The Masked Society

Since worldwide we are all experiencing the effects of the coronavirus in various ways in our lives, a wonderful college friend of mine used her time to write a poem that I want to share with you.

THE MASKED SOCIETY

Who are you behind

That mask?

Frightened of any

Spray through

The air that

The mask might not catch?

Afraid of each other,

Mom, Sis,

Dad and Brother.

Don’t hug or

Touch another.

This is a pandemic

That separates our

Souls and hearts.

How so we start

Back……

Solitude has become

A way of life,

Stay home….

Yes….you are safe.

Can’t roam…

No eating out, concerts

Or happy hour.

Learn to appreciate

A flower, or birds,

Feeding outside.

And wait……..

~ Judy Ellsworth, June 2020, San Antonio, TX

Raising Morale for your Colleagues While You Work at Home

Most of my past work has been helping organizations improve customer service and raise employee engagement and morale in their workplaces. However, with the pandemic and almost everyone working from home, many of the the ideas I have shared in the past are no longer applicable. Recently, one of my assistants who is working remotely asked if I would share some ideas of things she and other workers could do FROM HOME to help keep a positive spirit alive in their organizations. As a result, I put together a list of new ideas that I hope may help you as you each adapt to new working conditions.

My office all ready for Zoom presentations!

AT HOME IDEAS TO REGENERATE SPIRIT:

Enclose a surprise in your mailings – a stick of gum, a “calming” teabag, a sticker, or a quotation, or if it is a package, a bag of M&Ms or package of Lifesavers, with a note, “I appreciate you!”
Spice up your memos and emails. Add a fun fact at the end like “Cows give more milk when they listen to music,” or “The Mona Lisa has no eyelids,” or “Beethoven was 5’ 2” tall,” or “It’s illegal to have a pet pig in Iceland.” People will have fun reading them.
Use photos in your emails. Include a photo of your family, your team, a favorite place you love, or even your pet at the end. It is a lovely way to build a personal relationship with your co-workers and clients.
Jazz up your Zoom meetings if you regularly “meet” as a team. Do fun things at either the beginning or the end of each zoom meeting such as have everyone wear a goofy hat or wear their Pjs, or dress up like they were going to a gala or share their favorite mask or post a baby picture of themselves and everyone guesses who is whom …..or on a more serious note, share a book they are reading, a podcast that inspired them, or a song that they love.
Call someone in your organization just to say, “I appreciate and miss you.”
Surprise a co-worker with a poem or a note of appreciation for the work they have done or how they have helped or inspired you. That way they can read it over and over when they are having a tough day.
Do something special for the FAMILY of a co-worker who has gone out of his/her way for you – a gift certificate to an ice cream store, a restaurant, or a movie for the whole family.
Mark Twain said, “I can go two months on one good compliment.” Send a compliment to someone on your team or in your organization every day and encourage them.
As Ken Blanchard said in “The One Minute Manager,” “Make a habit of catching people doing something right.” Even though you are not with them physically, you can still appreciate what they have done right. You don’t have to be a manager to thank someone for a joy well-done!
Jim Munroe from South Carolina sends email poems to appreciate his co-workers at Santee Cooper public power company. Here are some examples:

You stock the shelves and that’s not all

Shipping, receiving and telephone calls.

Forms for this and forms for that.

You even take care of old stray cats!

So jump on that forklift and drive away.

Eat something tasty and have a great day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You deal with the payroll all the day long.

And hear all the complaints if something is wrong.

In this day and time we need to daily give thanks

For at least we have something to put in our banks.

It must be fun handling all that dough.

Every two weeks you’re Santa and our faces glow.

Thanks for a great job – we know you won’t fail.

I love when you tell me, “Your check’s in the mail!”

Mary Kay Ash, CEO of Mary Kay Cosmetics, said, “There are two things people want more than sex or money – recognition and praise.” No matter WHERE you are working, you can give these gifts to your co-workers!
Take a 5 minute vacation. This can be done physically by going outside and walking around the block or to another part of your home, or it can be a mental vacation. Close your eyes and vision a very special place that you have been or would like to go. Then do something you would like there. The best part is that it won’t cost you a penny! You will be amazed at how refreshed you can feel in 5 minutes.
Create an AIG (“Ain’t I Great”) folder for yourself. Fill it with cards, letters, emails, photos, awards – anything that celebrates you and brings you joy. Then when you are having a tough day, you can take it out and remember all the people who care about you.
Charles Swindoll, the author of “Strengthening your Grip,” said, “When we encourage others, we spur them on, we stimulate an affirm them. We appreciate what a person does, but we affirm who a person is.” Be an ENCOURAGER every day!
Send flowers anonymously to someone in your organization who has accomplished a difficult task or needs a lift. (You might even send them to YOURSELF when you have met a goal! 😉 There are also many online greeting card sites that you can immediately use to celebrate and encourage someone.

Please email me at bglanz@barbaraglanz.com with your ideas. For more information on my work, go to http://www.barbaraglanz.com.

Will You Test Positive?

“Will You Test Positive?”

Currently, we are in the midst of a global crisis unprecedented ever before in our lifetimes. As I observe the reactions of people around me, I am seeing a great deal of negativism and overwhelming fear. Since I speak about the power of choice and making a difference wherever you may find yourself. I have heard from a number of clients and friends expressing a need for positivity and hope, so let me share some thoughts with you.

I am honored to serve on the National Cabinet for the Guideposts organization (www.guideposts.org). This is a quote from its founder, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, the author of one of the bestselling books of all time, “The Power of Positive Thinking::”

A positive thinker does not refuse to recognize the negative; he refuses to dwell on it. Positive thinking is a form of thought which habitually looks for the best results from the worst conditions.

We are facing challenging conditions, but we must not dwell on them. When anxiety is at this level, we need to be inspired, given hope, and have faith in a larger plan. I, for one, am facing this crisis from this perspective. How about you?

“FEAR knocked at the door. FAITH answered, and there was no one there.”

I think we all have a CHOICE to respond to these events from a foundation of faith or fear – it is up to us. Here are some ideas about how to remain positive in the face of uncertainty:

Focus on GRATITUDE. Look for all the blessings you have in your liferight now instead of allowing fear to overwhelm you. I keep a “Blessings Journal” and every night before I go to bed, I write down two or three blessings that have happened that very day. To begin, take a sheet of paper and write down every blessing you can think of in your life such as – family, friends, home, health, food, clothing, education, talents, financial security, country, and many others. I think you will be amazed at the size of your list.

“One way of looking at your life will drain your energy. The other way will give you a power and a sense of good fortune that moves you toward faith and gratitude. You have one life, but you have two ways of looking at it.” ~ Martha Finney

Take appropriate action. Certainly it is not wise to discount the seriousness of what is happening, so it is important to follow all the advice of those professionals who have studied this virus. Washing your hands often, staying out of crowds and taking your vitamins are all important. Do whatever you can within your sphere of influence and then try to relax and enjoy the GIFT of life you have been given.

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” ~ Martin Luther

Let go of worry. Instead, think about what you DO have control over and focus on those things. Worry uses up our energy and drags us down. It is like a rocking chair – It take a lot of energy, but it doesn’t get us anywhere

“Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. IF encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” ~ A.S. Roche

Use this time as a “Plateau time.” What are things you have been wanting to do but just never seem to have the time? Sort, simplify, read, write, rest, and most importantly, RECONNECT with people who are important to you. This time of isolation can be a precious gift in your life if you regard it in that way.

“Tomorrow is not promised, nor is today. So I choose to celebrate every day I’m alive by being fully present in it. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Pray and Trust. Put your faith in whatever you choose as the foundation of your life and trust the outcome. Prayer is the mightiest weapon we have against fear and negativity.. It is a simple vehicle of hope.

Now, will YOU text POSITIVE???? It is your choice!

For more information on Barbara’s work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com

2019 Christmas Letter and Collage

(Pictures identified at the end of the letter)

CHRISTMAS LETTER 2019

As always I feel so grateful as I write this annual letter – I am deeply blessed with a strong faith, a loving family, a wonderful man in my life, precious friends all over the world, good health, work that I love, and the amazing opportunity to travel to many interesting places. How could life get any better than that? 😉

January and February were quiet, “catch up” months this year (which I desperately needed!). I was interviewed on the ABC Suncoast View and enjoyed opera season as well as many fun times with Frank and friends. In March Frank took me to Las Vegas for a few days, and then Gretchen and family were here for a week for their Spring Break. One of the special treats was taking all of them to see the “Lion King,” the boys’ first Broadway play. At the end of March I was thrilled to spend 7 days in Iceland. Unfortunately, we did not see the Northern Lights because of weather, but we saw spectacular scenery, and the highlight was a massage in the Blue Lagoon.

In April I had the fun opportunity to speak at the Delta Flight Museum and then in Jacksonville where I got to see some very special friends. Later that month Frank and I took a Viking River Cruise (his first) on the Elbe River. The highlights were the days we spent in Berlin and Prague, two cities filled with history, art and music.

May was filled with birthday celebrations, a visit from my brother, Bruce, from Colorado (who LOVES the beach, fishing, and my kayak) and finally a fun visit with the Larsens, longtime friends from my hometown in Iowa. In June I spoke for my 22^nd year at the Society for Human Resource Management national convention in Las Vegas. I did two sessions, one on Appreciation and one on Kindness, with several thousand at each one. It just shows how desperately we all need positivity and hope in our world today. I feel so blessed to be the messenger that we can EACH make a difference every day.

July started with a fun family trip to Long Beach Island, Washington. I rented a big house and everyone except Gavin, who had to work, was there. You will see the crazy, misspelled tye-dyed sweatshirts we all got for the annual family picture! At the end of July I attended the National Speaker’s Association conference in Denver, and in August I spoke to Bouchard Insurance where they did a wonderful full-length video of my presentation on service, https://barbaraglanz.com/videos/barbara-glanz-keynote-preview/. Frank and I then took another Viking cruise from Basel to Amsterdam which we loved.

The end of August was the Veteran Speakers Retreat in the DC area, one of my favorite groups of friends in the world. However, the sad news was that I ended up having a terrible asthma attack (my own fault from neglecting to use my inhaler on a regular basis). It was very scary not being able to breathe! Frank and I had booked a trip to Japan for 2 ½ weeks the beginning of September, and just three days before we were to leave, the doctors said I could not go. That was terribly disappointing, but we found out later that the first day we were arriving, there was a huge typhoon right at the airport where we would have been staying. It destroyed homes, flooded everything, shut down all transportation with no electricity for 15 days, so we could never have gotten to our ship. What a lesson in trusting God’s better plan for us!

October was really busy with several speaking trips. On October 19 Ken Blanchard asked me to be on a panel with him and three other people on KINDNESS for the Global Empowerment Summit at UC San Diego sponsored by the United Nations. It brought together an amazing collection of progressive global leaders and change makers from all over the world to discuss, raise awareness of, and empower kindness and compassion around the world. The mayor proclaimed it “Kindness Day” for the entire city of San Diego. I had the joy of staying with the Blanchards AND getting to spend a few days with my amazing 96 year old aunt who still does water aerobics, dances, drives, and plays bridge!

At the end of the month, I met my friend, Leila, from London, in New York City for 5 days. We got to see “To Kill a Mockingbird” with Jeff Daniels, “Tootsie,” “Moulin Rouge”, and “Madame Butterfly” at the Met. What an exciting city it is! In early November I spoke in Seattle and got to see Garrett’s family for a few days. Then I flew to Portland the week before Thanksgiving and we all drove to Garrett’s for the holiday. I will be back in Portland for Christmas.

In November I created a new product that has been on my heart for a long time – a Perpetual Calendar of all my favorite uplifting thoughts for the day. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love quotations, so I hope this will bring hope, inspiration and joy to many people. The best news is that you can use it forever! 😉

A fun highlight of the year was a phone call from “Uncle Wayne” Williams after he was given my book on Appreciation. He called to tell me that “he wanted to make a difference in the time he had left,” so he has ordered over 60 of my books to give away all over the country. Uncle Wayne is 99 years old and lives all alone on a farm in Shell Knob, MO. He has an iphone, he does email, he has his own website and he even has a YouTube channel. What an inspiration he is….AND I am invited to his 100^th birthday party! 😉

GARRETT continues to work for Amazon and focuses on new business deals with Alexa. Ashley is busy with their horse, volunteering and remodeling their lovely home. Kinsey was able to graduate with her class but is still having lots of pain in her knees and ankles from the steroid treatment for the leukemia. She is taking a year off before college to try several options before having to possibly replace both knees and ankles. Gavin is working two jobs and spending all his free time and money on his hot car!

GRETCHEN is still working as Operations Manager for 4 boutiques in Portland while Randy continues his freelance work with web design. Owen is a freshman in HS majoring in computer science. He saved up his money to buy a computer that he built himself and a VR headset. He loves his “cave’ in the basement! Simon is in Jr, High and a really talented soccer player. He plays on the United PDX Premier Academy Club as a left back. They compete in tournaments all over the state.

ERIN still works for the company that reps a number of lines of women’s clothing. She is very successful as the number two person in the company and keeps busy with her two kitties, Cricket and Clover, and supporting the Timbers soccer team.

I am grateful to all of you for being my precious clients and friends. I wish you a safe and happy 2020.

Special Blessings,

FAMILY PICTURES

ROW ONE, left to right:

* Speaking at the Society for Human Resource Management national convention for my 22nd year in June on “The Simple Truths of Appreciation – How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference”

* Taking Owen and Simon to “The Lion King,” their first Broadway show in March

* Keynoting for Bouchard Insurance Company in August on “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™ – Creating Workplaces of Passion, Purpose and Productivity”

* A fountain and statue in Strasbourg in August

ROW TWO

* A cathedral along the banks of the Rhine River in Germany

* A waterfall in Iceland in March

* Wonderful friends at the Veteran Speakers Retreat in DC in August

* A windmill in Kinderdijk, Holland

* Frank and I in Saxon Switzerland National Park in April

ROW THREE

* Ken and Margie Blanchard at their home in San Diego in October

* The family in Ocean Park, WA, in July: Randy, Gretchen, Owen, me, Garrett, Ashley, Simon, Erin, and Kinsey (Gavin was working and coudln’t come)

* An interview with Linda Carson on ABC 7’s “Suncoast View” for the new business edition of “The Simple Truths of Service Inspired by Johnny the Bagger®”

ROW FOUR

* Owen (14), Simon (12) and me on the my beach on Siesta Key at Spring Break

* National Speaker’s Association Conference,”Influence,” in Colorado in July

* Speaking for the Global Empowerment Summit at University of California San Diego with Ken Blanchard on “Kindness” in October

* My lovely Aunt Joan who is 96 and still amazing at her home in California

* My grandson Gavin’s hot custom car that he has built himself!

ROW FIVE

* A crazy guy at the Berlin wall 😉

* Having a glass of wine at a good friend’s home in Jacksonville, FL

* Frank and I outside the Cologne Cathedral

* The whole family celebrating an early Christmas at Garrett’s home in Seattle (Gretchen, Kinsey, Simon, Ashley me, Owen, Gavin, Garrett, and Erin)

* My book table when I was speaking at the Youth Family Association in October

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

David Hasselhoff, My “Claim to Fame!”

My children think my greatest claim to fame is that I taught David Hasselhoff in my sophomore English class at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois, and I also directed him that summer in his first high school play. It is a fun personal fact that I always include at the end of my serious introduction when I am speaking….and it always gets a laugh from the audience!

David’s family moved to La Grange in the middle of the year in 1968, and he was assigned to my English class. Because I had gotten such great reviews from my former students my first two years of teaching, they asked me to try an experiment to see if I could keep the same spirit of learning, creativity, and fun with classes of 35- 40 students instead of the usual 25.

I learned later that after meeting me and attending his first class, he went to the principal and asked to be transferred to another class because he thought I was too young to be a good teacher. (I was 24 at the time.) The principal told him that he needed to stay for one month, and if he still felt that way, he could have a transfer. Well, he not only stayed for the rest of the year, but along with 100 other students, he signed up for the theatre class I was teaching that summer! For some reason (maybe I had an inkling that he would one day be famous???), I saved the following letter he wrote to me at the end of that school year.

Here are some of his words: “At first I thought you were way too young for a teacher which led me to believe that you might not be a a good teacher from past experiences with young teachers. But my mind was soon changed. I enjoyed the class very much even though my grades don’t necessarily show it. I am so glad I got put into this class because I think that you have helped me and will further help me this summer towards my goal in life. After all the criticism I have given you, I would really like to say that this was the best class I have had in two years – and that’s the truth! I am looking forward to working with you this summer in Theatre Workshop.”

That summer he played the lead in “Once Upon a Mattress,” the story of the Princess and the Pea, his first real theatre debut. Since the students tackled every aspect of the production, including making all the costumes as a part of the learning, we wanted to keep the them simple, so the guys all wore tunics and tights. We all laughed because after searching the world, we could never find tights to fit his long legs (I can still remember his coming to my house and trying them on and the crotch would come about to his knees 😉 . In the end, we had to sew two pairs together!

In 2007 I was speaking in Las Vegas and as I was getting off the plane, I saw a huge electronic sign advertising “David Hasslehoff, starring in ‘The Producers.’ ” When I got to the hotel, I called the concierge and asked if she could get me a ticket to the show the next night and if she could possibly get a message to David that his old English and Drama teacher was in the audience. She got a chuckle out of that and said she would try.

The next day I got a call from David’s assistant. She said he was dying to see me, and if I could stay after the show, he would send me a backstage pass. The show was delightful, and afterwards David and I spent an hour in his dressing room reminiscing, catching up on our families, and sharing what we had done in all those years. He left me with this picture which was signed with the following inscription: “To Barbara – Your enthusiasm has kept me going. Keep up the good work.”

I know he has had some rough times in his life, but that night I could still see the committed, sincere, and fun-loving young man I knew many years ago!

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

DON’T BECOME COMPLACENT!

This is a warning blog post for any of you who have chronic health issues or recurring health problems.

I was diagnosed with the Asthma Triad nearly 40 years ago after my last baby was born, a result of a chemical change caused by pregnancy. it involves mild asthma, polyps, and a fatal allergy to aspirin. (I wear my Medic Alert bracelet 24/7!)

Several years ago I had polyps removed from all my sinus cavities. However, my asthma has been under control for years and years…….and that is when I became complacent, thinking perhaps I was “cured.”

Over the last year or two, I have been very lax about taking my inhaler. Sometimes I only did one puff a day and on other days I forgot it completely. Since my longtime doctor retired last year, I did not even take time to find a new allergy doc.

Then last week happened. I began to have symptoms on Wednesday, but I was leaving Thursday through Sunday for a big conference in Washington, DC. Luckily, I found a PA who gave me some medicine but didn’t seem too worried about my flying, so I went ahead and left.

I just got worse and worse and could not sleep for 4 nights because of all the coughing and the difficulty breathing – really scary (almost thought I needed to go to the emergency room.) When I got home late Sunday night, I realized I was in trouble – it was the worst asthma attack I have EVER had.

I got in to a new doctor Monday early afternoon and nearly expired in their waiting room (or at least that was what they were afraid of ;-). She did a double breathing treatment, put me on high doses of Prednisone, and sent me for a chest X-ray. Now I am left with feeling rotten, hyper, and with a lowered immune system….. and very concerned since I am leaving for Japan for 2 ½ weeks in just 11 days!

My message to you is to be SMART and CONSISTENT in any medication you might need to take. I realize I have been to Iceland, twice to several countries in Europe, and on 5 US trips since March, so I suspect I just ran my immunity down to nothing and allowed the asthma to take over. However, HAD I TAKEN MY MEDICATION CONSISTENTLY, I doubt if this would have happened.

I am now pledging that I will never again be complacent about my health, and I hope you won’t either!

www.barbaraglanz.com

Interview on “Good Life Tampa Bay”

H John Meija, the host of the TV show, “Good Life Tampa Bay,” interviewed me last week when I spoke to Bouchard Insurance in Tampa. It was a privilege to be with Bouchard and their clients, and I highly recommend H and In the Zone TV. This interview will air in October on his TV program.

https://barbaraglanz.com/videos/barbara-glanz-on-good-life-tampa-bay/

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

How to Create Human Level Connections

“When we recognize someone as a human being and connect with them as another human being, it’s going to make all the difference in the world.”

Watch my quick video to hear me speak more about how to create human level connections.

The Human Business Model in Every Interaction

“Every interaction we have with anyone has two levels- the business level and the human level.”

Watch my quick video about the human business model to hear me speak more about the two levels within every interaction.

Lessons Learned from a Hurricane

Siesta Key Beach from my window

Hurricane season has started for many of us! Since I live on the beach on Siesta Key, a barrier island in Sarasota, Florida, any time there is a major hurricane, we have a mandatory evacuation. Over the years in all this preparation, anxiety, and decision-making, here are some of the life lessons I have learned:

PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. Like everyone else in the area, I begin to pack precious things away, get water, canned food, candles and gas, fill water containers, clean out the refrigerator, go through important papers, get all my work clothes and materials ready, and generally plan for the possibility of either being stranded at home without electricity or being off the island and without power for several days or more. Although this is a lot of work, I am always deeply grateful when none of these preparations are needed!
BE FLEXIBLE. I’ve learned to have a series of plans depending on the harshness of the storm. My first plan is always to go to a girlfriend’s condo downtown. Then if the news looks worse, I try to find a place in a friend’s home inland. In the meantime, I reserve a room at a hotel near the airport in case no one has extra room, and finally, it is also possible to completely leave town and drive north. It is still stressful trying to determine the best course of action, but the most important thing I have learned is to keep all options open.
DETERMINE WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU. As I always struggle with what to pack away, which rooms would likely survive windows blowing out, and which things to take with me, I really begin to think about what I would miss if I lost everything. Of course, the first thing I do is to pack all my pictures in a plastic tub, cover both the étagère that holds my doll collection and my grand piano, and move my desktop computer to the only room without windows. I pack my insurance policies, my checkbooks, my daytimer, my Iphone, laptop and Ipad as well as an overnight bag with toiletries and fresh clothes and underwear. Then come the decisions about what else to save. What really amazed me the first time I had to evacuate was how little I realized I would truly miss – they are all just “things” that can probably be replaced, but of course lives cannot. (I even almost secretly hoped that all the piles of papers and books that I need to sort through might just “happen” to get wet and I could simply dump them without any guilt! 😉
BE BLESSSED WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE CARE ABOUT YOU. Each time this has happened I have been overwhelmed with all the calls, emails, and texts from friends and family all over the world who have shared their concern for my safety as well as the precious gift of their prayers. I have been deeply touched by the generosity of so many who have offered me a place to stay, their help in any way I might need, and even financial help if needed.The National Speakers Association, for example, calls every member in the affected area when there is a disaster to offer help. One of my dear speaker friends knew I had a speaking event during the last evacuation and even offered to be my backup if I could not get out! This has made me even more aware of how important it is to show others how much we care about them
PRAY UNCEASINGLY FOR OTHERS. Even though I have been spared in the past, we all must keep praying for others who have been greatly impacted by these storms. Prayers DO count! I may still get water in my condo; however, that is a small inconvenience compared to so many, many others.

I will always remember these lessons and the GOODNESS of people and the way we can come together during a crisis. Our world desperately needs this hope right now, and for those of us on the coast, especially during hurricane season!

For more information about Barbara and her work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com