Finding Hope and Joy in Your Life

“When darkness seems overwhelming, light a candle in someone’s life and see how it makes the darkness in your own and the other person’s life flee.”

Rabbi Harold S. Kujshner, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”

I serve on the National Advisory Council for Guideposts, and this was an excerpt from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s booklet, “Hope: Opens the Way Where There Seems No Way” to help us find renewal in our lives:

1. Make an inventory of your joys. Sit down with pencil and paper and write them down, not forgetting the commonplace — a comfortable chair, the house or apartment that shelters you, faces that are dear to you. (I have done this for many years in what I call my “Blessings Journal.” It is simply a spiral notebook in which I write the blessings that have occurred that day. I find that even on the darkest day, I can find one or two blessings!)

3. Do an unexpected favor for someone and note the look of happy surprise and gratitude it causes. It will fill you with joy. (Last night I took a Mum plant down to a 90 year old lady who lives in my building. The look on her face brought tears to my eyes. She is no longer able to read or to walk by herself, so my visit was the highlight of her week, she said. She talked and talked, and I was filled with joy that so iilttle of my time could mean so much to someone.)

I hope you will find ways this very day to appreciate someone in your home or office or simply someone you interact with as you go through your day. It will add to your joy and theirs and to the total amount of goodness in the world.

For more ideas on ways to become a more appreciative and hopeful person, get Barbara’s book, “The Simple Truths of Appreciation–How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference”

“We Are All Children”

A friend gave me a book of poetry titled “A Lifetime of Love – Poems on the Passages of Life” by Leonard Nimoy. I have been deeply touched by his words – not at all what we would expect from Mr. Spock!

I particularly love this one because if we heeded these words, I think we might have world peace:

We Are All Children Searching for Love

I am convinced
That if all mankind
Could only gather together
In one circle
Arms on each other’s shoulders
And dance, laugh and cry
Together
Then much
Of the tension and burden
Of life
Would fall away
In the knowledge that
We are all children

Needing and wanting
Each other’s
Comfort and
Understanding

We are all children
Searching for love

We are all children
Seeking the fountain
We all children washed by the rain

We are the dreamers
We are the dancers

Life is the music
Love is the Song

We are all children
Needing laughter
Fighting tears
Hiding fears

We are all children
Seeking release
Hungry for peace….

We are all children
Crossing the ocean
We are all children
Tossed by the storm

Swimming in waters
Of God’s devotion
Seeking a harbor to
Offer us home

We are all children
Of various ages

We are all children
The near and the far

Give us the peace
To search not for sages
Give us the strength
To love what we are

Come
Let us dance together
Sing together

Let us reawaken
The innocence
The wonder
The simple
Joy and faith
Which is rightfully ours

Let us unburden ourselves
Of the disguises
The roles
The weights

The chains……
Which hide and bind
The children
That we are

For we are
All of us—-
Children

A THANKSGIVING IDEA FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS

Are you looking for a creative, meaningful way to appreciate your employees and/or your customers this Thanksgiving?

Send their families a copy of The Simple Truths of Appreciation!

THANKSGIVING SPECIAL:
BOOK $12.00 (Retail $15.95)
BOOK WITH DVD $15.00 (Retail $19.95

One of my newer books is titled The Simple Truths of Appreciation, How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference. There is so much negativity and cynicism all around us today that people are desperate for positives and hope and a focus on goodness. I find that everyone can seem to share what is going wrong but have difficulty coming up with what is going RIGHT, so we need to become more positive, grateful people, focused on what is good in our lives.

The #2 thing people want from their jobs is “full appreciation for the work they have done” yet 65% of the workers interviewed said they got NO appreciation for the good work they did all last year. Isn’t that sad?

The other need we are seeing in the workplace is a desire for employees to have more connection between their families (home life) and their work life. When Baxter Labs did a worldwide study asking their employees, “What can we do to make it better for you?”, the answer most received was that they wanted to be recognized as “whole human beings with a life outside of work.” I am seeing this over and over in my work in corporate America.
Finally, new research from Gallup says that only 12- 15% of our American workers are giving their very best to their jobs. 8-10% are burned out, but that leaves 75-80% just doing enough to get by. I believe that is primarily because they do not feel a sense of purpose in the work they are doing and they do not feel valued by the company.

SO, MY IDEA WOULD COMBINE ALL THOSE NEEDS, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to do this. I would like to suggest that companies purchase copies of my book, The Simple Truths of Appreciation, and send them to their employees’ homes as a Thanksgiving gift, thanking the families for sharing the employee with them and for all their sacrifices to help them do their very best work. I think it is a gesture neither the employee nor the family will ever forget.

The book is a short book with lots of beautiful pictures, and it is filled with stories, both personal and business, of people who are making a difference through appreciating others. Even non-readers are enjoying it, so it would be a book for the whole family. Another idea is to also send it to all the organization’s best customers to thank THEM for their business.

I am always trying to think of creative ways to encourage people that they CAN make a difference. This book, containing some simple strategies of how to remember to appreciate people, like putting five pennies in one pocket at the beginning of the day and each time you appreciate someone, moving the pennies to the other pocket with the goal of not ending the day without having moved all five pennies, can help make this spirit of appreciation actionable. And that is what we need more of in this hurting world!

THANKSGIVING SPECIAL:
BOOK $12.00 (Retail $15.95)
BOOK WITH DVD $15.00 (Retail $19.95)

ACT SOON AS THANKSGIVING IS NOT FAR OFF! Special runs through November 30!

To order, visit www.barbaraglanz.com/products/books/.

I finally got my pictures downloaded from the trip to NYC which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. (Scroll down in the blog if you missed it). Here are a couple of the funny highlights that could ONLY happen in New York City!

The Naked Cowboy, a modern day legend in NYC

This is the world-renowned (or maybe not!) “Naked Cowboy” who inhabits Times Square, playing his guitar in his cowboy hat, boots, and underwear! He always draws quite a crowd. Just not sure how he legally gets by with this…….

Walking down Fifth Avenue, who did I run into? Sponge Bob Squarepants! Of course, my little grandsons were delighted with the picture.

Millions of different colored M&M's to choose from!

Nancy and I had a ball at the M&M’s store — three floors of nothing but things made of M&M’s. There was one whole wall of these huge tubes filled with different colored M&M’s. At the bottom was a sort of trap door and plastic bags, so you could choose whatever you wanted and then pay by the pound. We found lots of fun things for the grandchildren. Unfortunately, there were no free samples! 😉

As I shared in the earlier blog posting, we happened onto a free show called “Broadway on Broadway” which included the cast and one number from every musical playing in the city. At the end, the confetti covered us, just like you see on New Year’s Eve. It was delightful, and I even scooped some up from the street to send to the grandchildren.

I can’t wait for my next trip to the “Big Apple!”

SHARE YOUR APPRECIATION

Several weeks ago I was the opening keynote speaker for the Joint Commission in Illinois, which is a regulatory association in the Healthcare Industry. I had a wonderful experience, thanks in good part to the meeting planner who was so efficient in caring for all the details.

I spoke on “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™ — Creating Workplaces of Passion, Purpose, and Productivity,” and in that presentation I use the acronym “CARE” as the elements of a joyful, fully engaged workplace:

C= Creative Communication
A = Atmosphere and Appreciation for All
R = Respect and Reason for Being
E = Empathy and Enthusiasm

I also use the metaphor of “sending” a “CARE Package” when we make a human level connection with someone. In Adult Learning theory, both the acronym and the metaphor are called “Anchors” to help internalize the learning.

When I returned home from this engagement, as usual I sent the meeting planner a thank you note and a lovely, small, handblown ceramic package as a memory of the “CARE Package” theme.

Yesterday, I received this note from her:

Dear Barbara,

Sincerely,
Susan

We never know when a little appreciation can deeply impact a life. And guess what – this organization has already booked me to speak at their conference next year!

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

My daughter, Gretchen, has been a “stay-at-home” Mom for nearly six years. Recently, for financial reasons, she decided she needed to get a part time job in the evenings. I suggested to her that she make a list of all the places she thought it would be fun to work. One of them was Ikea, the new rage, especially with young people, for furniture and household goods.

She sent in her resume’ since they had just recently opened a new store in Portland, Oregon, where they live, and two weeks ago she was called for an interview, the first one she has had in six years since graduating from college.

After it was over, I called her to see how it had gone. She said, “Mom, it did not go very well. I did develop a good relationship with the person who interviewed me, but I did not do well in expressing my skills.” (At that point, I felt terrible because I had neglected to coach her on interview skills and do some role playing with her since she had not done this for such a long time.)

“Well,” I told her, “Regard it as a learning experience and now you’ll be better prepared for the next time.” Then I suggested she send them a thank you note and a copy of my book, “The Simple Truths of Service Inspired by Johnny the Bagger®.” Since the unemployment rate in Portland is the highest in the nation, just getting an interview was a gift, I told her, so this was a way for her to demonstrate her gratitude.

Just a few days later, she got a call to come into the store that very afternoon, and guess what? She GOT the job! The person who had interviewed her told her that in four years of hiring for this new store, she was only the SECOND person who had ever written a “thank you” note, and she was very impressed. Gretchen thinks that is one of the main reasons she got the job.

What a lesson for all of us! It is little things that make a huge difference, and one of the easiest and best ways to differentiate yourself is to become a more grateful person and then to SHOW it. We are all celebrating Gretchen’s success!

For more ideas on ways to become a more appreciative person, get Barbara’s book, “The Simple Truths of Appreciation – How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference, “ www.barbaraglanz.com/products/books/

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.)

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 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/.

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.
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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/.