Making Life Work for You

Posted by April on May 6th, 2008 in Turn Around Tuesday

“I want you to thank a random person for doing their job, or for doing something that seems small. I know that this sounds silly, but I guarantee that if you do this enough times, it WILL make a difference to someone. Believe me.”- Theresa Marie, proudly serving our US Navy

Theresa is one of my dearest friends. Her quote above is one of the reasons why. That is just the way she is. It is darn near a TAT all by itself. Quotes like that make my job easy. Thanks, Theresa!

Have you noticed the declining abundance of gratitude? Maybe we are so accustomed to a variety of comforts that a situation has to be really extraordinary to elicit a response. Maybe it is the way we raise our kids. We teach children to say “Thank-you” because it is a display of good manners. Perhaps we should place value on gratitude and know that the good manners will be an off shoot of that. Maybe we are just becoming those kinds of people. Whatever the reason, it seems a call to gratitude, even if you already have it in your life, can’t be a bad thing.

Today I want to encourage you to seek out ways in which you can bring more gratitude into your life. Who do we overlook? Who are those people that we complain to the most? Where would a kind word be the biggest benefit? You’ll be amazed at the change you create in others and yourself.

Happy Mother’s Day

Allow me to get a bit sentimental for a moment. Sunday is Mother’s Day, after all.

First, I love being a mommy. It is a beautifully chaotic, wonderfully blissful rollercoaster of untypically typical. Sound crazy? Not if you’re a mommy. Mommies know just what I am talking about.

Second, even if she wasn’t my mom, she would still be my best friend. When things are good, bad or normal - she calls me and I call her. We disagree, we compare ideas, we discuss possibilities, She takes care of me and I hope she knows I would do anything for her.

I love you, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day. If I could have picked any mom in the world - I would have picked you.

**Today’s quote was pulled from Theresa’s Myspace blog. But I won’t send you there. Instead, check out her brand new blog - The Reticent Butterfly

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Posted by April on April 29th, 2008 in Turn Around Tuesday

“We must get beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” - John Hope Franklin, Professor

I almost saved this quote for another day. Seems like I should have a bigger trip to tell you about if I am going to use such a bold quote. Seems like it should at least require an airplane ticket. But, I am certain that is not what he meant.

I looked at the words of Professor Franklin for a long time. You should too. Chew on them for a bit and see what you taste. Something is telling me there will be different things for each person. I know what I see and I can pretty much bet that it isn’t the same as most. Neither is yours. Go ahead - look again.

I think the reason each of us will see a different message is due to the dynamic nature of the underlying call to action - have a free, complete thought, get out of your comfort zone and make somebody’s life better. That middle part is my favorite - go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore. As each of us walk on our own journey, there is always a nice footpath of typical. On either side you have paths not often taken. The trip off the beaten path can lead to those places you have always wanted to be, but never thought you would go.

Today I want to encourage you to challenge your own boundaries. Consider the things you don’t consider because they don’t fit into one of your “to-do” categories. Think on that idea you pushed back because it was “too big.” Recall that person you know needed a word of encouragement and give them a call. It’s not weird - it is human.

It’s Toastmasters Ya’ll

It is official. The Richmond Hill chapter of Toastmasters International has chartered. We are no longer a group attempting to get our legs about us. We are a full fledged organization. And it happened with exceptional timing.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared the week of April 27 to May 3 Toastmaster Week in throughout the state. He must have known we were chartering and wanted to do something real nice to welcome us in.

I talk up Toastmasters a lot. Why? Being able to talk to 5 people or 5000 is an important skill. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked, mishandled or avoided. Toastmasters provides a great environment to hone that ability. There is lots of instruction, support and practice.

We would love to have you join us. We meet every Monday morning, 8:30am at Magnolia Manor. The coffee is hot and the company is phenomenal.

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Posted by April on April 22nd, 2008 in Life, Turn Around Tuesday

“One of the things that has helped me as much as any other, is not how long I am going to live, but how much I can do while living. ” - George Washington Carver (1864 - 1943)

NEWS ALERT - Life is finite. Even if time is infinite, our opportunity to occupy it in this life is not. Some of us are shocked by this revelation. Others of us know it all too well. All of us should consider the idea far more often.

Contrary to what logic would suggest, our positive impact on our surroundings is not directly proportional to the amount of time we were afforded to spend in it. There are many loved ones taken too soon, some before adulthood, whose brief encounter into our lives has left a fingerprint on our heart that is unquestionably life altering. Others, full of years, could not say the same.

The interesting thing is people will often get busy because of the shortness of the day, throw up their hands up at the lack of time or prioritize the trash out of a daily list of “to dos.” Few people fling their arms around the life that is theirs and commit to effecting change in the time they are allotted without reservation or guilt.

Today I want to encourage you to fling your arms around the life that is yours. Are you more/less busy, capable, resource ready - whatever - than somebody else? Who cares? You are uniquely equipped to do that thing which you were created to do. And it is in that thing where you effect the change you always wanted to see. Embracing the time that is now is far more effective than chasing after the time not promised or harboring guilt of time lost. The best way to honor the past and the future is with an exceptional now.

Special Message from Deborah Crespo

With well over a million cases of cancer diagnosed each year, chances are that you know someone personally affected by this disease.

For my husband, Alberto, this chance became a reality 10 years ago when he met my father. Their relationship grew from “The Talk” on the porch with my husband as the new son-in-law, and continued with discussions about the similar, “unique” personalities of their wives.

In 2002, my father’s battle with cancer ended. My husband carries on the fight each year in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®. This event is about celebration, remembrance and hope, as well as, to raise money to help fight cancer.

He participated in the Relay For Life® this past Friday, however; you can still make a donation. The hope I have in supporting this effort is that another wonderful husband, somewhere, will not have to walk in honor of his father-in-law’s memory, but instead continue to have the privilege to walk with him side by side.

To make a donation in support of Alberto Crespo in the Relay for Life® visit the website: Educate yourself and find resources about cancer at the American Cancer Society’s website.

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Posted by April on April 20th, 2008 in Development

I had the incredible opportunity to hear Sandra Yancy, founder of eWomen Network, talk at one of our recent events. I can’t even begin to tell you how inspiring, motivating, uplifting, phenomenal (keep inserting great adjectives here) the whole thing was. She was funny, easy to listen to, unassuming and, most importantly, real.

She spoke of The Little Engine that Could. I’ll do a full post on that as soon as my copy gets here. That was an eye opener in itself.

She spoke of being almost broke. She talked about the perseverance it took to make it through.

She talked about the need for other people and the importance of relationships.

She is also of the opinion that “fake it ’til you make it” is utter crap.

Record screeches

Huh? Isn’t this the mantra that all self confident, newly emerging folks live by? Isn’t this the mind set that is required to exude confidence and be that person in the room that people want to know and be known by? How can this be wrong?

We have all heard it…fake it ’til you make it. You have the world by the tail and if you don’t the only person that needs to know that is you. Right?

No - how on earth are you going to get the support, mentorship and guidance you need if no one knows that you are going through hard times? You have to let people know when things are wrong so you can get the help you need to get it back on track. Right?

No - this, as in most things, has, in my opinion, a truth that lies somewhere in the middle. That “middle truth” happens to hand in hand with another truth I believe in - everyone needs a safe place to bleed.

It is true that some people

• want to know, associate with and do business with successful people.
• want to help and assist those who are falling on tough times.
• will eat the weak.
• nourish the poor.

Therefore, seems to me that application of this “fake it ’til you make it” idea is situational.

There are times when total confidence, even in the face of total defeat, is a necessity.

There are times when one must unload the weight, ask for help carrying it and collaborate for way to make it lighter.

The trick is differentiating between the occasions.

Questions

• Do you fall on one of the two sides or in the middle?
• How do you know when either approach is appropriate?
• Do you think the strategy changes depending on the size of the market or the makeup of the business community (i.e. working in New York City versus Small Town USA)

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Posted by April on April 15th, 2008 in Turn Around Tuesday

This Turn Around Tuesday is dedicated in loving memory to Gregory Cross. He is my friend in life and the thereafter.

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”

- Helen Keller (1880-1968)

They say things happen in threes. They also say they are “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” That statement suggests that things happen in pairs. I am betting most of us have had times where things happen in bushels, tons, and in quantities measurable only by stars in the galaxy numbers. Two’s and three’s would be cake. We like cake.

Unfortunately, we don’t get to schedule strife, chaos, unforeseen or surprise. Those guys have already hacked into your datebook and can pencil themselves in whenever they want to. Sometimes they just effect your world at large. Other times it is just business. Occasionally, they get real personal. It gets to be a true test of character when they orchestrate the epic trifecta that encompasses all three and seems to last forever.

Today I want to encourage you to laugh, cry, sing, dance, run, sleep, shout. Do any of these expressives regardless of whether those around you feel it is “appropriate.” There is no doubt that sometimes it just feels like “too much.” But, as long as we are still breathing, there is still hope. I challenge you to take full advantage of that hope, turn your day around and take somebody with you. The best thing that can come out of a Tuesday is a better Wednesday.

6000 Women Hand Up

A Working Woman in Need (AWWIN) will be hosting the first Capital Campaign Kickoff for “The 6000 Woman Hand up Challenge” on next Friday, April 18 at the Coastal Georgia Center in room 115 at 6:00PM.

The kickoff is free and open to the public - men and women alike. There will be light refreshments and maybe a few surprises. Media partner, Skirt Magazine, is getting the word out and donor lists are getting ready to appear on the AWWIN website.

AWWIN is also gearing up for their Third Annual Father’s Day Golf Tournament presented by Skirt Magazine on June 13th. The tournament, along with “Savannah’s Top Ten Working Women of The Year” Awards Gala on September 12, is part of this year’s “Hand Up” Challenge.”

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Posted by April on April 8th, 2008 in Development, Turn Around Tuesday

“The vicissitudes of life require that you set your goals as high as possible. Never ever give up. And for pete’s sake, if you are not happy with your life, do something positive (POSITIVE) and not destructive, to change your expectancies.” - Dr. Judy Halliday

April’s Word of the Day

Vicissitude - a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance…a fluctuation of state or condition…usually beyond one’s control.

Yes, Dr. Judy, I had to look that one up. And while many people before you have said, “set high goals,” the insertion of the word “vicissitude” takes it to a whole new level.

Many of us have our mind wrapped around the need to create goals and dreams that cause us to aim higher than ourselves. Most of us are comfortable having one or two lofty goals. But few of us are prepared to hold on to those ideas when it is impacted by an unfavorable event outside of our control.

Far too many of us allow ourselves to be shaped and defined by our circumstances. Often times, we feel unable to maintain any consistency while engrossed in situations we cannot control. Instead of being the person we want to be, we settle for being the person that life creates for us.

Today I want to encourage you to be the person you want to be regardless of circumstance. Failure is imminent when we allow ourselves to be beholden to circumstances we don’t control. it is quite another thing indeed when we harness the power to define our own reality.

Remember the Rainbows

I don’t mind telling you that bringing attention to the Remember the Rainbows foundation is not my favorite thing to do. I can’t even begin to imagine what it is like to lose a child.

But whether or not we like to talk about it is not the issue. The fact is that parents have lost their greatest gifts to childhood cancer. I am overwhelmingly grateful to those who stand in the gap and provide support and outreach to these families.

You can find out more information about visiting their website. You can provide your support by participating in their annual fund drive. Special thanks goes to Jennie Brewster for donating her time and efforts to such a special cause. May our families never need them and thank them so much for being there if we ever did.

*Today’s quote was found at Dr. Judy Halliday

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Posted by April on April 1st, 2008 in Development, Turn Around Tuesday

“If you stop this fight I’ll kill you.” - Rocky Balboa, Rocky I (1976)

The first quote for Turn Around Tuesday was actually from Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”

However, for the year anniversary, I thought we we would go to issue two and bring back the perseverance of Rocky. The interesting thing is that, looking at them together this way, I see a relation between the two that I had not noticed before.

I often consider what motivates people to move through the hard moments. What convinces people that going another round, seeing the fight to the end, is a good idea? Where does that inner strength come from?

For many of us, I think it is a great imagination. It is the ability to visualize where you will be if you do, in fact, make it through the road block that is currently in your way. It is the mind’s eye that allows us to see that the gain of the journey is greater than the difficulty in travels.

Today I want to encourage you to imagine where it is you want to be. Wander in your mind for a bit what it looks like. How does it smell? What does it taste like? What do you feel like in that place? Hold on to that idea. When you think it is time to throw in the towel, consider all that you may be missing out on.

Celebrating a full Year of Turn Around Tuesday!

Wow! I can hardly believe a year has gone by. It has been an amazing time and I want to take a minute to thank you all.

When I started TAT, I will admit I hoped it would go well. Really, why else would one start a project hoping otherwise? I knew I wanted to distribute a message that was both real and inspiring. I wanted to be able to talk to people in a real way that recognized the obstacles but encouraged success.

What I didn’t quite expect was the way that intention came back to enhance my own Tuesdays. You all have been generous with your encouragement. I appreciate it more than you know.

I am looking forward to year two and I extend to you the same offer that I did in the beginning. Join me for coffee, feel free to add to the conversation, and contribute topics you would like to see discussed. Turn Around Tuesday would be nothing without you.

This week in history
• April 1, 1700 - April Fool’s Day popularized by English pranksters
• April 2, 2005 - Pope John Paul II dies
• April 3, 1860 - The Pony Express Debuts
• April 4, 1968 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated
• April 6, 1896 - First modern day Olympic Games held

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Posted by April on March 25th, 2008 in Turn Around Tuesday

“Going in one more round when you don’t think you can - that’s what makes all the difference in your life. “- Rocky Balboa, Rocky IV (1985)

As I approach the first birthday of TAT, I have been fortunate to receive quite a few congratulatory emails. More often than not, they contain a common sentiment and it falls into this vein.

“Wow! That first year. I remember that. All the ups and downs, trials and successes, joys and frustrations.”

I can’t help but think about how awful life would be if we threw in the towel whenever the going got tough. I can’t imagine what it would be like if the first couple bruises and hard hits that connected on the chin scared us off.

More importantly, what effect would it have on our character if we never allowed ourselves to be tested and stretched? What type of people would we be if we refused to stare down adversity and difficulty? What would we be able to claim as a individual if we never placed ourselves in the position to see just what we are made of?

Today I do not encourage reckless behavior. But I will encourage a healthy dose of, “What would happen if I tried…”and “I wonder if I could…” Do that thing you know you should do but have hesitated out of unchecked caution. Question the procrastination of the hard task. Consider what would happen if you tackled the big project. Know that there is support when you need it and a victory in the journey.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Next week we will celebrate the first birthday of Turn Around Tuesday. Lots of well wishes and encouragement has flowed in and I sure do appreciate it.

Earlier in the month, I celebrated my bloggy birthday at Making Life Work for You and My Beautiful Chaos. I had been looking forward to that milestone and appreciate you all joining in the excitement.

However, this week our family celebrates some birthdays that are even more special. My handsome husband has his day Friday and our oldest daughter follows on Sunday - she is going to be eleven! How in the world does that happen? I really do say that every year. It is just amazing to watch it all happen so fast…

So, happy, happy birthday all the way around! Let’s all have a slice of cake!

This week in history

• March 26, 1953 - Dr. Jonas Salks announces the polio vaccination
• March 27, 1929 - NASCAR is born
• March 30, 1870 - Fifteenth Amendment adopted
• March 31, 1889 - Eiffel Tower opens

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Posted by April on March 18th, 2008 in Turn Around Tuesday

“Ah come on, Adrian, it’s true. I was nobody. But that don’t matter either, you know? ‘Cause I was thinkin’, it really don’t matter if I lose this fight. It really don’t matter if this guy opens my head, either. ‘Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that ain’t just another bum from the neighborhood.”- Rocky Balboa, Rocky I (1976)

“All I want to do is go the distance.” Hmm. There is a lesson there. In fact, there are probably a few.

I have watched four children learn to walk. It happened for each of them at different times and in different ways. Some got frustrated easier and others didn’t seem to mind falling down. The one constant is obviously that none of them gave up.

We all have different definitions of success. It could be a first step, a new business, a marathon, a vacation or just being able to turn off your cell phone. Whatever that definition is, what ever that accomplishment looks like, you will never get there if you stop moving forward.

“All I want to do is go the distance.” There is something to be said for tenacity. It is a testament of character to continue on against adversity, against difficulty and on to the destination. There is something to be said for going the distance.

I want to encourage you to define your definition of success and continue to move forward. Realize that things get hard and some things don’t go as planned. But the end will never be realized if we don’t commit to going the distance.

Easter Extravaganza at J.F. Gregory Park

Easter is coming earlier this year. It hasn’t been this early since the early 1900’s. No worries, though. The New Beginnings Church, along with tons of community support, is ready with the Easter Extravaganza.

Festivities will kick off at 11am this Saturday at J.F. Gregory Park. There will be lots of activities and fun for the whole family.

Included in the afternoon is a massive Easter egg hunt with a count that is close to 15,000. The Easter Bunny will be there and available for pictures. Other entertainment and food will offered.

You can well imagine an event this size takes a lot of work. If you are able to volunteer - especially in hiding all those eggs - give the church a call at 912.308.7635,

My family hopes to see yours there.

This week in history

• March 19, 1831 - First U.S. Bank heist
• March 20, 1965 - Lyndon Johnson sends federal troops to Alabama to supervise a civil rights march
• March 21 1983 - Little House on the Prairie comes to an end
• March 24, 1989 - Exxon Valdez runs aground in southern Alaska

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Posted by April on March 16th, 2008 in Blogging

Blogging is an amazing thing. I didn’t realize what I was getting into when I started this a year ago. The thought when I started was pretty basic. I needed a way to promote my real estate website, market myself and I would get to write on a regular basis.

How limited those thoughts were and reflect just how much I didn’t know about blogging.

In the beginning, I thought I would join the impressive rank of real estate bloggers - or at least copy what they did in an attempt to remotely resemble the brilliance. I quickly realized that wasn’t my way. My approach is different and my way is different. The blog transformed into a place to discuss development, practices and general improvement. It is comfortable for me and it seems to work. After all, we have made it to the first birthday.

I am looking forward to year two here and over at My Beautiful Chaos. I am looking forward to talking with you more and meeting new folks that add to the discussion.

Big thanks to those walking with me while I follow those big dreams!

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