NEWS
It has been a lovely spring full of company coming to spend a few days in Paradise – my daughter Gretchen and the boys from Portland, my brother Bruce from Colorado, and my dear friend, Jolene Brown, from Iowa. We saw the Van Gogh experiential exhibit, went to Myakka State Park, spent a day on the roller coasters in Busch Gardens (not me!), played bocce ball on the beach, swam, kayaked, fished, took many long beach walks, shopped, and even heard Johnny Mathis. I am so glad I am able to share this special place on the beach with my friends and family.
The spring also brought back many of the performances we missed because of Covid, and it was also opera season, so I was blessed to attend several musicals, plays, and four operas. Since I have not been traveling much, my spirit is refreshed with such lovely works of art, and Sarasota has the best. It was just honored to be the number one place in the US where the most people are relocating! (Not sure we like that with the traffic, though……;-)
Mid-May I am going to visit my daughters in Portland, OR. Then I will be speaking in Seattle for HomeStreet Bank in June and going on to my granddaughter Kinsey’s graduation from the University of Washington. She is AMAZING! After fighting leukemia for 5 years, missing her whole sophomore year of high school, and going through 865 days of chemo, she not only graduated with her HS class, but she is graduating from college in THREE years and going on to get her master’s degree as a Childlife Specialist to work with children in the hospital. I couldn’t be prouder of her
Finally, in-person meetings are coming back at last, so if you are looking for a speaker, please keep me in mind. Covid has changed all our lives, and everyone is looking for hope these days. I would be honored to bring a positive message of caring, inspiration, and fun to your organization.
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“You do a superb job in your newsletter of combining sincere emotions with important hard fact insights.” ~ Dan Steininger, CEO
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“Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.”
“You’ve achieved success in your field when you don’t know whether what you’re doing is work or play.” ~ Warren Beatty
“There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” ~ Ken Blanchard
“Show up to work to make others feel important, and you’ll make the world a better place, day-by-day.” ~ Donna Cutting
“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says “I’m possible!” ~ Audrey Hepburn
“Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid.” ~ Albert Einstein:
The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see. ~ Robert Holden, Ph.D
“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
~ George Bernard Shaw
“He who does not get fun and enjoyment out of every day….needs to reorganize his life.” ~ George Matthew Adams
“It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”
~ Steve Jobs
For more inspiring quotations, go to each page of
www.barbaraglanz.com
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“Genuine recognition of a job well done carries more impact than a jackhammer and its effect can transform lives. Knowing memories are long, Barbara tells us stories of recognition and appreciation that touch both our hearts and minds”
~ Christi L Gibson, Executive Director, National Association for Employee Recognition
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THE POWER OF APPRECIATION
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I want to share with you two stories of the power of Appreciation. I hope they will encourage you to share your appreciation in some way with someone every day. You will be making a difference in this world.
The Phone Call
Have you ever had a day when a phone call made your eyes water and your heart sing? When my phone rang on Monday, it was not a number I recognized, but something told me to answer it anyway. It was an 80 year old woman named Tamora from Tennessee. Her first comment was, “Is this a real person?”
She was so thrilled that I had answered and said she was calling to thank me for reminding her of her father who was an American Indian born in 1903 and the kindest man she had ever known. While going through chemo, she had gotten a copy of my book, “The Simple Truths of Appreciation”, and she said she had read it over and over to remind her to be like her Daddy. He used to say to her, “Even if you don’t agree with a person, always treat them with respect because they were created in the image of God.”
I was so touched, and we spent 30 minutes as she shared her life story. I got her address and have sent her another book as well as a note about how much her precious call meant to me, It was something her Daddy would have done, AND it was just exactly what I was writing about in the book.
I have always put my home telephone number at the back of all my books and over the years I have had so many touching calls. It is just awesome to me how many lives we touch that we have no idea about but even more awesome when people take the time to thank us. In fact, that is my idea of Heaven – we will see all those people. But…….just like Tamora, we can let them know right now. Whom should you call to thank today?
A Song
Barbara, THANK YOU for making such a special difference in this world and in my life! I am a huge fan of the Broadway show “WICKED”… and think of you as I listen to the song, “For Good,” from this incredible show (have you seen it?) because knowing you has changed me and my life for GOOD.
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I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
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With love and appreciation!
Cathie
Catherine J. Tierney, CCUE
President/CEO
Community First Credit Union
Cathie was a client of mine years ago. We connect on Facebook, but we have not talked in person for some time. However, she took precious time to share with me the difference my words had made in her life. I will save this message forever.
Is there someone in your life who has changed you “for good?” Please take the time this week to thank them. You will feel wonderful, and they will never forget your appreciation. I have said to many audiences that my idea of Heaven is seeing all the people we have touched in some way in our lives that we knew nothing about—maybe just a smile, a kind word, or simply listening with our hearts. This is your special chance to show them while they are still on Earth!
For more inspiring articles, go to
www.barbaraglanz.com/articles
.
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“I didn’t know Barbara Glanz before, but her words of wisdom inspired me five years ago. Yesterday, I was blessed to spend time with Barbara over a nice lunch along the Florida coast. A simple conversation reminded me why she continues to touch so many lives.”
~ Danielle Cobo, Keynote speaker and Podcaster
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“The Simple Truths of Appreciation – How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference!” – FREE SHIPPING
65% of American workers said they received NO appreciation all last year for the good work they had done. Yet the second most important thing people want from their jobs is full appreciation. Why is there a disconnect? Because most of us are just too busy! In this beautiful and inspiring book Barbara will share ten simple truths as well as heartwarming stories about appreciating others which you can immediately apply both in your work and your personal lives. The beauty of appreciation is that we can each give it to anyone we choose for no cost except our awareness and a few moments of our time.
Order at www.barbaraglanz.com/products/books/
$15.95 and FREE shipping
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“Beautiful and brilliant newsletter, Barbara, documenting the depth and breadth of your life’s work. Thrive on!” ~ Ken Druck, Author
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CURRENT BOOKS THAT HAVE IMPACTED MY LIFE
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Ten years ago a friend and I decided to start a book group, and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. Not only have I enjoyed wonderful, bright, sharing friends, but it has caused me to read many things I would not have chosen on my own. I have put together a list of some of the books I have been reading both from the group and suggestions from friends and family that have stimulated and entertained me, especially during Covid.
FICTION
“The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek”
– Kim Michele Richardson. I learned so many things from this historical novel aside from it being a great story. It is the story of the Pack Horse Library which was founded by Eleanor Roosevelt to employ women in the Appalachian Mountains. Did you ever know that there were blue people in Kentucky? Read it and find out!
“The Four Winds”
– Kristin Hannah. This is a book about the horrors of the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma followed by escaping to the life of a migrant picker in California. It is brutally honest and a sad part of our history. Be sure to have a glass of water handy!
“The First Daughter”
– This is an historical novel about Thomas Jefferson’s daughter and the events of history during his life. I loved reading intimate details about the founding of our country.
“Anxious People”
– Fredrik Backman. I have loved this Swedish author from his first book, ”A Man Called Ove,” to “Beartown.” This new book is delightful, and you will never forget the characters and how, in interesting ways, they represent parts of us all.
“The Lincoln Highway”
– Amor Towles. If you loved his book, “A Gentleman in Moscow,” I know you will enjoy this story of an odd group of people trying to find a new beginning.
“Billy Summers”
– Stephen King. This is nothing like his other books. It is a compelling story of real people and real feelings, not a single bit of horror. I even cried at the ending.
The Personal Librarian
– Marie Benedict. This is the remarkable story of J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation.
American Dirt
– Jeanine Cummins. This is the story of a woman and her son escaping from the mafia in Mexico and their harrowing journey to get to safety in the US. I will never think of Immigrants the same way after reading this book.
NONFICTION
“Think Like a Monk”
– Jay Shetty. Jay, who is a social media star, shares the timeless wisdom he learned as a monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a more meaningful life.
“She Come By It Natural”
– Jeamine Cummins. I loved this story about Dolly Parton. I learned to respect her even more after hearing her story. What a gift she has been to this world!
“Finding Chika”
– Mitch Albom. Ever since he wrote “Tuesdays with Morrie,” I have loved this writer. His story of adopting a four year old girl named Chika with a brain tumor from his orphanage in Haiti and bringing her to the US will touch your heart forever. I am now a donor to his mission for children.
“Untamed”
– Glennon Doyle. This is a tender yet powerful memoir of a woman who learned to trust herself enough to set boundaries, make peace with her body, and honor her anger and heartbreak to become her full self.
BUSINESS
“Work Made Fun Gets Done!”
~ Bob Nelson and Mario Tamayo. Bob Nelson is a wonderful friend and has sold over 2 million books about rewarding and recognizing employees. This book is full of surprises, morale boosters, and thoughtful gestures to spark fun in all workplace settings and activities. According to Fortune magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work for in America,” 81% of workers in companies on the list report they work in a fun environment – the most significant variable separating them from companies not on the list.
“Employees First!”
– Donna Cutting. Donna is a longtime friend and a strong advocate for customer service. This must-read book gets real about creating a culture that inspires your people to want to give the best service to your customers and many practical ideas about how to do that.
SPIRITUAL
“WayMaker
– Finding the Way to the Life You’ve Always Dreamed of” by Ann Voskamp. She is the bestselling New York Times author of “One Thousand Gifts” which has sold over a million and a half copies.
“Left to Tell “
– Immaculee Ilibagiza. I first heard her speak at the National Speakers Association, and 2000 speakers were mesmerized. It is her personal story about the genocide in Rawanda and what she had to do to escape. You will never forget her story!
Happy Reading! I would love to have you share your favorites with me at bglanz@barbaraglanz.com.
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“Barbara Glanz is like ‘the gift that keeps on giving.” One hour with Barbara is the best investment you can make in inspiring people to think differently and make a change.” ~ Nicolette Wuring,, Managing Director, Amsterdam
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How Children Perceive Their Grandparents
1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup under the watchful eyes of her
young granddaughter, as she’d done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, “But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!” I’ll probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye.
2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me happy birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 80. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, “Did you start at 1?”
3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice,
“Who was THAT?”
4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like. “We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods.”
The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten to know you sooner!”
5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?” I mentally polished my halo and I said, “No, how are we alike?” “You’re both real old,” he replied.
6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word processor. She told him she was writing a story.
“What’s it about?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.”
7. I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me, and she was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, “Grandma, I think you should try figuring out some of this stuff for yourself!”
8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use, Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.”
9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not sure.” “Look in your underwear, Grandpa,” he advised. “Mine says I’m 4 to 6.”
10.. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, “Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today.” The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. “That’s interesting.” she said, warily. “How do you make babies?”
“It’s easy,” replied the girl. “You just change ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’.”
11. “Give me a sentence about a public servant,” instructed the teacher during a lesson. One small boy wrote: “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.” The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Don’t you know what pregnant means?” she asked.
“Sure,” said the young boy confidently. ‘It means carrying a child.”
12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog.
The children started discussing the dog’s duties.
“They use him to keep crowds back,” offered one child.
“No,” said another, “he’s just for good luck.”
A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrants.”
13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. “Oh,” he said, “she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we’re done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.”
14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don’t get to see him enough to get as smart as him!
15. My Grandparents are funny. When they bend over, you hear gas leaks, and they blame their dog.
Learn more about Barbara’s work at www.barbaraglanz.com
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Received your book at a perfect time. I’ve been exhausted, confused and ticked off too long. I’m finally over the worst of it…and your book gives me so many inspiring thoughts and offers so much hope. Keep up the wonderful work you do. You have made such a difference for so many.
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Thank you so much for being a part of our team and spreading YOUR contagious enthusiasm wherever you find yourself in life. Please let us know any ways we can be of help to you as you plan your association, company, or manager’s meetings. We would love to help you discover new ideas you can apply immediately in the areas of
Employee Engagement, Customer Service, Appreciation & Recognition, Creating a Culture of Kindness,
and
Understanding the Human Level of Change.
“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier.” ~ Mother Teresa
Blessings,
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