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Accountability Partners
As we come to the close of the 2009 year take some time to reflect back on all the good times, the challenges, and fun memories that have been made over the past few months. Great business projects have been completed. Kids are a year older and have learned many new skills. We are a little wiser after the year we have gone through.We all have wonderful people that are active in our families and lives. It is essential both personally and professionally to have accountability partners to help encourage us to continue to succeed. You probably have some of these people in your life already. One of your personal accountability partners could be another Wife and Mom who is the same season of life as you or someone who has already gone through it and more experienced. Maybe you need an accountability partner that encourages you to eat right, exercise, and get your rest. Your business accountability partner can be someone who is starting or a seasoned business owner. Pick people that are positive and encouraging to be around. Here is a list of a few attributes to have in your accountability partners:
- Trust – you will be sharing both your successes and struggles so you need someone who you can trust. Having an established relationship or common bond is beneficial. An accountability partner that has been successful in the area that they are encouraging you in builds the trust as well. (For example – if you are a Mom another Mom as a parental accountability partner would be better than having a teenager. OR Someone that has a successful business would be more beneficial to you if you are starting or have a business than someone who has never done it nor has the desire to own a business).
- Honest – it is important to have accountability partners that will be honest with you even if it is hard to hear what they have to say. Having someone listen and give feedback is essential. No one has the perfect solution for every problem but together you can come up with some amazing ideas that will help you get to the next stage in life and business.
- Creative – having someone who can offer creative solutions that will help you make the current situation or projects you are working on even better is crucial. When two or more people brainstorm together ideas will come alive. Life can throw some difficult situations your way so having the ability to creatively come up with ways to successfully move forward is vital.
- Available – you will need to meet on a regular basis with each of your accountability partners. Whether it is once a week, month, or quarter make it part of the schedule. You do not have to meet for hours each time but at least allow enough time to catch up and work through some specific details that are going on in your life.
It is good idea to have more than one personal and professional accountability partner. Whether these people are family, friends, paid professionals or coaches it is important that they reflect on the positive and have a good level of success in their personal and professional lives. You will receive a great mix of wisdom from these people in your life. You may be unofficially doing this with family and friends already, make it official and part of your routine. Take time to sincerely thank the people who are your accountability partners because they have invested their time and energy in your life.
Be an accountability partner for others as well. You will be blessed by helping family, friends, and business professionals. It is a positively rewarding experience having the opportunity to listen, encourage and be a part of other peoples lives. If you know someone you want to encourage then step up and volunteer to help them. It is profoundly beneficial for all parties actively involved in an accountability partnership.
Think about the people you want to be your accountability partners and ask them to be a part of your life. Get started by covering the important areas in your life (personally, physically, spiritually, and professionally). You will quickly notice the blessing of having these people in your life. Who are your partners and what are their best attributes?
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! May it be a time full of great memories, delicious food, laughter and meaningful fellowship. It is an ideal time to catch up with family, friends and neighbors. Have fun catching the excitement with your kids and the people who will be sharing the Holiday with your family.We are fortunate to live in an area where there are a lot of wonderful activities. It has been neat visiting the Festival of Trees at the Hyatt, Christmas parades, driving through various neighborhoods to see all the lights and decorations, and many more fun activities. Hot chocolate, Christmas stories by the tree, and fun family activities are great traditions to start or continue. Take time to create memories with those you love whether it is doing community events or spending fun times at home.
Share a tradition or Christmas memory with us. It is awesome learning what others do to make their Holiday Season memorable. Merry Christmas!!!
Celebrating the Successes!
As we reflect back on 2009 let’s celebrate our accomplishments. It has been a year full of surprises, challenges, and blessings for ourselves as well as the many people in our lives. There have been goals that exceeded our expectations while others proved to be great character building opportunities. Take a moment to objectively review your goals whether you have them written down or not. It is a wonderful a time to remember both the personal and professional opportunities that have taken place over the past few months. Here are a few areas to review:- Relationships – certain relationships may have blossomed into something even more precious while others have gone in less desirable directions. Have you been taking time to nurture and grow your relationships over the past year? We are blessed with wonderful family members, friends, and professionals that need our time and attention.
- Health – we can be thankful for each day that we have an opportunity to enjoy. We may be in perfect health or possibly we have overcome some health challenges personally or gone through it with a friend or family, whatever our case may be, we are blessed with another day to make an impact on the lives of those around us.
- Finances – it has been a great year for some while very difficult year for others. The neat part is many people have taken the time to learn how to budget, cut back on the extras, and show their family ways to give to those who are going through a tough season. It is a wonderful time of year to be thankful for what you have and to help others.
- Knowledge – everyday is filled with new opportunities to learn and gain experience. Many exciting activities have taken place in the lives of those around us – new businesses have been started, Social Media has been a whirlwind of new experiences, couples were married, children were born, schooling completed, and many other great accomplishments were made. Think about the new experiences in your life and how you are a better person because of the knowledge you have gained this year.
Whether it has been a wildly successful or challenging year for you we all have accomplishments that we can be thankful for in our lives. And for those goals that you haven’t quite met yet you still have a couple more weeks. Give it all you got!
“Amazing People”
All of us have people in our lives that are fascinating and motivating to be around. It has been a privilege to have these people in my life both personally and professionally. What makes a person “Amazing”?As I reflect on the people in my life I began to notice some common attributes:
- Respectful – they are polite and show consideration for others. Whether your a parent teaching your children manners or a professional working in the business community respect for others goes a long way in building positive relationships.
- Exciting – they know how to motivate others to action with a high level of energy that is contagious. A lot of passion is put into their activities and projects which makes others want to be a part of it.
- Integrity – they uphold a code of ethical principles and sound character. They are consistent and do what they say they will do both personally and in business.
- Trustworthy – they are a confidant and person you trust to be honest to the people in their lives. They know how to speak the truth because it is their desire to improve the lives of their family, friends, and business partners.
First, think about what it takes to be an amazing person and strive to be one yourself. Each day enrich the lives of those around you through respectfulness, excitement, integrity, and trust. Surround yourself with amazing people both personally and professionally. Together as a business community or as a group of family and friends you can make a positive impact in the lives of others. Do you have “Amazing People” in your life and if so what are some of their attributes?
“Flip the Coin”
“Heads” or
“Tails”?! Then….pause….with a moment of excitement before finding out if you are the winner of the toss. We do not like to admit it, but there are times when the coin lands in what appears to be our disadvantage. Unfortunately, our first thoughts in these situations are not always encouraging or positive.A few weeks ago on a clear sunny day my husband was in a car accident. The person that hit his car failed to stop in a timely manner. My first reaction was of concern for him quickly followed by thoughts of “we do not have time for this extra inconvenience right now.” After several days I began trying to figure out ways to “Flip the Coin” and look at the positive side of the situation.
- Thankfulness – Although the car is totaled my husband is still with us. The car is much easier to replace!
- Together Time – More time in the car together for communicating during the busy days.
- Creativeness – You can creatively coordinate and balance an entire family’s schedule even when you only have one vehicle.
- Appreciation – For Jake because he is a great Husband, Daddy, Friend and contributes to the family in so many ways. Also, an appreciation for family and friends who encourage during the challenges of life.
Find ways to “Flip the Coin” and make even the difficult circumstances a positive experience. It will not always be easy to change your mindset but by being proactive and taking the time to think of ways to see the good will benefit you both personally and professionally. We will still face obstacles along the path of life and situations out of our control so let’s remember to encourage one another especially during the tough times. Do you have an example of how you were able to “Flip the Coin”?
A Gift of Thanks!
When is the last time you were given a thoughtful gift from the heart? A gift that made a positive impact on your life? I love Thanksgiving because it is a truly wonderful time of the year when people are thankful for all the blessings in their lives. We need to make a real effort to continue the spirit of thankfulness every day of our lives. Take time every day to make a meaningful contribution into a person’s life. Everyone desires to be appreciated and thoughtfulness for others goes a long way in both our personal and professional lives. Giving “A Gift of Thanks” does not mean it has to be time consuming, expensive, or stressful. Here are a few quick ways to express your “Gift of Thanks” and thoughtfulness to those you interact with in your day to day life:
- Share a Smile – you may be the only smile someone encounters that day. Make it a point to specifically smile at people you interact with throughout the day. Smile when you are greeting people prior to a business event, shopping at the grocery store, waiting in line, welcoming them into your home, or making an introduction.
- Give a Hug – greet a personal or professional contact with a hug. Some people love hugs and others really need a hug. This is true in both personal and business situations. A hug is more personal than a handshake and demonstrates an appreciation for the recipient. Use discernment and common sense because not everyone will be comfortable with a hug. Reserve big bear hugs for close friends and family.
- Note of Appreciation – a handwritten note of thanks, appreciation or thoughtfulness still means a lot. Whether it is a client you haven’t heard from in a couple weeks, a friend who has recently lost a loved one, a family member on your mind and heart, a birthday, or reconnecting with a business contact. Take the time to write a note and touch the lives of those connected to you.
- Call of Encouragement – use the phone as friendly reminder that you care. If they do not answer please be courteous and leave a message. New business owners are excited about their products or services, call to see how things are going for them, listen, and encourage them. A Mom with a newborn may appreciate a call from a friend to share new milestones or to encourage her. Some people love a long chit chat and others do not. Practice ways to give a “word” of encouragement while respecting their time.
- Cup of Coffee or Tea – share a cup of coffee or tea with a business contact, friend, or family member. It is important to reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in awhile. Make it a time to catch up and learn about what’s going on in their life and/or business. It is not a time to sale or pry into deep problems but a few moments to help and encourage.
Take time every day to give “A Gift of Thanks” to someone connected to you both personally and professionally. Reaching out to others will be a rewarding experience for everyone. Let’s help each other remember the importance of showing appreciation and kindness to others as a daily routine. Please share a story of how you were impacted or how you impacted another person by giving “A Gift of Thanks” with us.
Wishing you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!