New York! New York!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

I just returned from a most amazing weekend in New York City. What a metropolis of energy, enthusiasm, and culture! We stayed at the Cornell Club on “Club Row” where Ken Blanchard’s “Lead Like Jesus” Board meetings were to be held on Sunday and Monday. My friend, Nancy Cobb from Chicago, joined me on Friday afternoon to share in the excitement.
That night, after a very late flight, we ate a quick deli sandwich in the room and then took a cab to the theatre to see “Into the Heights,” a musical about a Spanish section of the city. It explored differences, yet similarities, among three different generations, with the themes of community, acceptance, and following one’s dreams interwoven. I highly recommend it!

The next morning we slept in and then walked to Times Square, stopping to enjoy part of a Labor Day parade with bands, floats, and bagpipes. We loved watching the plethora of different kinds of people, the unusual little shops and delis, and seeing landmarks that make NY famous. The streets were amazingly clean, and we felt no concern about safety any time we were there, thanks to Rudy Guiliani.

At 2:00 we had tickets for “Billy Elliott,” one of the most delightful musicals I have ever seen. The young boy who played Billy (there are three different children who alternate) was truly extraordinary as a dancer, able to master everything from ballet to tap to jazz and was only about 11 or 12 years old. I just kept thinking, “What could one possibly do in life to top starring on Broadway at that young age?”

Like the musical the night before, the story was one of struggle to follow his dreams but also one of the joy of community and the blessing of hope. It takes place in England in a mining community during the time that Margaret Thatcher was electing to privatize the mining industry, and this small town of miners had been on strike for one year. It truly deserves all the Tony awards it has received, and even though our $126 seats were not very good, we would both go back to see it again!

While waiting in line to get into the theater, we learned that if you stood in line two hours before a performance, many times you could get “standing room only” tickets for $26.50. Since we had not made plans for the night, we decided to get in line for a play at 8:00. It was “God of Carnage” with a superb cast – James Gandofini, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, and Jeff Daniels. It was just 90 minutes with no intermission, and we stood at the back of the main floor with a 4 foot high wall in front of us to lean on. It was actually more comfortable than the tiny, crowded theater seats! The play was delightful, and it was a treat to see these fine actors in person.

The next morning we walked back to Times Square to see if we could get half price tickets for a matinee since Ken’s meetings did not start until that evening. When we arrived, there was a huge crowd in the Square and after inquiring, we found out that once a year they do a free show called “Broadway on Broadway” when they bring out the cast of every show that is currently playing, and they each do one number from the show. Of course, they had huge screens and for two wonderful hours we watched the best of the best on Broadway – FREE!

Afterwards I was able to get tickets to see the re-created version of “South Pacific” which was superbly done and brought back many memories. I had forgotten a lot of the specifics of the story but of course, I could sing along with almost every musical number.

The Lead Like Jesus National Board meetings began with a lovely dinner that evening, and as always, they were challenging and inspiring. The movement (books, training, Bible study, simulcasts) has just celebrated its tenth year, and amazing things are happening all over the world as people learn to lead as Jesus did with their Heart (values), Head (beliefs), Hands (actions) and Habits (staying connected to the source). I am honored to be a part of it.

On Tuesday I left this bustling city of culture to speak in Chicago (another of my favorite cities) and then on to speak in Louisville, KY. Although I love traveling all over the world, I can hardly wait to return to NYC and more of Broadway!

For more information on Barbara and her work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com.
(Pictures to be added later.)

An Audience Member’s Reaction

I recently was the opening keynote speaker for the Joint Commission, a regulatory body in the healthcare industry. My topic was “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm — Creating Workplaces of Passion, Purpose, and Productivity.” In this presentation, I use the acronym “CARE” as the elements of a spirited, fully engaged workplace:
C = Creative Communication
A = Atmosphere and Appreciation for All
R – Respect and Reason for Being
E = Empathy and Enthusiasm

After I finished speaking, an audience member handed me this handwritten note on a hotel pad:

Barbara,
I was just reading the first few pages of your book, “The Simple Truths of Appreciation,” and I remembered yesterday I praised the lady cleaning the flowers at the Hyatt, and she BEAMED! It was beautiful to see what she was doing — miles of plants, miles!–and she was cleaning each leaf and making them glow and watering them carefully. I actually noticed the good job she was doing. It made me feel good all day to have given that compliment!

Thanks for signing my book. I am working to be better at appreciation and to be less critical. I have taken time to write my favorite teacher a thank you. Like your story about the teacher, it was life changing for both of us. She is 90 now and I still write her and I still love her.

Thanks for the work you do to teach us HOW to appreciate and how it can change our lives. I don’t know you, but I already love you!

What an affirmation for my work but more importantly for the difference each of us can make every day!

If you would like to order a copy of “The Simple Truths of Appreciation,” go to www.barbaraglanz.com/products/books/.
STofApprCover4

Barbara Glanz featured in newly-launched book “Who’s Your Gladys?” by Marilyn Suttle and Lori Jo Vest

ARE YOU READY FOR THE HYPERSENSITIVE CUSTOMER?

As if businesses weren’t struggling enough these days, a recent study out of the U.K. has revealed the emergence of the “hypersensitive customer,” a consumer that has less cash, more information and less tolerance for poor customer service than ever before. The study, conducted by UK accounting and business consulting firm BDO Stoy Hayward, found that in the last 18 months, customers have become less loyal, as they realize how privileged retailers are to have their business. In fact, 48% of consumers admitted increasing their expectations over the past two years.

Customers are plugged in, with easy access to consumer reviews, detailed technical information and competitive product information. They have tighter budgets, so they’ve become more discerning in both the products they buy and the service they expect. 74% of respondents in the study said they wouldn’t purchase products and would leave the store if they encountered what they deemed to be poor service.

Are you and your business ready for the arrival of the hypersensitive customer? If not, now is the time to examine your customer service practices and get them in line with the needs of today’s consumer.

There’s a new customer service book on stores shelves and online resellers that can help you manage this new breed of consumer. When you order Who’s Your Gladys? today, you get a special package of 40+ electronic bonus gifts in customer service, sales, marketing and professional development. Buy your copy today at www.whosyourgladys.com. Watch the WYG book trailer here: www.youtube.com/whosyourgladys.
.

To find out how to get your free copy of Barbara’s article “A Choice in Every Interaction,” featured in Who’s Your Gladys? How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan, visit www.barbaraglanz.com/gift/.

Barbara Glanz, CSP, Speaker, Author, Consultant, and EMCEE!

NEW SERVICE OFFERED –Hire Barbara to be the EMCEE at your next meeting!

I have just started doing some Emceeing for several large clients like Guideposts, and I am LOVING it! I have developed a “theme within their theme” for each of the general sessions for about five minutes that really facilitate community within the group. i have also requested that when I introduce someone, they tell me something fun and personal about themselves instead of all the “business” stuff that everyone already has in their binders. This, too, has added warmth and bonding within very diverse groups who often do not know one another. In groups that already work together, these additions have created a deeper trust level as well as a lot of fun, so the attendees become much more engaged in the meeting itself as well as developing a new level of community and sharing.

One of my strengths in presenting is that through my own authenticity and creativity, I am able to create a level of trust and caring as well as a sense of joy and openness. I have long seen this happen in my keynotes and workshops; however, I did not realize it would translate into Emceeing until I had the privilege of working with the Guideposts gathering.

Brian Porter, the President of Guideposts Foundation, said this about their national meeting,”The Guideposts Gathering in November was tremendously successful. Our emcee was Barbara Glanz, who did an outstanding job. We were grateful for the tone she set for each session by suggesting a theme or key words–Gratitude, Appreciation, Joy, and Enthusiasm.” I truly was the encouraging spirit that brought everyone together …..and I loved it! 😉 It was my motto of “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™ in action.

Call us at 941-312-9169 for more information on this new service.

Blessings,
Barbara

For more information about what Barbara can do for YOUR organization, visit www.barbaraglanz.com.

Outlining Your Life Story

Last weekend I was asked to do a session at the Veteran Speakers Retreat in Boiling Springs, PA. It is a select group of 60 people who have all been very successful in the speaking business–precious people such as Charlie Plumb, who was a prisoner of war in Viet Nam for 6 years; Bob Orben, who was the speech writer for JFK; Norm Rebin, a Statesman from Saskatoon, Canada; Naomi and Jim Rhode, who have founded several successful companies; Bubba Bechtol, who is a headliner at the Grand Ole’ Opry; George Morrissey, Lou Heckler, Al Walker, Don Thoren, Tony Alessandra, Jim Cathcart, Emory Austin, and Michael Aun who are all in the Speaker Hall of Fame; Ralph Archbold who is known as Ben Franklin; Gil and Esther Eagles who own a wonderful speaker’s bureau; Gayle Carson, the “Spunky Old Broad;” Bill Johnson, the first Executive Director of the National Speaker’s Association; and good friends such as Scott and Melanie Gross, Annette Dubrouillet, and Gloria Jones, all of whom have made such a difference in this world. It was a special honor to be asked to attend.

For my session, I asked everyone to do an exercise which involved thinking about the “story of their life.” I asked them:

* What would be the title of your life story?

* What would the chapters of your life story be?

I read them this quotation:

“THE PAST HERALDS THE FUTURE: the lines that you see in your past will guide you in discovering your mission. As you recall your personal story, you will be recounting the deep work of your soul and you will gradually become aware of inner calls often left unheeded or forgotten. To remember means to re-member or to ‘reassemble what had been dismembered or dispersed.’ Remembering or going back over your story allows you then to ‘reassemble’ into a coherent whole the pieces of the puzzle of your life: scattered memories, unfulfilled desires, abandoned projects, and so on. Bit my bit, you will grasp hints of your mission which, like the stitching on a piece of cloth, appears and then disappears throughout your story.

When you have finished reconstructing your past, you will examine your passions, your tendencies, your persistent interests, your dreams – realized or abandoned. You will then be better able to recognize your soul’s impulses and efforts as it strains to give birth to its mission.”

John Monbourguette,
How to Discover Your Personal Mission

Although we did not have much time to spend on the exercise, I got lots of good feedback from people. We heard words in the titles like “metamorphosis,” “epiphany,” “journey,” “mistakes,” “recovery,” “crash landing,” “emergence,” and “commencement.” One person even told me that the title of his next book came from the session!

I would encourage everyone spend some time thinking about these questions and then share your outline with family members or close friends. We all need to step back from the busyness of our daily lives and survey, both personally and professionally, what our life story has been. Only then can we look to the future with new understanding and wisdom and find our legacy and mission for the time we have left on this earth.

Barbara and part of her life story!

Barbara and part of her life story!

To learn more about Barbara’s work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com