personal and professional life as I could, including dozens of ideas and many stories, all on high definition film in short, three to five minute segments.
In two full days, we filmed 76 questions and answers as well as segments on nine of my books with a crew of nine and enough cutting edge equipment to fill a huge family room. There was a makeup person, a producer, a director, a cameraman, a sound person, and four other people to fulfill various functions for the shoot . It was amazing to observe what goes into a production like this...and I got to be the STAR!!!! ;-) What a delightful experience with extremely professional and caring people!
My hope is that these short answers, which will be delivered on a one-on-one basis as users ask their questions, might touch many lives and offer inspiration, ideas, and the precious hope that wherever they may find themselves in their lives, they CAN make a difference. The best thing of all is that my grandchildren and great grandchildren will have a legacy of the highest quality of who their grandmother was and what she believed.
I will keep you posted when the site launches - I feel sure you will enjoy it. In the meantime, we will post some of the questions and answers on my website, www.barbaraglanz.com, as soon as the editing is finished.
INTERNATIONAL HR AWARD
I have just been informed that I am going to be presented an international HR award in Mumbai, India, in February. The award is a very special honor, and it will be a thrill to visit another new country as I continue expanding my international focus. I hope to also do some work in Dubai on the same trip.
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN EGYPT
The American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo has asked me to present a full day on "Motivating and Retaining Employees" in December of this year. Barbara Sadek, the Director of Education for the Society for Human Resource Management, will accompany me on this trip. One of my dreams has always been to see the pyramids, and we also plan a trip down the Nile while we are there.
BOOKS FOR EVERY SOUTHWEST AIRLINE EMPLOYEE
Colleen Barrett, the current CEO of Southwest Airlines, recently used her own money to purchase 35,000 customized copies of "The Simple Truths of Service As Inspired by Johnny the Bagger," which I co-authored with Ken Blanchard, as her retirement gift to each employee of Southwest Airlines. What an amazing way to show her care for them as well as her commitment to outstanding customer service!
NEW ASSISTANT
I am thrilled to announce the hiring of a new assistant, Peggy Ceballos. Peggy, a true sales professional, has supported another speaker for a number of years in the past, so she understands this industry and has a very successful track record. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and will begin serving our wonderful clients August 14th. She can be reached at peggy@barbaraglanz.com. I know you will love working with her, and I also know that she will make my life MUCH easier! ;-) Welcome, Peggy!
NEW GRANDBABY
My daughter, Gretchen Gawlik, who lives in Portland, Oregon, is expecting a new little grandbaby around September 1. Since their first child, Owen, just turned two, I have promised her two weeks of "Granna Barbara time" during the month of September. I will certainly honor all currently booked dates and will simply travel from Portland. Peggy will be holding down the office, and I will be available by cell phone, 708-829-8594. We are waiting on pins and needles, so I will share the exciting news with you in my next email newsletter!
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Life Lessons Learned from Swimming
Barbara A. Glanz
All my life I've been a swimmer! At age fourteen I began giving private swimming lessons at the Harlan, Iowa, Community Pool. At sixteen I got my Water Safety Instructor rating from the American Red Cross and graduated to lifeguard and fulltime swimming instructor every summer. Both in college and while my children were young, I taught swimming in various venues. And for years I've swum a mile almost every day in the summer, and now that I'm living in Florida, whenever I am home. Not only do I not like to sweat, but I LOVE the quiet time of simply counting from 1 to 102 (the number of lengths of my current pool that make up a mile).
Recently, it occurred to me that there are many lessons we can learn about life from the sport of swimming:
1. Travel Light.
No one can swim with extra clothing or objects dragging them down. Think about competitive swimmers who shave their bodies and find the lightest (and smallest) suits available in order to increase their speed.
IN LIFE: Don't let other people and things of the world bog you down. Go for your dreams.
2. Set a Goal.
I can never be one of those people who just "play" in the pool or who lie on a raft for the afternoon...at least until I've finished my laps. I have a goal in mind and I want to achieve it.
IN LIFE: If you don't know where you're going, you'll never get anywhere. Always have some goal in mind, no matter what you are doing.
3. Take the Plunge.
Often the water is cold, but the best way to get started is to just "dive in."
IN LIFE: Don't be afraid to take risks when you go for your dreams. Sometimes you just have to jump in and DO it!
4. Know your Limits.
If you're not a good swimmer, you'd better not dive into the deep water or you might end up in the arms of a lifeguard or at the bottom of the pool!. Likewise, don't aim to do a mile if you've never done more than 1 or 2 lengths.
IN LIFE: Assess your skills realistically. Then decide if you want to take the time to learn to be better at something or simply accept where you are.
5. Sometimes you have to Hold your Breath.
When you jump or dive into the pool, you'd better do this or you'll end up with a mouth and nose full of water!
IN LIFE: Sometimes you need to keep your mouth shut!
6. Vary your Strokes.
One of the ways I pace myself when I am swimming long distances is to intersperse more exhausting strokes with more restful ones. That way I can accomplish my goal without wearing myself out.
IN LIFE: Choose your priorities and pace yourself. You don't always have to be in high gear.
7. Sometimes you need to Float.
When I was a swimming instructor, the first thing I taught non-swimmers was to float on their backs. If they ever got into trouble in the water, all they had to do was to put their chins back, relax, breathe, and float. You can stay that way for hours or until you calm down enough to swim to the edge.
IN LIFE: We all need times of rest and reflection to get back in touch with our centers, particularly when we are frightened or stressed.
8. Keep Focused.
When I am doing my laps, I am continually counting and always focused on the end goal - 102 lengths. During that time I don't think about anything else.
IN LIFE: Don't be distracted by other needs around you. Keep your eyes and mind on the task at hand, and you will complete it much sooner.
9. Navigate Obstacles.
When you swim in a public pool as I do at my condo, there are always children around who do not understand your need for space. I am constantly navigating around, over, under, and through, yet I keep on going.
IN LIFE: Don't let obstacles stop you. Be relentless in pursuing your mission.
10. You can do it Alone or on a Team.
When I swim laps, I am only competing with myself, and I constantly work on improving my strokes. At different times, however, I've swum on competitive teams and in water ballet.
IN LIFE: To be our best, we need to learn to function both independently and as a part of a team.
11. Enjoy the Ride.
When you swim, you don't have to sweat, every part of your body gets a workout, you are usually out in the fresh air and sunshine, and you can get a great tan. (The only downside for us women is having to redo our hair!)
IN LIFE: Every day look for the beauty all around you, have fun, and count your blessings. Live each day as if it were going to be your last.
Whether or not you're a swimmer, these life lessons apply. So, grab your "suit," set a goal, dive in, stay focused, navigate the obstacles, and have fun getting there.
BARBARA GLANZ BIO
For free articles you can use in your company newsletters and an archive of dozens of immediately applicable "Ideas of the Month," go to www.barbaraglanz.com and subscirbe to Barbara's monthly ezine. Barbara Glanz, Certified Speaking Professional, works with organizations that want to improve morale, retention, and service and with people who want to rediscover the joy in their work and in their lives. She is the author of eleven best-selling books, including The Simple Truths of Service As Inspired by Johnny the Bagger (Co-authored with Ken Blanchard), The Simple Truths of Appreciation, CARE Packages for your Customers, and CARE Packages for the Workplace--Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work . As an internationally known speaker, trainer, and consultant who has a Master's degree in Adult Education, Barbara lives and breathes her personal motto: "Spreading Contagious EnthusiasmTM." She is the first speaker on record to speak on all 7 continents
and in all 50 states. For more information, she can be reached directly at 941-312-9169; Fax 941-349-8209; email: bglanz@barbaraglanz.com; website:
www.barbaraglanz.com.
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AUGUST
2 Mid-America Bank, Chicago, IL
3-7 Filming, IQuestions.com, Orange County, CA
8 Hold, BI, Minneapolis, MN
22 Lafeber Company, Bloomington, IL
23-26 Veteran Speakers Retreat, Hagerstown,
SEPTEMBER
1-8 Portland, OR (new baby!)
9 - 10, Lead Like Jesus Foundation Board Meetings, Chicago, IL
12 - Nordstrom, San Francisco, CA confirmed
18-19-- Coborn's, St. Cloud, MN confirmed
20 Hold, J & J Holmes, Inc., St. Cloud, MN
28-30 NSA Technology Lab, Seattle, WA
OCTOBER
6 Hold, Clockwork Home Services, Premiere (Brian Lord)
9-10 Hold, SOCAP, Palm Springs, CA, Gold Star Speakers (Andrea Gold)
13 Sarasota Magazine's Women's Conference, Sarasota, FL
17 SHRM Leadership Conference, Arlington, VA confirmed
23 Hold, Upper Iowa University
NOVEMBER
1 St. Vincent's Health System, Birmingham, AL confirmed
2 Campus Bookstores Conference, Halifax, Canada confirmed
3-4 National Advisory Cabinet Meetings, Guideposts, Houston, TX
8 Hold, PSR Unified Staff Conference
10 Hold, Curves International, Orlando
12-13 - Hold, ScanSource, Orlando, FL
14-- Bank of America, Atlanta, GA
DECEMBER
2-- 4th Employment and Career Development Fair, American Chamber of Commerce, Cairo, Egypt
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This idea is excerpted from Barbara's new book, "What Can I Do? Ideas to Help Those Who Have Experienced Loss," published by Augsburg Fortress, January 2007.
From Chapter Three: : "Think about Immediate Needs"
"In the first year or two following Jason's death, I felt myself in a zillion pieces. There was no me. I died when my son died. My ears were buzzing. I kept saying, 'I don't know how to do this.' But there's a lot of power in simply putting one foot in front of the other. You have to walk through the pain crying oceans of tears."
Kathy Schuster
"Journey one day at a time. Don't try to solve all the problems of your life at once. Each day's survival is a triumph."
Rabbi Earl Grollman
"Living When a Loved One Has Died"
The best thing you can do to help a grieving person is to provide solutions to needs that occur right at the time of the loss. The grieving person or family cannot think of details. They are usually in a state of shock, so take over. Don't just offer; DO IT! The chances of you making a mistake in helping are slim, and the comfort you will bring by thinking ahead and jumping in will far outweigh any concerns the family might have about the choices you make. Do remember that although they need comfort and support, often just staying for five or ten minutes is more than enough.
Valla Dana Fotiades shares ways that people were there for her immediately after her husband's sudden death:
At 5:30 am, about ten hours after John died, one of my dear buddies, my walking pal, showed up at my bedroom window, armed with two handfuls of coffee and bagels. I said, "I haven't slept all night." She responded, "I know. That's way I am here. Remember, I have been there." (Her husband died and left her widowed at age 29 with a toddler to raise.)
The same morning, a few hours later, my mother-in-law, who was first widowed at the age of 47, my same age, and her son, my brother-in-law, who had been 14 when his Dad died, showed up at the door with my two nieces who are my children's best friends. They stayed until about 5 o'clock that evening. When they were ready to go, my brother-in-law turned to me and said, "The girls, Kara and Justine, are yours for the week...they will help you, clean for you, make food, take messages, screen phone calls, comfort your children, do whatever you need. This was an incredible gift that I had no idea I needed until the people arrived in droves and calls were ringing off the wall. My younger niece, Justine, accompanied my daughter back to school which made a difficult transition run more smoothly. Kara and Justine both had a reading at John's service. They were real-life angels!
* Phone cards, flowers from home, providing babysitting.
Ana Tampanna shared what friends did for them: "Barbara, we have just had a devastating, multiple loss involving violence and murder! One of the most caring ways that a friend reached out to us was to send us phone cards for 1,000 minutes. We had to make countless long distance phone calls and this was a blessing. Another thing someone did, was to send flowers to the room in which we stayed while attending the out of town funeral. They were lovely and reminded us of the support we had back home. Families with small children offered to provide play time for our five year old grandson throughout the week of the funeral."
* Laundry, funeral details, pictures
Pam Blankenship shares all the ways friends helped them when a terrible accident occurred:
"We lost our darling son, Connor, on April 20, 2000, while on vacation in Florida. In a matter of seconds he got out of the house we were renting and fell in the swimming pool and drowned. He was just three weeks away from his third birthday. One of our friends who was on the vacation with us offered to do all of our laundry from our trip. While I would have never agreed to this in the past, I said yes. She took all our laundry home, including our son's, did all of our wash and brought it back, laundered, ironed and on fresh hangers. One of our dear friends went to the funeral home and helped us with the arrangements for our son's memorial. We were in such a state of shock and grief over his death that without her, I am not sure if we would have made it through. Another dear friend helped us look through photos of Connor and had two of them blown up to 11 by 17 size in one day for the memorial service scheduled for Saturday, the day before Easter. One of those
photos now hangs in our
home."
* Arranging to have the house cleaned.
Joanne Ax of Boise, Idaho, shared, "I know that when my brother-in-law passed away a few years ago, one of the nicest things done for my sister was 4 hours of house cleaning by a maid service. Someone called to ask her permission to send them. They just came in, dusted, vacuumed, cleaned the bathrooms, cleaned the kitchen counters / refrig and generally made the house neat and clean for all the people who descended on her! It was a great help -- they were professionals and were in and out --- and she just didn't have to think about any household things."
* Share vacation days.
In her newsletter for The Cancer Club, Christine Clifford shares an idea to help friends diagnosed with cancer:
If you work with someone who has been diagnosed with cancer, offer to donate one of your vacation or sick days to the cancer patient to use as a day to recover from their treatments. Go in together with several co-workers until you have a full week of vacation days that can be offered to your friend. They will relish the time off work to catch up on sleep, recover from chemotherapy or simply relax and enjoy a much-needed break. On the day off that you donate, send flowers to your friend and a cheerful note wishing them a wonderful day.
She suggests to the cancer patient:
If co-workers ask, "What can I do to help?", suggest the donation of a vacation day to help you improve your mental health as well as the physical. A day playing hookey may be just what the doctor ordered!
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© Barbara Glanz Communications, Inc. 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Permission is granted to reproduce or forward this newsletter with copyright and contact information intact. If you are receiving this as a forward and would like your own no-cost, no-obligation subscription, enroll at www.BarbaraGlanz.com or write SUBSCRIBE in the subject of an email to: bglanz@barbaraglanz.com. To stop receiving it, write UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Back to www.barbaraglanz.com.
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