TRAVEL TIPS FROM A PRO

Since I travel at least 100 days a year (mostly for business but sometimes for fun, too), I have learned many things to help others negotiate the potentially unfriendly skies these days. It can be a wonderful blessing to be able to travel to exciting cities, exotic cultures, and restful havens, but only if one is prepared.

LUGGAGE:
First of all, you want to find the lightest possible luggage you can. The average suitcase weighs from 12 -15 pounds, so that leaves you only about 35 pounds to fill in order not to have to pay a penalty. I use a large duffle bag, which is by far the lightest option, for my work materials, workout clothes and cosmetics. Because I am a professional speaker, I need to take “presenting” clothes as well as casual things for evening, so I need a molded suitcase for these items. I have found a brand called Heys that I love. The very largest suitcase only weighs 11 pounds, the lightest I have ever found, and it has held up well even through international travel. (I only plan to get about 1 year from my bags, so if they make it beyond that, I am thrilled!) Bed, Bath and Beyond has a very inexpensive handheld scale that you can use to check the weight of each bag ahead so that you have no surprises when you get to check-in.

PACKING:
I do not have a lot of advice about packing sparingly since I have never learned to travel light.! Fortunately, I am a Gold Medallion on Delta, so I get three bags of 70 pounds each free…..HOORAY! However, I do have a couple of packing tips. I keep an extra set of all my meds (which I carry on the plane), and I keep cosmetics, a spare curling iron and hair dryer (I never rely on the hotels to have these as they are essential to my looking good 😉 and toiletries already in my suitcase so that I never have to worry about packing those. I have shoe bags and molded forms to stick in my shoes, and I fill my tennis shoes with pairs of socks. I buy mostly knits and clothes that pack well – Chico’s for casual and St. John for dress and presentations. A basic black pant and top, dress, or skirt and tank with several different jackets help save space and always look good. I pack everything in plastic cleaning bags to help them stay unwrinkled. Many people are also recommending the special bags that are airtight and save a great deal of space in one’s suitcase.

HEALTH ON THE ROAD:
On the plane, I rely on two products (and even though I am on dozens of flights a year, I rarely ever get sick) – Airborne which you can get at the drugstore and a product from New Zealand for longer flights called “No Jet Lag” (www.nojetlag.com). The latter is a little mint that you chew every two hours, and it is miraculous. Even on a 28 hour flight home from South Africa several years ago, neither my daughter nor I had jet lag. I also carry antibiotic hand crème everywhere and a Z-pak from my doctor just in case I do get ill on the road. I drink lots of water and take daily vitamins, and I always get a flu shot. Be sure to wash your hands often on the plane and walk around every hour.

I also carry a stretch band and a tennis ball. Each morning on the road, I do 15 minutes of stretching exercises and 100 sit-ups with the tennis ball between my knees. This helps to keep me limber and gets my metabolism going even if I do not have time to do more of a workout. I always carry a swimsuit and goggles and tennis shoes and shorts and t-shirt in case I have time to work out; however, after a long day with clients, I am not excited about going down to an exercise room late at night all by myself, so instead I spend time with my stretch bands in the room.

I recently bought a sound machine to carry on the road and I also carry a fire hood in case of emergency. If you travel frequently, there is a wonderful service called Med Jet Assist which will airlift you from anywhere in the world to your choice of a hospital. The fee the last time I checked was around $100 a year—a wonderful bargain for peace of mind.

OTHER TIPS:
* Remember to always have a photo ID or passport. Check with your state; in the state of Florida, you can get a free photo ID that is a duplicate of your Driver’s license so you do not have to worry about losing your license when you are traveling.
* I always dress well when I travel (no jeans). I am treated with much more respect, I often get upgraded, and if they were to lose my bags, I still have something I could wear to speak.
* Keep ID inside of each bag as well as on the outside. Especially if your bag is black, have some distinguishing feature such as a colored ribbon tied on it, stickers, or a bright band around the bag. That helps keep anyone else from mistaking your bag for theirs.

Travel has gotten harder and harder since 9/11; however, if you are well-prepared, you will find great joy in experiences you could never imagine at home.

To learn more about Barbara’s travel schedule, go to www.barbaraglanz.com/calendar. There are also many journals of her travels on this blog.

Barbara was recently interviewed for the newspaper, “The Observer”, here in Sarasota. To see the video of Barbara “in action” in the kitchen click the link. We have also posted the article and the recipe below for you to enjoy.
http://www.yourobserver.com/news/siesta-key/Front-Page/0430201219195/IN-THE-KITCHEN-WITH-Barbara-Glanz

Barbara Glanz moved to Siesta Key about 10 years ago following the death of her husband. She now lives in a condo at Horizons West and looks out over beautiful Siesta Key beach. As a Certified Speaking Professional, CSP, Glanz has had many speaking engagements; in fact, Glanz is the first speaker on record to speak in all 50 states and on all 7 continents – a feat soon to land her in the Guinness Book of World Records. When Glanz isn’t traveling the globe, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and having company over for get-togethers. One appetizer Glanz enjoys making is one she found in a Milwaukee Junior League cookbook called “Artichokes Adored,” a simple recipe is easy to make and is always a crowd pleaser.

Artichokes Adored
Ingredients
• Bread rounds
• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese
• 1 15 oz. can of artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

Instructions
Toast bread rounds on one side. Combine mayonnaise and cheese. Spread small amount on untoasted side of each round. Top with artichoke quarter. Cover with additional cheese mixture. Broil until lightly browed. Serves: 8.

Preparation: 15 minutes
Broiling: 3 minutes

Here is a comment by a client after he heard me speak again last week.

“Back in 1995, I attended a seminar in Orlando, Fl. with Barbara Glanz. To this day, despite countless conferences, seminars, training sessions and meetings, it remains the single most effective, most motivational and absolute best time I have ever spent inside a room. If you want to make a difference, there is absolutely NO ONE better to help you than Barbara.

Jim Munroe
Operations Energy Coordinator, Alabama Municipal Electric Authority

We hope we will have a chance to make a difference in YOUR workplace by helping you raise morale, improve retention, build customer and employee loyalty, boost productivity, and as a result, create a workplace of respect, caring, and joy. Remember, you will never get employees to treat customers better than they are being treated themselves! Call our office today, (941) 312-9169 to explore ways that Barbara can make a difference within your organization!

BARBARA QUOTED AND “THE SIMPLE TRUTHS OF APPRECIATION” REVIEWED IN QUINTESSENCE, A KAISER PERMANENTE PUBLICATION

Both a summary of Barbara’s Opening Keynote speech, “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™–Creating Workplaces of Passion, Purpose, and Productivity,” at the Advanced Practice Symposium in Pasadena, CA, and a review of her book, “The Simple Truths of Appreciation — How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference,” were included in the latest Kaiser Permanente publication, Quintessence. This magazine is the Kaiser Southern California publication for all Certified Nurse-Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants. They quote her powerful statement, “It doesn’t matter what your individual jobs are, you represent Kaiser Permanente. Whether you are a receptionist, a medical assistant, an advanced practice provider, or a physician, Kaiser Permanente will be a little better place, or not quite as good, because of YOU!”.

Barbara will be speaking for the 16th time at the national Society for Human Resource Management conference June 26 in Atlanta. It has been her honor to have been asked to present there since 1997, and she has often been rated one of their top ten speakers. She is speaking on “CARE Packages for the Workplace–Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work.” The conference draws over 15,000 HR leaders from around the world.

My friend, Mike Hall, sent me this poem he wrote recently. It touched my heart as I think we all need to slow down and find more JOY in our lives.

“The Butterfly and the Gazelle”

The days of our lives pass so quickly
like the snowmelt that cascades
down a mountainside en route to
the Colorado River

Our days can become a blur at times
We’re caught up rushing
here and there
and hardly noticing
the smile of a stranger
or the need in the eyes of a friend

Busy as a bee….we collapse at the
end of the day and wonder
if it was really worth all the fuss….
This crazy world that tugs at us
as we strive to find our way

Don’t we admire those who go
from day to day
with the ease of a butterfly….
or the grace of a gazelle

Perhaps they found the puzzle piece
that we’re still searching for….
Content with life’s abundance
while we still ache for more

What if doing less could make the
days of our lives move slower
Like a ship at rest in a quiet harbor
maybe then we’d realize it’s all a game
to see who can tune into their soul
as the world tries to spin
us out of control.

To help discover more joy in your work and in your life, go to www.barbaraglanz.com.

COMMUNITY FIRST CREDIT UNION — SERVANT LEADERSHIP AT ITS BEST

I had the privilege this month of speaking on “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™–Creating Workplaces of Passion, Purpose, and Productivity” to Community First Credit Union in Appleton, Wisconsin. It is always interesting to me that so often the organizations that ask me to speak on this topic, like Nordstrom, Southwest Airlines, and Community First, are the ones who are already doing a great job, while those organizations who really need this message do not see the value.

I was deeply struck with how this small community credit union exemplifies servant leadership at its very best, both internally and externally. It begins with their leader, Cathie Tierney, President and CEO. Not only is she a supportive, hands-on, approachable leader on the human side, but she is also very astute on the business level. This organization has grown quickly and has exceeded its goals for years. In fact, at almost $2 billion in assets, they are the largest locally owned financial institution in their market.

However, the most amazing thing about this woman and her leadership is what she gives back to the community. She spends an average of 12 – 15 hours a week on community service. While I was there, I was invited to an area-wide dinner honoring community volunteers, and Cathie was presented with their highest honor. What a model this sets for her entire organization!

Externally, this company DOES put the community first! Last year they saved their members 18 million dollars, and this year their goal is to save them 20 million dollars. (They announced at the meeting that already in this first quarter they are over halfway there!) While other financial organizations are focused on improving THEIR bottom line, Community First is focused on helping their members. Of course, they are rewarded in other ways, particularly by selling more products and gaining more members; however, their overriding concern is truly to help their more than 97,000 members be financially secure.

They have opened branches in all the high schools, a middle school, and even in a grade school in the area to help teach young people how to save and manage their money at an early age. What a gift they are giving them for their future!

Another way they support their community is that 76% of their employees volunteer in some way in the area, and their goal is to reach 80% participation in 2012. Most importantly, the organization values and supports employee contributions with time off, encouragement and awards for giving back.

Internally, I was touched by the caring Cathie and the management team express for their employees. Once a quarter they have an all-company meeting in the evening to inform staff about the company’s financial health and to celebrate both individual and organizational achievements. They not only pay the employees for this time, but they also provide dinner and some sort of inspiring message.

They value and appreciate one another. While I was there, the employees surprised Cathie with a lovely gift and flowers to celebrate her community award. As a result of doing so well for the quarter, Cathie announced that she was giving them each an extra vacation day. What a generous incentive for people who have done a great job! (And she promised another day off if they meet their annual goal. 😉

Most importantly, they have FUN together. At the end of the meeting, all the managers came into the auditorium dressed in straw hats, sunglasses, and grass hula skirts to tell employees about an upcoming party they were having for all of them. I also noticed how much they all love competition with other organizations, and they almost always win – a wonderful example of team spirit!

In a landmark study which has been replicated many times over the years, it was found that the top three things all employees want are interesting work, full appreciation for the work they have done, and a feeling of being in on things. Community First has creatively succeeded in meeting all these needs internally.

Finally, they have become an employer of choice in the Appleton area not only because of how they value their employees but most importantly, for how they contribute to their members, their community, and this world. It was a special joy for me to see a small organization that is doing everything right and to be able to affirm and celebrate them for the difference they are making. I only wish they had a branch in Florida!

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

This is one of my very favorite pictures of me and my little grandbabies, Owen 6 and Simon 4. They visited me on the beach in March over their spring vacation. Our beach was just voted “the most beautiful beach in America” by the famous Dr. Beach, and they enjoyed every minute of being out in the sun and water. How very blessed I feel to be a Grandma!

I met Brad Kowerchuk when I was doing a seminar on “The Simple Truths of Service” in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, last year. He recently sent me this story about a wonderful customer service experience getting his car fixed:

On Wednesday, I had my car into the wheel alignment shop… these folks came highly recommended and the car needed some TLC.

Now, a wheel alignment is not a purchase that is full of dazzle – you just expect that they know what they’re doing and that the job gets done right. And, usually the people you meet have little enthusiasm either; they just fill out the paperwork and you all move on. Maybe because of the above, I have lowered expectations, but I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised when I picked my car up. From the welcoming smiles, to the efficient processing of the paperwork, everything was first class… but I haven’t gotten to the best part yet!

Here’s what really stood out – instead of handing me my keys across the counter, the service rep walked all the way around the counter, handed me my keys… then, he shook my hand, looked me directly in the eyes and thanked me for my business. Even further, he asked if I would call in a couple of days to let them know if everything was working ok.

Wow! Now, that is outstanding customer service! And, what did it cost? Nothing in money terms, and perhaps an extra 30 seconds in time!
If a service rep at an auto repair shop can wow with a great customer service experience, what can YOU do in your job to wow one of your customers? Do you have an extra 30 seconds in your day to make someone feel special?

Thanks, Brad, for sharing this story. It exemplifies the foundation of all my work — how just one person and a little extra time and caring can make such a difference in all of our lives. To learn more about Barbara’s work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com.

Legoland just opened in Florida last fall, and many people thought, “Why would the mecca of entertainment (Orlando) want ANOTHER theme park?” When my precious grandsons, Owen 6 and Simon 4, visited from Portland, OR, on their spring vacation this year, we found out!

BRAND
First of all, this park is specifically designed for children from ages 3 to 10 or 11 who are Lego’s best customers. The rides are all designed for younger children, everything is built to their scale, and there are dozens of things to climb and touch. Amazingly, the park is only open from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm which certainly makes parents happy since that is about all the time little ones can take without having meltdowns.

Everything in the park is made of Legos – from the huge “WELCOME” bricks at the entrance to statues, animals, the cars on all the rides, and the mini-scenes. Even the lifesize characters walking around are Lego men. (Just realized – I don’t think I have ever seen a Lego woman! 😉

The park features innovation, creativity and freedom, just like its building blocks encourage. There is one whole section devoted to “Imagination.” The entrance, appropriately, is a gigantic sculpture of Einstein’s face! Inside there is a huge room filled with every kind of Lego brick and accessory you can imagine. Every hour a limited number of children are invited in, and they can stay as long as they want creating and building.

An especially unique aspect of this park is the freedom they give the little ones on some of the rides. There are two Driver’s stations, one for ages 3 – 5 and another for ages 6 – 10. Each child gets his or her own Lego car to drive around a course with complete freedom, unlike other parks where the rides are on a track and the children can only “pretend” to drive. The cars for the little ones have a steering wheel and a gas pedal, and their track is a large oval. The cars for the older children have a steering wheel, gas pedal, and a brake, and they must first watch a video about safe driving before they can get into their car. Their large looping track has two way traffic, stop signs, and traffic lights. What FUN to watch these little guys driving a car for the first time! And at the end, they each get their very own driver’s license.

Another ride that encourages independence and freedom involves lifesize Lego boats, which again are not on a track. Each child must ride with an adult; however, the children are the drivers. Watching six year old Owen and my daughter in their boat, I laughed until the tears rolled down my cheeks! Owen was determined that Gretchen would NOT touch that steering wheel, so their boat crashed into the side, went backwards, and got passed by at least seven other boats before they got to the end. It took longer than any other ride in the park, but Owen had the time of his life – and so did Granna Barbara!

One of the highlights of the park was the section where mini-scenes were built of famous places in the US. There were scenes of Washington, DC, New York City, New Orleans, San Francisco, Key West, Las Vegas, NASA, and of course, some featuring Florida. The intricacy of these scenes coupled with moving parts was mind-boggling, and for me, being a person who loves dolls and miniatures, I was totally fascinated.

And of course, the brand was carried through with the merchandising–all the little shops had everything you could think of made with Legos from prices of $1.99 to $99.00!

SERVICE
The park was immaculate. From the moment you entered, there was a Visitor’s booth and smiling, friendly people. There were two incidents that especially struck me that demonstrated their commitment to service.

First, since the children were so excited to be there, they often ran ahead of us to the next attraction. At one point Simon tripped and started to cry. Immediately a young man who was sweeping ran over and asked if he was OK. Then he asked if he needed a band-aid. Unfortunately, we said no at the time, but I have often wondered if the band-aid might not have been a Lego! 😉

At the track where the little ones ages 3 -5 could drive their own cars, you can imagine the difference in abilities. Many of the little boys got right in and drove around the track, almost like adults; however, the little girls seemed to have lots more trouble. As I watched, there were at least 2 or 3 children on every sequence that just “could not get it.” The darling, patient girl running the attraction would come over, show them how to do it, give them a push and watch. Finally, instead of taking them off and sending them back to their parents (as most attendants would have done in other theme parks), she would get behind the car and push them a time or two around a quite large track. It was a hot day, and I was deeply impressed that she wanted to make this a positive experience, not one of failure, for each child. I did make it a point to go up and thank her afterwards.

The most special moment of the trip: At the end of the day, Owen said to me, “Granna Barbara, this was the best day of my whole life!” What could be a better tribute than that?

To learn more about Barbara’s work in Customer Service and Employee Engagement, go to www.barbaraglanz.com/programs.