Personal Brand Salute

I had the awesome opportunity to speak to the AFCEA Alamo Chapter about the value of networking and cultivating your own brand.  In the audience there were civilians as well as enlisted personnel. 

I was humbled at the thought of being able to help our American hero’s in their next adventure.  I hoped their next chapters would be much safer and fulfilling.  Everyone has valuable skill sets and aspirations.

The audience was enthusiastic and engaged.  We had such a good time together that we ran way over our allotted time and the questions just kept flowing. 

At the very end of the presentation came the biggest surprise of all.  My host stood up to thank me for presenting and he told the audience that in the military it is customary when someone goes above and beyond the call of duty to present the individual with a coin.  He then reached in to his pocket and presented me with my own unique coin. 

I was rendered speechless and I could feel the tears swelling in my eyes as he handed me the coin.  In that one moment I felt the value of the coin was greater than any other form of money on the planet.  I was honored and humbled by the gesture. 

I share this story with you to highlight the value of life experiences and the relationships along the way.  Here I was among men and women who had risked their lives for our country and they were thanking me for a discussion geared towards building a new future, a unique and personal brand. 

I held the coin tightly and guarded it as I returned home.

I proudly share my coin with everyone I see and am looking for a unique way to display it.  It is a great motivator for me to continue sharing the story of networking and cultivating your dream occupation.  It is possible and the tools to do so are improving daily.  I am honored to share this message with others.

God bless our country and protect all of our enlisted men and women.  Thank you for being defenders of freedom.

It starts with Me

I was watching Bob Woodruff on Good Morning America this morning.  He was talking about his return trip to Iraq after his life-threatening injuries during his coverage of the war.

It was a touching segment.  The level of compassion from everyone who cared for this injured reporter was astounding.  Viewing this report reminded me of the power of the human spirit. 

When I reflect on this aspect of our humanity – the feelings are nearly overwhelming.

We all carry the genes that allow us to do “good” for another.  My challenge to all of us, take time to focus on doing for others today and see what a change you can make.  Like a drop of water falling in to a puddle, a single drop creates a ripple and the energy builds.

Fireworks of Faith

A wonderful and colorful holiday is approaching.
This is a time traditionally spent with family and loved ones. The sounds of laughter and food cooking on grill will the air. Followed by the ever famous smell of hot dogs, steaks and corn basking from the flames. The night sky will illuminate with colors, starts and streams of smoke which delight hearts of all ages.
What a blessed holiday indeed.
Summer is a time of growth and prosperity in the fields. I am talking both fields of crops and the fields where teams gather to hit a ball and run the bases.
The spirit of this country rises to a new pitch during these summer months. I pray that we will all take a moment to remember all of those who have gone before us to defend freedom. Celebrate and thank all of our veterans and the men and women currently serving in the armed forces to defend our freedoms.
Newspaper headlines, radio and television shows may remind us of all the tragedy in the world but the human spirit gravitates towards the goodness in the world.
It is all around.
I am grateful for so much and invite you to join in the Celebration of Spirit and Faith this holiday season!

May the greatest fireworks be the ones in your heart bursting forth in gratitude for all that we have.

God Bless America &
Happy Independence Day!

Thank You Salute

This past week I visited Pearl Harbor.  Part of my visit included a tour of the USS Missouri.  What a magnificent ship.  She is 887 feet long and the height of a 20 story building.  The mess hall would dish out 10,000 meals daily when she was at sea.  The statistics and the history this ship embody was staggering.  It is a city unto itself afloat at sea.

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness and great pride during our tour.  It was a healthy reminder of what people have sustained in the name of freedom and liberty.

The courage and bravery of the men and women who have defended our country was a direct and powerful reminder of the power of gratitude.  I am forever grateful for the all of the people who have gone before me and protected our freedoms, believed in our freedoms and ultimately died for our freedoms. 

What better tribute can there be than to determine a way of giving to others?  This is where gratitude really kicks in.  Have we taken the time to thank them?  Do they know how important their service is?

There is much we can do to express gratitude as it impacts this area of our lives.  Have we thanked an enlisted person? 

 If you travel, how do you respond to someone in uniform?  Would you buy them a cup of coffee?  Give up your seat?  Have you thought about writing a letter of tribute and thanks to a member of our military?  There are numerous ways to reach out and say thanks.  I have added a couple of resources below that might help stir you to expressing gratitude. 

If we all said one thing imagine the shower of gratitude we could create.

Resources:

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

http://amillionthanks.org/

 

Grace & Gratitude!