I arrived in Amsterdam at 7:15 am (1:15 am EST), so since I am a “night owl” anyway, I did not sleep on the plane. Instead, I loved watching three movies! (One was “Secretariat” which gave me tears of happiness when he won…I have a soft heart for anything that is positive and encouraging.;-) They served dinner soon after takeoff and then sort of an egg mcmuffin with a banana just before we landed. I sat next to a darling young man from an island in Norway, who works on a cargo ship and was just coming home on leave for a month. He shared all kinds of things for me to do when I am in Scandinavia next month.

My client and new friend, Nicolette Wuhring, was dear to meet me at the airport so early in the morning. I had warned her to bring a big car because of all my luggage (anyone who has ever traveled with me knows I NEVER travel light! ;-), and we talked a mile a minute the whole hour to the hotel. On the way we passed darling small dutch cottages and field after field of hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips, rows of color like stripes in pinks, purples, reds, and yellows. What a lovely, simple lifestyle they lead, at least in the country. As we were leaving the highway, we looked up and saw a beautiful rainbow- I think a sign that this visit is going to be especially blessed.

The Grand Hotel Huis Ter Duin is located right on the beach, and my room has a lovely view. As I looked out this afternoon, there were people walking and several riding horses on the beach even though it is pretty cold and windy today. On the lawn outside my window is a giant chess set and chess board installed on the ground which people use to play when it is warmer. Sadly, while I was watching, three middle school aged boys began throwing the giant pieces at one another–I guess there is disrespect for property everywhere in the world. The lobby and hallways of the hotel have polished marble floors, beautiful carpets, and lovely chandeliers as well as huge curving staircases and dark oak bars–very elegant.

After Nicolette and I had coffee, I checked into my room about 11:15 am (6:15 am my time), unpacked, took a shower, and then took about a 4 hour nap. I got up, dressed, and went down to dinner where I met Lou and Jonellen Heckler, speaker friends from Gainesville, Florida. I ordered Plaice, a local fish that was just freshly caught, and it was wonderful. Food, however, is VERY expensive here — an American breakfast, for example is 30 EU or about $40! Tipping, though, is much less. Even a 10% tip is appreciated in the restaurants, and one does not tip housekeepers, taxi drivers, and others. It is always interesting to learn about the cultures of other countries. I brought my converter for my curling iron as well as the correct plugs to use for my computer and phone, and it is safe here to drink the water from the tap, so in the room, it feels almost like I am in America.

Tomorrow Nicolette is going to pick me up at 9:00 to go to the tulip fields, and then there are meetings for the Global Speakers Federation, a reception, and a dinner, so it will be a busy day. I am so very BLESSED to be able to be here in Holland. My life is full of joy, special friendships, and adventure, and I am grateful for each day, each person, and each experience.

This week my book group visited the Big Cat Habitat on the outskirts of Sarasota. We were discussing the book (which will soon be a movie), “Water for Elephants,” and decided this would be a great place to add to our repertoire of circus stories. Kay Rosaire, a member of a nine generation family of circus performers, started this awesome place. It is a non-profit sanctuary for retired, ill, or unwanted circus animals and other animals shelters will not take and is almost completely run by volunteers. They have tigers (including several white ones), lions, ligers (had never heard of this but it is the result of breeding a lion and a tiger), bears, leopard, monkeys, goats, birds, camels, and even a Clydesdale horse!

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday they present some kind of animal show, and once a year they do a one ring circus, just to keep the animals active and connected to their past. Kay had a famous big cat act, and her sister, Pam, and father worked with horses. While we were there, we all enjoyed Kay and Pam’s stories and the antics of “Chance,” a two year old chimpanzee who acted just like a human in the “terrible two’s!”

The Habitat is located at 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34240. Many times as you drive up, you can hear the lions and tiger roar! When my grandchildren were visiting two years ago, I scheduled a private tour (which you can do for a donation), and that was one of the highlights of their visit. You can read the animal’s stories, see pictures of them or make a donation at www.bigcathabitat.org. If you are an animal lover, you will want to visit and support Kay’s mission to care for unwanted and unloved animals. At the Big Cat Habitat they have a home for life!

To learn more about Barbara and her work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com.

I have always been a reader, and I love sharing books that cause me to think or that I especially enjoy. As a result, several months ago I started a book discussion group with several friends, and it has been delightful to talk about favorite books with others. If you are not in some kind of book group, I strongly recommend starting one. Instead of an article in this month’s email newsletter, I decided to share what I have been reading lately. I always have at least three books going — a business book, a spiritual book, and a “fun” book. Here are some of my current favorites:

BUSINESS:

“Lead with LUV–A Different Way to Create Real Success” by Ken Blanchard and Colleen Barrett

This book by two of my special friends is about how it pays to put people first. Ken Blanchard, the author of the bestselling business book of all time, “The One Minute Manager,” interviews Colleen Barrett, the CEO Emeritus of Southwest Airlines, about her philosophy of loving people to success. In a “conversation” together, they reveal why leading with love is so powerful, how to make it work, and how it can make your organization even more successful. The book particularly resonated with me because this belief is foundational to all my work, and even for those who disagree, no one can argue with the success of Southwest. Ken told me that of all his many books, he thinks this book is his finest work!

“SWITCH — How to Change Things When Change is Hard” by Chip and Dan Heath

This “how-to,” delightful combination of research and stories ties perfectly into the model I use in all my work called the Human-Business model. The authors believe that our minds are ruled by two different systems–the rational mind (the Rider) and the emotional mind (the Elephant). Their premise is that the Rider can control the Elephant up to a point, but when the Elephant wants to go a different direction, guess who wins? Case in point: your rational mind wants to diet, but your emotional mind wants that Big Mac. They show us how we can help these two systems work together both in our personal and our work lives to effect lasting change.

“A Whole New Mind — Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future”–Daniel Pink

This book dovetails perfectly with the other two books above and again is foundational to my message. Pink says that the age of “left-brain” dominance is over, and the future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind. He describes the six fundamentally human abilities that are essential for success and how to master them: Design, Storytelling, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning. Each “sense” is fully described in a chapter with research and real life stories as well as an additional “Portfolio” of ideas to illustrate how we can each develop these abilities more fully in our own lives.

FUN:

“Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese, a well-respected physician and professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine

I could not put this beautifully written book down! It is set in Ethiopia during a revolutionary period in the 1950’s. It is the story of twin brothers raised in a hospital in Addis Ababa who share a preternatural connection and a fascination with medicine. The book is a saga of love and betrayal, compassion and wisdom, illuminating both the magic and the tragedy of our lives. I guarantee you will never forget it!

SPIRITUAL:

“Jesus Calling–Enjoying Peace in His Presence” by Sarah Young

This book was given to me as a gift from a friend, and it is the best devotional I have ever found. It feels as if Jesus is actually speaking to you each day of the year, and somehow, the words are exactly what I need to hear that day!

Please share with me what you are reading. For more updated information on my life and work, please join me on Facebook, Linked-In, Plaxo, and Twitter. (See sidebar of this blog.)