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Spreading Contagious EnthusiasmTM |
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New Clients and Client Comments
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Article of the Month --"Life Transitions and Change"
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Where In the World Is Barbara?
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New Products and Services
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A BIG Birthday!
I just finished my first month of being 65... I guess now I am officially "old!"
I can't tell you how I dreaded telling anyone my new age (I think as women we can feel as if our age defines us, especially when we are in the "dating" mode!), and yet this has been one of the happiest times of my life. I highly recommend it! ;-)
I have spent the past few weeks re-connecting with dear, precious friends as well as making some new ones, and it occurred to me last night that in the mission and busyness of my work, sometimes I have failed to have a "real" life. This month I have had a REAL life overflowing with love and sharing, and I am deeply grateful to feel as if my life HAS made a difference in this world.
I have been treated to lunches, brunches and dinners at places as special as the Ritz Carlton and the island of Boca Grande, but also in tiny, intimate restaurants and in the warmth of people's precious homes. One friend planned a "Johnny the Bagger" theme, and we each had little brown bags of flowers at our places with name tags that read "Barbara the Bagger" and a thought for the day attached! Another friend invited me to a birthday party at their home on the beach and organized a special photo shoot at sunset with a visiting friend who is a photographer. (I am attaching one of the WONDERFUL pictures she took.)
My college roommate, who lives in San Antonio, Texas, wrote me the most beautiful poem (I will include it at the end) which she read to me and of course, made me cry. Being a very creative scrap booker, her other touching gift is a "Friends Book." She asked me to send her copies of pictures of each of my special friends to include in the book, and she is adding quotations and other special meaningful decorations to each page. I can hardly wait to get it!
One of my oldest family friends, who is also a widow and has lived far away from me for years and yet we have still retained a close friendship, sent me a beautiful booklet she had made for me titled "65 Reasons to Love Barbara Glanz." (I could hardly think of five of them! ;-) It was even held together with butterfly ribbon.
My children had planned a special outing when I was in Portland for Mother's Day with a chocolate papaya body wrap, a facial, a night out with just the girls, brunch at the Blue Hour restaurant followed by a manicure and pedicure. Oh, how I LOVED the pampering!
The gifts I received touched my heart in so many ways because all of them were thoughtful of ME and what I so love - beautiful (and some hilarious) cards, books of the heart, starfish and butterfly jewelry, angel things, and my most favorite from my little 7 and 9 year old grandchildren - a remote control FARTING bear! What other Grandmother do you know who got such a fun gift????
When I was complaining one day about hating to say that I was going to be 65, a dear friend chastised me by pointing out all the precious people in our lives and world who do not have that choice, and it quickly changed my attitude. My father died at 62, my mother-in-law at 64, and my precious husband at 68, so I am so VERY BLESSED to still be enjoying the gift of life God has given to me.
This past year and a half I have ridden an elephant, a camel, and a Harley. I have traveled to Antarctica, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, Thailand, India, Vietnam, and many, many places in the US. I have three wonderful children, a daughter and son-in- love, and four precious grandchildren. I have a deep sense of mission in my work, and I am blessed to have made wonderful friends in organizations all over the world. I have my health, a beautiful place to live on the beach, and I continue to learn something new each day.
I thank God that I have been given the gift of 65 years to share the JOY of friendship, love, sharing, growing, learning, laughing, and caring. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Love and blessings,
Barbara
Judy's poem to me. (NOTE: We have called each other "Buns I and Buns II ever since our college days.;-)
Buns...
A special friend.
To the end...
A lifelong bond, so very fond we are
Of each other.
I never had a sister
Or a close-by mother,
But I have you.
Life glue.
We stick together,
Forever...
Whatever comes our way.
Little gifts in the mail...
We never fail
To support the other.
Honesty is a policy
Between us.
You make me feel so funny
When I hear your sunny
Giggles and laugh.
My burdens seem lighter;
Joys are brighter...
You're such a fighter.
You always lessen my fears...
Help dry up my tears.
I admire your persistence.
Your courage and resistance
To negatives.
Your incredible faith
Has helped to make
Mine stronger and
Long for more time with you.
You "CARE" like your "Packages" for
Work and Home.
You are "Loyal" and keep your
Friends "Returning".
You are "Creative", a great "Communicator".
You always "Balance" your "Act".
And you share great depth and compassion
When we ask "What Can I Do?"
And...
We would all choose to stand in
Your line,
Like people do in "Johnny's."
Love, Buns I 5/08
(Judy Ballard Ellwsworth)
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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS BARBARA?
JUNE
13 Erin Glanz Graduation, Art Institute of Portland, Portland, OR
15 Erin Glanz Fashion Show, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
16-18 Portland, OR
23-25 Society for Human Resource Management National Convention, Chicago, IL (Presentations June 24 and 25)
JULY
2-9 Mandorla Ranch, Missoula, MT
10 Oral surgery
27-30 Strong's Marina, Long Island, NY
31 New York City
AUGUST
1 -6 National Speakers Association Convention, New York City
11 Council for Hotel and Restaurant Trainers, Washington, DC
12 Bozzuto's, MGM Grand at Foxwoods, CT
21-24 Veteran Speaker's Retreat, Hagerstown, MD
SEPTEMBER
3 Disney Leadership Conference, Anaheim, CA
5 Planned Parenthood, San Jose, CA
8 and 9 Disney Leadership Conference, Orlando, FL
10-13 New York City
14-15 Ken Blanchard's Lead Like Jesus Board Meetings
16-18 Grand Junction, CO
19 SHRM Nebraska, Omaha, NE
25 Governor's Conference on Tourism, Gaitlinburg, TN
25-27 Guideposts Advisory Council Meetings, Seattle, WA
26 Hold, DuPage Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Oak Brook, IL
OCTOBER
12 American Society for Healthcare HR Administration, Austin, TX
15 ARC of Montgomery County, Silver Spring, MD
16 Hold, Speak Inc., Toyota, NJ
21 The Melting Pot, St. Petersburg, FL
27 Campus Stores of Canada, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
28 Hearst Management Institute, Arrowhead Conference Center, NY
31 Hold, McGill Health Center, Montreal, Canada
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Welcome to our new clients:
General Mills
The Melting Pot
The Disney Company
American Society for Healthcare HR Administration
Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers
Southern California Edison
Tennessee Governor's Conference
The Annual Symposium of Campus Stores Canada
Bozzuto's
SHRM - Nebraska
The ARC of Montgomery County
Guideposts
Cedars Sinai Hospital
Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust
Travel Learning Conference
Crystal Cabinets
Arthur Andersen Reunion
LPL Financial Services
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Long Island Chamber of Commerce
Medical Center of Arlington, TX
Biennial Women's Conference -- University of Illinois
Client Comments:
(One of the ideas I share with my clients to create a more joyful workplace is to start every meeting with three minutes of good news. This is a response from a client at General Mills after I spoke there.)
"THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I do have to say that the 15 minutes of good news really set the tone for the whole meeting. It was a 5 hour meeting, and the positive tone created in the beginning lasted until the very last minute. This is remarkable, as interwoven with the recognition items we also shared with them some business changes that were coming their way.
As you know...,change is not often easy, but the manner in which it was approached drove overwhelming embracement instead of resistance. My Descriptive Analysis Manager and I used a lot of learning from your message to develop the flow of the meeting (combo of Human and Business with a big focus on the Human), and it went better than Terese or I ever in our wildest dream anticipated. Not only have our panelists embraced the business changes, but several of them have actually thanked us for having the meeting. We attribute much of this success to you!!!!"
Candi Rathjen-Nowak, General Mills
(This is an email to all his staff from the President of Strong's Marina. I spoke there this spring.)
"Good Morning! All right, I have to admit that sometimes I write these messages and I wonder.....Do they have an impact? Am I being as effective as I can to support your needs? Then I remind myself of how much I learn from many of your questions and comments and realize just how much as a Team we are accomplishing!
I was rereading Barbara Glanz's book, "The Simple Truths of Appreciation--How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference," last night. In it she reminds me of how all the small words of encouragement, a kind word shared one on one, or a simple touch on the shoulder or a 'Thank You' to a fellow Team member, friend, or client can really make someone's day. A particularly nice story is of the airline stewardess's response to a guest when he asked, 'How is your day going?' Her response, 'All the better for you asking me. Thanks.' Wow! How great and simple was that?
I really appreciate all your efforts, particularly in those extreme hot days we had this week. Without your caring and consistency, we would not be having the delighted clients and relationships we have! Thank you and have a splendid day."
Jeff Strong, President and Owner, Strong's Marine
(Note: Jeff just emailed me that their second quarter Cobalt C.S.I score was 97.28. They scored above their minimum benchmark of 97.00 to earn special recognition from Cobalt. Great Job !!)
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LIFE TRANSITIONS AND CHANGE
I have been thinking a lot about Change and life transitions lately. My youngest daughter, Erin, just graduated last week from the Art Institute of Portland with her second degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Apparel Design. It was a mountaintop moment for us all as she has struggled for years to find her special niche, and at last she has found the best way to use her gifts.
Not only was she one of just two students who graduated "With Highest Honor," but also her design collection, called "Focus Volume," was selected to be the finale of the huge Fashion Show at the Portland Art Museum last Sunday evening, their designs and the actual creation of them being the culmination of the years of study by all the graduates. She got an amazing amount of press for her collection, and she was truly the "star" of the show!
However, as the commencement speaker pointed out, that day she was on the top of the hill, having achieved a goal she had worked for for years in the most successful way possible. Yet the very next day, she would find herself at the very bottom of the hill, starting all over again to find a job.
This week Erin flew from Portland to Sarasota to stay with me on the beach for a few days of R and R after graduation, and at first, I was concerned about her lack of spirit and depression. Then, as we began talking, I realized that her experience was the perfect example of the presentation I give, called "Feeling your Way Through Change: Understanding and Managing Transitions in Life and Work." Since this very week I am doing that presentation for the national convention of the Society for Human Resource Management, it has given me a wonderful story to share with my audience!
For all of us, once we reach a goal, just as Erin did, there is a deep experience of loss:
* The loss of Security --All of a sudden, Erin is going to have to support herself. (I have given her the leeway of helping for three months, but up until now her expenses have been paid.)
* The loss of Identity - In a couple of days she went from being the "fair haired darling" of the department to being an adult without a job,
* The loss of Competence - At this point, after receiving all A‚s in her classes. she is questioning what skills she really has, how they would fit into a real job, and there is fear about what might be expected of her and can she really handle that.
* The loss of Relationships - All the friends she has made at school will be going different directions, and the teachers she is close to will no longer be focused on her.
* The loss of Territory - The position of being the outstanding student in her classes that once belonged to her is now gone, as well as the sense of "belonging," and even the security of a known schedule.
* The loss of Sense of Direction - Suddenly, she has gone from striving to reach a long held goal to the scary place of not knowing where she will end up and what she will be doing.
Even though Erin's experience is a personal life transition, all these things are exactly what happen in any kind of Change, in the workplace as well as in our personal lives. However, as I share in my presentations, we always have a CHOICE about how we regard these changes - we can accept them and move on OR we can fight them and hold onto the past.
The first step in handling Change is always determining what we have lost, and then we can understand what is happening and better enable ourselves to let go and focus on new opportunities (like Erin searching for a job). Interestingly, the Chinese symbol for "Change" is made up of two different symbols, one for "danger" and the other for "opportunity." I know that Erin will eventually choose "opportunity," but this thought exemplifies where she is right now:
"It's not that people are so afraid of change or so in love with their old ways, but it's the place in between that people fear. It's like Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. He has nothing to hold on to!"
As Price Pritchett says, though, "Change always comes bearing gifts." My hope and prayer for all of us is that we can focus on the GIFTS that the future holds, and realize that Change, whether forced or chosen, is what keeps us energized and fully alive. I am confident that Erin will find a job which will allow her to use her very special gifts to make a difference in this world. Even though at this moment she feels like a person on the monkey bars, having to let go in order to move forward, she is beginning to focus on her options and the persons in her life who can help her, and that is the first step for all us in finding a new beginning.
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© Barbara Glanz Communications, Inc. 2008. 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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