September / October 2020

Dear Barbara,

September/October 2020

I can hardly believe that September is here already – where has the time gone? Even though I don’t think I have ever been at home in Sarasota this long since before I started my company in 1995, I am struggling with how little I have really accomplished in the 6 ½ months of sheltering from Covid. How about you?

I was very industrious the first two months, and then I slowly ran out of steam for projects. Now I am wondering HOW I wrote books, did all my social networking, kept in touch with family and friends, and still traveled all over the world speaking for so many years! 😉

Since I suspect, like me, you are struggling with missing friends and family, dinners out, movies, theatre, and simply the joy of being together, I decided in this newsletter I would share some funny things and some inspirational thoughts that my clients and friends have been asking me for. I apologize if I should have given credit to any of the writers, but I could not find that information. Please enjoy, have a laugh or two on me, and keep focusing on your blessings.

One simple thing we can each do right away is to get a sheet of paper and on one side, write down all the blessings you have that money can’t buy. And on the other side, write down all the people you love. I guarantee you will feel better by doing this…. And always remember, “This, too, shall pass!”

“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” ~ Charles A. Beard

“If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money cannot buy.” ~ Dean Burn

Blessings,

“Barbara kept our audience engaged with her enthusiasm and humor. Her personal life experiences were an inspiration to us all to be resilient and thankful.”

-Cordreanne Richardson, Director of Purchasing, Tampa Bay Steel, Tampa, Florida

NEWS FROM BARBARA

“The 100 Day Project”

At the National Speakers Association virtual convention in July, one of the speakers was Michelle Poller who talked about her 100 day project to conquer her fears. The idea intrigued me. Since not being able to travel and do my keynote speaking except by Zoom,

I had been searching for a way to make a difference in this new world of sheltering in which we find ourselves. Over these past six months, I have received a number of emails, calls, and cards telling me how much people needed inspiration and hope and asking me to please help them stay positive, but other than my postings on my social networking sites, I wan’t quite sure how to do that.

After thinking about this for some time, I realized that besides being a very positive person, one of my greatest strengths is being a good listener. Since I am also an encourager and a lover of people, I finally decided what my 100 day project would be. Starting the first week of August, I have decided that each day I will contact someone who has been important in my life, many of whom I have not spoken with for years. I thought of the quotation that many people enter our lives for a reason or for a season, and then in our busyness, we often lose track of them. Thus, it has become my mission in this 100 days to track these people down and reconnect with them.

What a delight it has already been! I often find that since I have made the commitment, people come to mind (often in the middle of the night), and they are the ones I try to contact the next day. I have also started a long list for my future calls. What has been most amazing is that in almost every case, the call at that time to that person has been a very special blessing to us both. Two friends whom I had not spoken with for years had just found out they were facing cancer and really needed encouragement and to know how much they had meant to me. I followed up with gifts to both of them.

I have spoken with several clients who hired me 15 – 20 years ago and who made a huge difference in my life and early speaking career. I reconnected with old neighbors and two doctors who served with me on the Board of Northern Theological Seminary in Oak Brook, IL, before I moved to Florida in 2004. I have even tracked down and spoken several times with an old boyfriend from my high school days!

In every case the calls have added such joy to my life and I hope to the lives of those whom I have called. I have come to believe that our role on this earth is simply to love one another and the only really meaningful, lasting thing in life is relationships. I still have many more calls to make – who knows? YOU might be one of them! 😉 – and I suspect this will become a habit even after my 100 days have ended.

What will be YOUR 100 Day Project?

“I recently attended a seminar given by Barbara Glanz. It was uplifting, inspirational and thought provoking from start to finish. Barbara is passionate and engages the audience in a way few speakers can. I would highly recommend Barbara to any group looking to elevate their performance and joy for the mission.”

-George Billings, Sales and Marketing Manager, Nucor Steel Berkeley, Huger, South Carolina

NEW VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

I came kicking and screaming to the idea of speaking to my audiences virtually, but thanks to the help of many friends and colleagues, I am becoming more and more comfortable with Zoom. In fact, I am working on my Certified Virtual Presenter designation from the National Speakers Association.

I have done keynote presentations, both recorded and live, several interviews, including one for an international conference called Universal Communication Adventures from Germany, several presentations for a learning system, and of course many client Zoom calls.

As a result, I can now do any of my programs in a virtual format. As an example, watch this 5 minute video of “Make a Difference” that was recorded for Custom Learning Systems Group, LTD, Caregivers Heroes initiative to share with their healthcare clients during Covid. (Click to watch)

Although I am greatly missing the audience energy and interaction afterwards. I am finding that my message continues to inspire and challenge even through a computer screen! Please contact us if you are interested in a virtual presentation for your organization.

“Thanks Barbara for being a hero to our Caregiver Heroes everywhere. Your 5 minute inspirational message was a home run and provided a ray of sunshine to the 1000s of weekly viewers in need of a spiritual pick me up. Our healthcare world is a better place because of you and your passion for the patient experience!” ~ Brian Lee, Founder and CEO, Custom Learning Systems Group Ltd.

DEEP OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE

· “The problem with the designated driver program – it’s not a desirable job. But if you ever get sucked into it, have fun with it. At the end of the night, drop the person(s)off at the wrong house.” ~ Jeff Foxworthy

· “If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant’s life, she will choose to save the infant’s life without even considering if there is a man on base.” ~ Dave Barry

· “My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, ‘Mom, they weren’t trying to teach you how to swim.’ “~ Paula Poundstone

· Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle – “Take two aspirin“ and “Keep away from children.” – Author Unknown

· “A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study, ‘Duh!’ “~ Conan O’Brien

· “Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant??? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize, ‘Oh, my goodness…..I could be eating a slow learner!’ “~ Lynda Montgomery

· “If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.” ~ Johnny Carson

· “My parents didn’t want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that’s the law!” ~ Jerry Seinfeld

· “Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.” ~ Oscar Wilde

· “Suppose you were an idiot….And suppose you were a member of Congress….But I repeat myself.” ~ Mark Twain

· “Relationships are hard. It’s like a fulltime job and we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two week notice. There should be severance pay, and they day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp.” ~Bob Ettinger

· “Sometimes I think war is God’s way of teaching us geography.” ~Paul Rodriguez

· “Do you know why they call it ‘PMS?’ Because ‘Mad Cow Disease’ was already taken. ~ Unknown, presumed deceased!

“”Barbara Glanz is a world-renowned presenter who speaks from the heart. I have personally seen Barbara speak to small groups of 30 and large groups of thousands, and she has the ability to reach out to everyone in the room so that they walk away wiser, better prepared with new tools, and more energized and engaged.”

Carole Erken, Human Resources Director, Kaiser Permanente

HOW TO STAY YOUNG!

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them!

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever…..Never let the brain idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” And the devil’s name is Alzheimers.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire lives is ourselves. BE ALIVE while you are alive!

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, books, plants, hobbies, dolls, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10, Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

“Barbara Glanz is a gem – a rare find among speakers! Not only does she share HOW to inspire others to do their best, she MODELS the behavior with her own contagious enthusiasm and powerful personal illustrations.” Jeff Fendley, Director of Training Walgreens

BLOG – BE A “GO- GIVER!”

Be a “Go- Giver!”

My friend, Bob Burg, along with John David Mann, has written a wonderful little book called “The Go- Giver.” I believe its message is especially appropriate for this time of the pandemic.

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