I recently received this email from a person who was in my audience at the Society for Human Resource Managers annual conference where I was speaking on “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™-Creating Workplaces of Passion, Purpose, and Productivity”:
Barbara,
I recently attended the SHRM conference in Orlando and had the accidental privilege of hearing you speak. After walking around the convention center all morning, I found myself lost on the third floor with blisters on my heels. Unable to go any farther, I hobbled into your session. I’ve never been so glad to be in pain!
Initially, I had not planned on attending your session because I had seen you several years ago. I bought your books and I even got to meet you in person at a book signing. Boy, did your session re-energize my spirit! I currently work for a younger manager who believes that employees are just a Craigslist ad away. He even told me, a dedicated employee of 25 years, that “anyone who’s been here more than 5 years is complacent and worthless.” Needless to say, our workplace is not the happiest place in the world. Our manager does not even say hello when he passes by. It’s very demoralizing to go to work everyday.
But your session gave me renewed hope that I can possibly make up for his ignorance by using acts of kindness to perk up our staff. I have already dug through your books and found ideas for a short survey that I can give to the staff as soon as I return to work.
Thank you, Barbara, for the kick in the pants I needed to reverse the negativity in our workplace!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Pearce
HR Director
I immediately wrote Cynthia to thank her for the affirmation and to encourage her with even more ideas of small things that cost little or no money. Just this week she wrote back with this reply: “In the spirit of appreciation, I asked the chef to save all of the leftover Ice cream novelties for me to share with my co-workers when I pass out paychecks tomorrow. It’s very warm here, so I’m hoping my ‘Ice cream (I scream) my appreciation of you’ goes over well! Thanks again for the motivation.”
One of the joys of my mission is helping people create fully engaged workplaces of caring, creativity, FUN and ultimately greater productivity, and the best news of all is that it DOESN’T have to cost money. Way to go, Cynthia — you are making a difference!
Go to www.barbaraglanz.com/ideas and check out the archives for even more ways to make your workplace a great place to be. You can also subscribe to my free monthly email newsletter, “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™,” for a new idea every month.
Human Family
I just read this poem and was struck by the depth of truth. As I have traveled the world and spoken on all seven continents, one of the most poignant lessons I have learned is that EVERYONE HAS A HEART. It is just more difficult to reach some than others, usually because of past experiences of not being loved. IF we could only internalize this truth, we could live in peace instead of in fear. Thank you, Maya Angelou, for these precious words.
“HUMAN FAMILY”
by Maya Angelou
I note the obvious differences in the human family.
Some of us are serious, some thrive on comedy.
Some declare their lives are lived as true profundity,
and others claim they really live the real reality.
The variety of our skin tones can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple, tan and blue and white.
I’ve sailed upon the seven seas and stopped in every land,
I’ve seen the wonders of the world not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I’ve not seen any two who really were the same.
Mirror twins are different although their features jibe,
and lovers think quite different thoughts while lying side by side.
We love and lose in China, we weep on England’s moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea, and thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland, are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ, in major we’re the same.
I note the obvious differences between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.
Today was a quiet day. I slept in, had breakfast and then worked on email and writing my journal on the front porch with the breeze blowing through the palm trees. At 12:30 I had another Indian Head Massage – nice but not nearly as good as the one at Octopus. Lunch was a special wood-fired pizza which we all enjoyed—we even saved the leftovers for a cocktail party that evening.
We found out that this resort is only 6 months old, so everything is new, and we heard that the prices will be going way up at the end of the year, so book your reservations NOW! 😉 Later in the afternoon we took a kayak snorkeling trip across the water to a new resort they are currently building. The most exciting thing I was were several very large bright purple starfish and a whole school of squid.
That night there was a kava ceremony and native music. Even though the young people continued partying, Nancy and I came back and read in our air-conditioned room!
January 15
Today we packed up to leave for the last segment of our trip. You put all your bags (we had 8 between us!) out on the porch and the poor staff guys have to carry them down to the shore where they go in a separate boat to load on the big boat, Ocean Dreams. Then we all boarded about 11:00 am and rode for 4 hours to Blue Lagoon, which is the furthest resort in the islands.
At this resort Nancy and I are slowly getting back to reality – although we have two bedrooms (they upgraded us), we have NO AC!!!! So, we did not sleep nearly as well here as at the other resorts. It is VERY hot and humid and not always breezes, especially at night, so we realized how spoiled we had been at the earlier resorts!
After lunch we snorkeled and swam, then read a bit and joined the group for cocktails at 6:30. It was quite interesting snorkeling here as the schools of fish, especially the little turquoise neon ones, just surrounded us and made us feel as if we were part of them. Many swam right in front of our masks and even bumped us occasionally. We saw some much larger fish here and some that we had not seen before. My favorites are the yellow and black angel fish. We have six marine biologists with us on this trip, so it is really fun learning from them all about the various species of coral and fish.
After dinner, they did a “Survivor” contest with some fun events – questions about Fiji, a puzzle, a throwing contest, and finally one super last question about all the resort stops on the boat. Our team, the “Monkey Fish,” won first place, a champagne breakfast on the beach!
Today was “play day” for us all. The guys took a hike to the top of another very high mountain where Katie, the bride, and her accomplices had buried treasure for the groom to find. All the girls met for a spa day and fun bachelorette games. I had a massage and reflexology, and we learned lots about Katie and even more about Ashley (some things I think he would rather NOT have had us know…..;-)
Then we all met for lunch, snorkeling, swimming and reading. Nancy and I had a pina colada around the pool and ate deep fried banana chips (like potato chips). The food is all inclusive here, so we are all eating way too much – will have to work hard to lose it all when I get home, but it is worth it! 😉
We all met at 6:30 at Beth’s bure for cocktails and the wedding rehearsal. We nearly died laughing when Katie and Ashley appeared. Only a photo can explain their outfits! Oh, how I wish I had ever had a body like Katie’s – they looked like high class strippers…..and we were all delighted and envious of Youth. We encouraged them to wear the costumes to dinner to the delight of the whole resort. After dinner, everyone called it an early night and headed home for a great night’s sleep.
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.
(This is excerpted from Barbara’s book, “The Simple Truths of Appreciation — How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference.” To order the book, go to www.barbaraglanz.com/products/books/.)
No matter who we are or what our actions may say, we all want to be recognized and appreciated. I often quote Lou Holtz, the famous Notre Dame coach, who said, “Why is it that the people who need love, (appreciation), and understanding the most usually deserve it the least.”
Jaime Escalante, the teacher whom the movie Stand and Deliver was based on, tells an amazing story about a mistaken identity and the difference it made in a young man’s life.
This teacher had two students in his class who were both named Johnny. One Johnny was an excellent student, a happy child, and always had his homework completed on time. The other Johnny was always in trouble, never had his work finished, and generally made the teacher’s life miserable.
The night of their first PTA Open House of the year a mother stayed after the meeting to ask about her son, Johnny, and how he was getting along in the class. Assuming it was the mother of the “good” Johnny, the teacher replied, “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate him. I am so glad he’s in my class.”
The next day, for the first time all year, the “problem” Johnny had all his work done, he spoke up in class, and never once caused a disruption. He even volunteered to help another student. The teacher was astounded!
At the end of the day when everyone else had left, “problem” Johnny came up to the teacher and said, “My Mom told me what you said about me last night. I haven’t ever had a teacher who wanted me in his class.”
That Johnny became one of the best students the teacher ever had – and all because of a mistaken dose of appreciation! No matter who we are and what our situation in life, we all need to be appreciated.
It doesn’t just have to be the month of Thanksgiving that we share our gratitude and appreciation for blessings in our lives. One of the ways to keep “an attitude of gratitude” in the places we work is to make a Thanksgiving tree.
THE IDEA IN ACTION:
* Many years ago I created a Thanksgiving tree for our home. I took a large manzanita branch, sprayed it gold, and secured it in a base of plaster of Paris. Beside it I kept a basket of small plain cards with holes punched in them, another basket of pieces of colored yarn, and a pen. The tradition in our family is that the month before Thanksgiving, the tree is placed on a table in our living room, and each family member writes down things for which he or she is thankful and hangs them on the tree. We also encourage guests in our home to participate. At the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day we read the cards from the tree as an affirmation of our blessings. Then we save the cards from the year before, and we read those as well. It is a wonderful way to remind us of all the goodness in our lives and reinforces the importance of sharing our appreciation.
This is a tree that one of my clients made for their workplace.
TIPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION:
An organization could use this idea in a work area, a cafeteria, or other gathering place to encourage employees to focus on the good things happening each day. It also promotes communication and teamwork as others read the information shared on the cards. If the tree is kept up all year long, it will be important to remove the cards on a regular basis to make room for others and to encourage continual appreciation.
A friend just sent me this wonderful idea. Blessing Bags are prepared to keep in the car when one passes homeless people. They are something ALL of us can do to make a small difference in our world and especially something one can do with children or grandchildren to teach them about caring for others. The bags are filled with all kinds of things that most of us have around our homes and can easily share with others.
BLESSING BAGS
INGREDIENTS:
Gallon size Ziplock bags
chap stick
packages of tissues
toothbrush and toothpaste
comb
soap
hotel size shampoos
trail mix
granola bars
crackers
pack of gum
band aids
mouthwash
coins or predetermined dollar amount (could be used to make a phone call, or purchase a food item)
hand wipes
You could also put in a warm pair of socks, a packet rain poncho, tampons (for women)
The ideas could be endless!
Assemble all the items in the bags, and maybe add a note of encouragement, a Bible verse, or a prayer. Seal the bags and stow in your car for a moment of providence.
For more caring ideas of things you can give to others, order Barbara’s book, “Priceless Gifts — Using What God’s Given You to Bless Others,”either hard copy or an ebook at www.barbaraglanz.com/products/books/.
SURPRISE REUNION WITH “JOHNNY THE BAGGER®”
In 2007 we filmed a dramatization of my story of “Johnny the Bagger®” in Des Moines, Iowa. It was very special because it was filmed in my home state, and one of the scenes of me speaking to the grocery store staff was even filmed in the State Capitol Building of Iowa.
Photo of Garret and Barbara taken during the filming in 2007
Vision Point, the company that produced the movie, spent several hundred thousand dollars on the project and brought in actors from all over the country. One of the extra special blessings was that the young man who played Johnny was named Garrett, the name of my only living son, and this was his very first paying engagement!
Last Friday, I was asked to present to the Illinois chapter of the National Speakers Association in Oak Brook, IL. My contact person, Steve Beck, has worked a great deal with Special Olympics, and since my story involves a person with Down Syndrome, Steve contacted the state coordinator of the group to let her know I was going to be in town.
When she checked out my website, she viewed a picture of me and the young man who had played Johnny in the movie and thought he looked familiar. She finally realized that it was Garrett, who now is a speaker and ambassador for Special Olympics all over the county. She contacted his mother to tell them I was going to be in Chicago, and they all decided to come to hear me.
MEMORIES OF MOTHER
Lucille Anderson Bauerle
May 21, 1918 – May 17, 2011
Mother’s college graduation picture — the one that made my Dad fall in love with her!
She was CREATIVE.
• We always had the best costumes on Halloween and in the Kids Day Parade. One year Bruce was “Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater,” and she created a huge orange pumpkin around our wagon. Then she made me a princess costume to be his wife. They put a ladder in the wagon, and poor Bruce had to pull me all around the town square. I loved it!
• She was constantly doing art projects with us. I guess it took more on my sister, though, than it did on me!
She was GENEROUS.
• I remember so many times going with her to deliver food or flowers to people, and often she would do it anonymously. We would leave a plant on the front porch with a note that said someone was thinking about them, and then we would drive away. (Today it would probably get stolen!)
• About once a month, she would pack us all into the car (usually complaining all the way), and we would go to the Baptist Memorial Home. We would always take a treat to pass out to all the residents – homemade cookies or cupcakes, little cups of Dairy Queen (they were 5 cents in those days), or fresh fruit. All of us kids would be the deliverers and then I would have to play the piano, and sometimes the other kids sang. Today I know what a wonderful gift that was to them, but at the time all I wanted was to be with my friends.
Today, May 10, is the anniversary of Charlie’s birthday in Heaven. I still miss him every day! Each of us in the family knew that he would give his life for us without question, and that is the most precious gift one could ever have from a husband or father. This is a tribute I wrote about him in his memorial booklet:
Charles William Glanz
My husband often surprised me. He was not what I would consider a true romantic, but as the years went by, I realized that he was romantic in simple, homey ways. He loved to hold hands and touch. I must admit that sometimes I was annoyed by this, especially in the middle of the night when he couldn’t sleep or in the middle of a movie or sermon to which I was intently listening. However, more and more, I have realized what a comfort and an anchor his touch was for me. I knew, without a doubt, that I was loved, and I so miss that touch today!
Barbara Glanz’s heart warming stories move us and inspire us! Barbara takes the time to know and understand her audienc,e and her positive optimism makes us all feel good about ourselves and others. She lights up the room with her contagious enthusiasm!
Peter Hart, Chief Executive Officer
Rideau Recognition Solutions
Montreal, Canada
The highest reward for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it. - John Ruskin -
