Congratulations Amber!

Early summer is graduation time.

From preschool to graduate school, students amble across platforms, cap and gown on to celebrate their accomplishments. 

Friends, siblings, parents and grandparents beam with pride as milestones are reached. 

Last Friday I had the opportunity to celebrate with a young lady, Amber Benn, as she graduated from Pima Medical Institute.  It was a fun evening and a true indication of  how hard she has worked.  It was a great accomplishment! 

Amber on the left

Sitting in the auditorium my mind went back to other ceremonies:my own graduation, that of our children and many other’s commencement day. 

Graduations have a soft spot in my heart. 

Graduates work hard - they put in long hours, sacrifice of money and time with family.  There are no “instant gardens” in this accomplishment.  It takes prowess, mastery, competence, capability, proficiency, aptitude and simply drive to reach a goal.

Oh, maybe you’ve not heard my “instant garden” story.  An “instant garden” is what you get when you go to the garden store and spend $200 and buy plants in full bloom with fruit ready to pick. 

It’s not planting, watering, weeding, and cultivating.That is the know-how to an accomplishment.

Even after graduation life is like that: no “instant” fixes

Neuroscientists say we continually graduate in our thinking and understanding of life.  We choose what we focus on.  Where we spend our days.  How we work through sleepless nights.  What sacrifices we make for family and friends. 

LIFE is an accomplishment, something to live and achieve successfully one day at a time.

Recently I heard an acronym for LIFE.  It stands for

Learn, Implement, Fail, and Evaluate. 






I thought that was cool.

So congratulations to all the 2015 Graduates - from grade school to graduate school we are proud of you!

Now, as my Mom would say:








Apply what you learned and love LIFE!

Five Tips for Starting Something New

This came across my desk this week and wanted to share it with you. This came from the Blog, Coachwell. 

Five Tips for Starting Something New.

Monday, May 11, 2015

"Get out there and go for it!"

You've heard it a thousand times, but it doesn't make taking a leap of faith any easier. Enthusiasm has its place in every big life change, but you need more than a cheerleader behind your plans, you need a game plan. This is where coaching truly begins--a way to help you realize the dreams that seem impossible and reach the goals that you once called "far fetched." Now is the time, but we aren't just saying it. Here at Coachwell, we've got strategies to help you try something new, plan a career transition, even shift roles and responsibilities.
No empty talk here. Our passion is to apply several decades of coaching expertise using proven methods that have worked for leaders like you. Leaders with a plan always outperform those who don't. Ready to get started?

1). There's nothing gained in avoiding risks.
If you're a good leader, you already know how taking a calculated risk is healthy growth step for every business. With the pace of life and business moving at an increasing rate, it doesn't hurt to experiment with a new way of doing things. Start with the famous "What if" question and see if it sparks an idea. Standing still is ultimately the only thing that prevents growth.
"What if" you started providing an incentive for your team to take care of their physical health? 
"What if" you took one of the ideas presented at the staff meeting and ran with it?
"What if" you used the element of surprise to your advantage to create an innovative new product?

2). There's no guesswork in success.
While dreaming is encouraged on your way to starting something new, there's not much mystery in how a dream becomes a reality: it's just plain hard work. Find supporters who believe in your vision and ask them to get behind you in any way they can. Chances are people will start coming out of the woodwork who express enthusiasm for the very same things you do. Don't miss these opportunities. Give them a chance to plug in and connect with what you're trying to accomplish. Without joint ownership in this brand-new venture, your ship will likely sink. So pull together. It's better this way!

3). Goals achieved = things measured.
Whatever the vision, you must have a way to measure it. Without measuring what you've set out to accomplish, your dream will remain a mirage, and you'll have no way of knowing whether you've accomplished it! Make it concrete and choose your tools for measurement. Now vocalize those goals to your team. They aren't targets if they're unknown. Shout them loud and proud, even if it seems a stretch. You may be surprised by the traction you'll gain with this practice!

4). Be flexible and pivot.
The best part about starting something new is that things are fluid and there's room for change. When you find a method is not working out quite like you'd hoped, there's always the chance to try something new. The fear of trying something and failing is more crippling than the lesson that a failed experience will provide you. Don't run from an opportunity to change directions and try another avenue. Who said making a change would be comfortable?

5). Communicate your wins.
It's important to remind yourself and others of any wins achieved, yes even small ones! Celebration is the life-bringing atmosphere we need to gain the courage to keep going. Recognize your team members for their hard work in helping you to achieve new goals and thank them publicly. This works wonders for a team as small as 5 right up to a team of 50. Show your gratitude and others will gladly join you.
To your excellence in starting something new,
Coach Greg

- See more at: http://www.coachwell.com/blog/five-tips-for-starting-something-new#sthash.RE5Wgg3B.dpuf

MOTHER'S DAY REMEMBRANCES

This last weekend was Mother’s Day.
  

My Mom died on the Monday after Mother’s Day in 2008, so for me annually it’s a tough time. 

This year though I could not help but think of some of the women who have played a role in my becoming the woman I am today. 

Yes, there was my Mom, Glenna Louise Campbell, a southern belle, born and breed in the State of Texas. She loved being a woman, and was a co-dependent up to the week she died.  A favorite memory of Mother for me is one particular afternoon when I was in the 6^th grade. (I thought I was a grown up, Mom still saw me as a child).  It was pouring rain, I had walked home from school, mother greeted me at the front door, with a towel to dry off my hair, and proceeded to tell me she had milk and hot chocolate chip cookies to help soothe the walk.  It is a fun memory.

There was Nana, my Dad’s Mother, who taught me to cook red beans.  Nana and Granddaddy lived on a ranch outside of Talpa, Texas.  Every Saturday they went to town where Nana’s hair and nails were “fixed” for Sunday church. Nana would let me put my little scrubby fingers in the left over hot hand lotion, at the manicure station as I sat on her lap.

In contrast consider Mama, a night shift hospital nurse, Mother’s Mother.  Mama loved to garden, even in the red dirt of West Texas.  My fondest memory of this giant of a woman is a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.  Mama died when I was sixteen of Pancreatic Cancer, we did not even know she was sick until she was dying (she knew).

Or consider my Aunt Knoxine, my Dad’s older sister.  She is in her late 80’s and calls me even now just to touch bases.  I love to hear her southern drawl and her opening question, “How are you doing, darlin’?”

There are other women who have made lasting impressions on me.  Ruth Barnes, the mother of 4 girls.  Ruth taught school, and was a full time pastor’s wife.  Or Ann Kemp, from Bandon, Oregon, her husband Cecil was the town banker, and they owned cranberry bogs.  They built a club house for teens to be able to simply hang out in!  Ann always had time for any kid with questions.

As I pondered the day, I wondered: am I leaving a lasting mark on today’s youth? Who and how will I be remembered?  Will the young girls in my life think of me as someone who actually took the time to listen and love on them like my Aunt Esa? 

Yes. Sunday was a tough day for me. 

However it was probably no tougher for me than it was for my Mom when she lost her Mother, or the other women I know who lived before me. 

Today’s young people are important, they matter, and they need help our help  to understand life, set future goals, dream big dreams and make plans how they will live life.

Karen, my Mother, Kevin, Cory and Aunt Esa

Mom and Dad on the day they got married. My Nana (Dad's mother) is standing next to Dad. Mama (Mother's mom) is next to her.

Ruth Barnes and my Mom on the day of my wedding

Our Offices Thank You!

This is the month of May.  We just celebrated Cinco de Mayo---thanks for attending!

As an office we are so lucky to have such good friends.  Who would have known last year that this year’s celebration would be held at OUR new “spoke” office?

A year ago, The Stapley Center was really looking forward to an innovative look after being in the same location for five years.  This year both offices, The Stapley Center and Park Plaza are bright and fun spots to spend a work day.

The Stapley Center has swelled to 10 escrow staff. You’ll find Lexi at the front desk; MJ, Marissa, and Nicki working in a newly remodeled tech center.  Carrie Porter makes sure that I stay on track; Barbara Peterson just down the front hall; Jane Campbell in the corner pocket (keeping us all in line); Bernadette Wylie and Corina Guerra guarding the entrance to a modern staff kitchen.  Oh yes, and then there is Marc in the marketing agent work center.  It is hard to believe the changes only took 3 weeks in early September. It is a huge transformation.

Then just as Stapley was unpacking boxes, Park Plaza came aboard!

If you have not visited Park Plaza (1255 W Baseline Rd, #D192, Mesa, AZ  85202) it is a must see.  The renovation is unbelievable.  Karla greets customers and clients in a formal front office.  Leslie hales a new front and center marketing office.  Karen Hubbard-Leverton leads the way back through the new privacy compliant door just off the front lobby.  Erika Enriquez is in the corner office; and then Monica Barrera our newest back-to-the-team bi-lingual EO. (For those of you who have been around Monica’s the one with 4 under 6.) Monica is in the new office beside our sparkling pristine kitchen. 

Again, if you’ve not seen all the changes since last summer, you need to stop by!

The work on both locations created long days and some big challenges, but the remodel is complete and we’re very proud of the outcome. 

Today, I simply wanted to say “thanks” to all of you who add daily to our team’s victory.  Thank you for your patience, your loyalty, your willingness to allow us to grow, and for believing in us so much.  You are the “who” in our accomplishments!

On Tuesday I was asked, “Will there still be Thanksgiving?”  The answer is “Yes”.  Thanksgiving will be, November 19^th this year and at The Stapley Center. Cinco de Mayo will be at Park Plaza, on May 5^th, 2016, so you can put that on your calendar as well. 

As I wrote today’s blog a childhood song flooded my mind:  “Make new friends, but keep the old.  One is silver and the other gold.” 

That is how we at Great American Title Stapley Center and Park Plaza feel - you are our SILVER AND OUR GOLD!  Thank you!!!