While I'm away enjoying the grandkids in Palmer, I am posting this in my absence.

New updates from Leadership from the Heart Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Contents: Common Mental Mistake: Practice only your Strengths Common Mental Mistake: Practice only your Strengths Dec 09, 2014 07:15 am | Dave Kraft Here is my friend and fellow blogger JT Ayers with some excellent thoughts on the need to pay attention to your weaknesses as well as your strengths. Originally posted by JT Ayers ---------------------------------------------------  Your mind and your leadership are connected beyond your comprehension. Your thoughts, emotions, and subsequent actions are interconnected. The way you’re feeling affects the way you’re thinking; the way you’re thinking affects the way you’re feeling. The energy of the mind is the essence of life. – Aristotle For the next several weeks, I will be covering the Most Common Mental Mistakes of a Leader and then, I will discuss Strategies to Overcome Those Mistakes. These posts will drastically help you in your leadership. I will be highlighting one mistake each week. Common Mental Mistake #1: You Only Practice Your Strengths It’s easy to do what you like best.  You enjoy it. It’s fun. You feel productive and happy. However, as a leader you have to be efficient in your weaknesses as well. Neglecting your weaknesses will only hurt your strengths. Think of these abilities like muscles. You can’t work out only your favorite muscle all of the time. If you do you risk the other supporting muscle to atrophying.  You must work out all of the supporting muscles around your favorite. This will ensure maximum strength.  A coach of mine once told me about a 70 – 30 principal. 70% of your leadership or job should be fun, enjoyable, and plays to your strengths. However, to have that 70% you must take care of the other 30% that you don’t enjoy.   Here is an example: Administration work is a weakness of mine. I do not enjoy it. So, I have two options: 1. Continue to neglect this weakness and get fired  2. Become efficient in this weakness in order to highlight my strengths.  Here are the 4 steps to ensure you can become efficient in your weakness. 1.    Identify Your Strengths What are you good at? What do you love to do?  What makes you feel productive? What activities do you accomplish that make you feel effective? These are indicators of your strengths. Make a list. Get a second opinion that affirms your abilities. 2.    Now Identify Your Weaknesses Gather feedback from a trusted friend(s), co-workers, or gather results from an informal survey (best to make anonymous). Get information! Know where you are before you begin mapping out the journey to your desired destination. 3.    Improve Your Weakness Strengths are made up of 3 things: Talent, Skill, and Knowledge. A weakness means you don’t have the natural talent. However, you can control the Skills and Knowledge. These are learned. - Watch those that do it well - Learn from your past mistakes - Read articles, books, blogs, listen to podcasts. Your weakness will be someone else’s strength - Get mentored 4.    Now Apply Your Weakness In Light Of Your Strengths Your weak abilities must be applied in light of your other strengths. Do only what will highlight your other abilities that you consider strengths. In light of your strengths, how do your weaknesses come into play? For me, I decided to get help with some administrative aspects of my job. I delegated some of these tasks to someone with strong administrative skills. In the next couple of weeks, I will be writing on 4 more common mental mistakes. I will then begin to identify Mental Mistake Solutions.  The applications are endless. I encourage you to pass this post on to a friend and begin to find ways to ensure that you can become the best leader possible with these mistakes in mind. What did I miss? Do you agree that practicing only your strengths is a Common Mental Mistake?  Leave a comment below. Like on Facebook. Forward to a Friend! Next Week’s Common Mental Mistake: Having No Definite Goals

2014 Perspective

Today I simply want to look at perspective. By definition, perspective is “a particular attitude toward a way or regarding something; a point of view”. 

My perspective has changed this year. In December of 2013 I purposed to do some things differently in 2014. I had a desire to read daily; exercise regularly; and celebrate life with family and friends. In 365 days there are some noticeable changes. 

Family memories:

1)      Ken and I remodeled our home in Alaska (and visited 3 times)

2)      Karen married Steve (January)

3)      We honored Uncle Knox and Aunt Mary (January)

4)      We celebrated Uncle Jimmy’s life (February)

5)      Cory married Lori (April)

6)      Kaylee announced upcoming nuptials to Josh (July of 2015)

7)      Ken & I hailed our 43rd wedding anniversary

8)      We purchased an RV and took our first trip (September)

9)      Dad marked his 85^th birthday (October)

10)  We’re attending “Colony Christmas”, Palmer, Alaska (December)

Office recollections:

1)      Nacho Bar (May)

2)      Annual Thanksgiving Feast (November)

3)      Remodel Stapley Office (September)

4)      Restaged Park Plaza (September)

5)      National Speaker Michael Maher (September)

6)      Marissa had baby Jessie at the beginning of the year

7)      Nicole moved to Flagstaff and Lexi stepped into her slot

8)      Karla merged into the group when Park Plaza joined forces

9)      Marc connected in January

10)  Leslie blended with us in April

11)   Corina joined the staff in July

12)  Gina came aboard in September

People around me see the noticeable changes, I feel the invisible changes. Yes, there has been some drama and even some trauma this past year, but when I look back on 2014, it has been a grand adventure.

On December 12^th,  Ken and I are off to plan 2015.  We’ll be flying to Alaska, for family time with our Alaskan children and grandchildren.  There’ll be snow, Christmas caroling, hot chocolate and private time.  Don’t worry. We’re back in time to share Christmas lamb with the kids here in Arizona as we spend a warm sunny Christmas day on the back patio and in the hot tub.

Experience has taught me to be SMART this time of the year - plan and project for 2015.  

As John Lennon said:

Implement That Plan

My Dad celebrated a mile post this past Sunday.  We applauded his 85^th birthday.  Dad is a remarkable person ---

Christmas 1992 Dad gave each of us an essay of some of the “happenings” in his life.  He has often indicated there were many things he didn't write; however here’s a story he did share:

The year was 1946, Dad was 16 years old.   

“I (Tom Campbell) was elected president of the FFA (Future Farmers of America), in this capacity I went to the state convention at San Antonio (Texas). 

The meeting was held at the Gunter Hotel and while I was awaiting a meeting I happened to converse with an elderly man seated next to me in the lobby.   His name was W.A. Harding. He explained to me he was the owner and grower of 1,200 acres of lemon trees.  The lemons were of a variety that could not easily be shipped due to their thin skin (Meyer Lemons) and he proposed to juice these lemons and preserve them with a preservative the military had used during the war…

I asked Mr. Harding what his plan for selling this lemon juice was and he told me he had not made any arrangements to sell and distribute the finished product.  I told him my Dad was a good salesman and that he might be interested in selling his products.  He said contact your Dad and see if he is interested.  I called Dad and told him about Mr. Harding.  That day Dad came to San Antonio and during the next three days The Puretex Lemon Juice Company was organized.  Mr. Harding was to be responsible for the juicing and bottling of the lemons and Dad and me would distribute and sell.  The State of Texas was divided at Ft. Worth, everything west of a north-south line would be covered by me and all east of that line would be the area covered by my Father. 

We had a very simple sales plan.

 We would ask for an order (knowing that the grocery man would say no).  Our next approach was consignment, that is if the lemon juice sold he would pay for it and reorder (nine out of ten would not even do this).  Our final offer was we would give them a dozen bottles if they would agree to try and sell it.  Our second year in business we gave away 10,000 gallons of lemon juice.  My fourth year of selling lemon juice I sold 50,000 gallons of juice in 3 oz. bottles…”

Think for just a moment about how remarkable this is.

A kid Introduced himself to a business man, listened to the details, developed a plan in his head and took action to implement his plan. My Dad helped to bring a new product to Texas grocery market.

Yes, there are occasions which when immediately implemented, open doors of opportunity and impact generations of people.

Just in case you had not put it all together this was when “reconstituted lemon juice” --- the green bottle you probably have in your refrigerator today --- came to pass!

Yes, It's ALL About Love

Tomorrow, November 27^th is Thanksgiving.  A day when we here in the United States stop and “give thanks” for ___________ (you name it).  I’ve received emails, text posts, and voice messages all saying, “Thanks”.

We spend a lot of money, travel great distances, and take time off from work, just to let other people know we care.

Annual celebrations are lots of fun!

In fact, on November 20^th  our offices, Park Plaza and Stapley Center took a moment to say “Thank you”. Yes, we are grateful to  each and every one of you for the business opportunities you give  Great American Title on a daily basis, especially this past year.  Annually, we look forward to this day.

That being said just a few days after our Office Thanksgiving Celebration, during my morning quiet/reflective time I read a verse from the Bible, 2 John 1:6, that hit home. 

2 John is a small book in the New Testament written by John the Apostle.  Apostle means the person was a disciple, walked, talked and learned from Jesus when Christ was alive here on earth.  John calls himself an Elder, meaning he is old, really old.  It is also interesting to note that when John wrote this book he was banished to an isolated island, living alone.

Listen to his words:  “Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.” (2 John 1:6)

Simply put, here are my journal notes from that day: 

Wow, this is a “call to action” verse.  I am aware of others and the overwhelming needs to “love one another” at this time of the year, because I am reminded. There are donation centers, charity boxes, food drives, all kinds of good causes, I have lots of opportunity to “feel good” about loving others right now. But, what about the other 10 months of the year?  People still need to be loved.

This verse is a reminder to me of just how busy life gets and how often I fail to stop and “love” others.

This is sad!  I do believe that all I have is a gift from God.

God created this world, it all belongs to him, He loves me and He blesses me every day.  Life is not all about me!  I am loved so I can love others for Him.  I’ll take nothing with me when I leave this world.

Today’s big take away: Do I love stuff more than people?  Do I allow my stuff to get in the way of loving others?

My prayer: Lord, I know you love me.  My heart’s desire is to love others for you!

Meet Ken

Tomorrow when you are at the office eating Pre-Thanksgiving Lunch, take a moment to meet my best friend, Ken. 

Ken is a “guys-guy”.  He loves to hunt, fish, camp and can go days on jerky or smoked fish and coffee. My brother Knox said he’d never try to “Out-He-Man” Ken. 

Ken was born here in Phoenix, August 14, 1951.  I was born in Paris, Texas, August 4, 1952. Ken grew up on a farm outside Dallas, Oregon. I spent a part of my childhood in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. Ken milked cows, raised chickens and weeded his Mom’s garden. I shopped with Mother at Neiman Marcus.

One could say, Ken and I grew up in uniquely different environments. I love hot tubs, massages and a good glass of Shiraz. Ken likes showers, can sleep anywhere and enjoys a good beer.

Here’s the point:

Two weeks ago, Ken bought an RV.  Not a new one, but new to me and I love it. Then for 24 hours this past weekend we went camping. One night - that’s all - however, it was magnificent.

You see, these past six weeks there have been lots of changes in my life: Erika and Karen joined Karla at Park Plaza. Gina added her expertise to Stapley. Leslie and Marc are the collective balancing our joint venture marketing.

Ken more than anyone else knew my comfort level has been stretched. He also knows what I need.

Years ago we had a motor home. We would leave Friday evenings and drive to the mountains where he would hunt and fish while I simply sat and read. It was a time of meditation and reflection, a solitary time I really enjoyed. 

This last weekend at Roosevelt Lake Indian Point Campground, Ken gave me back my margin.

He went for long walks, duck hunting and I simply read. We had a fire in the fire pit and looked at the night sky together.  The sky was brilliant.

Yes, we’ve been married 43 years and no, it’s not been easy. Our parents did not expect us to make it six months. The day we got married Ken and I had no idea how much each of us would have to change.

However, we did change --- our behaviors have changed, our habits changed.  Ken changed Ken, Carolyn changed Carolyn, as a result we’re conquerors in life and we love each other. 

So, Ken thank you!  Thanks for caring, providing and sharing life with me.  I love you!

THANK YOU!

I heard Christmas music in the grocery store today.  It is hard to believe its November, 2014.  

This marks my 17^th year in the valley escrow industry. 

Wow, for a kid who moved 18 times before she graduated from high school, and went to 3 different 1^st grades, I’ve been here a long time.

November 20^th is special for our staff. It is our 8^th Annual Thanksgiving Lunch and we get to thank you for belonging to our office family.  

You’ll find a traditional Texas Thanksgiving, something my Mom would have enjoyed serving.  Cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, and turkey; Mother taught me no one should go away hungry.

We’re not entitled to be in business. We know you have choices.  We are grateful that you believe in us, we believe in you!

2013-2014 saw major changes.  We added Park Plaza, remodeled Stapley and our staff size has grown. 

Lately I was reminded in a small way just how much my personal cheese work has moved. 

I am an introvert and really do enjoy sitting behind an escrow desk.  There is a great reward in being able to answer the phone, listen to the question, answer it, sign the customer, send the file back to the lender for funding, release the file, and call the Realtor when the recording is complete.  At least for me there is. 

Interesting as that is, it is not where I am needed right now.  I’ve learned I must let go of control and allow others to grow in their job. The team is smart, capable, and believes in each other. (It’s kind of like when you drop the first child off at college, while driving home and realize he can do this!)

So, here’s the story: An Escrow Officer was out sick.  She feared coming back to work. Unknown to her, the team members simply stepped in and completed all her needed file work. There were notes and documents in her files so she was caught up.  No big deal, they simply did what they needed to do. She was elated and emailed them to say “thanks”.

Here’s the response back to her: “Hey, Carolyn says, this is what we do (our job) and not who we are (our humanity)”.  However in this case, “This IS who we are!!!”  The team is one collective whole.  No big fan fare!  No need to make a big deal, they simply and collectively did what was needed to serve a teammate. 

Kind of like Superman - able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. 

Yes we work hard; it is a part of our culture.  There are systems, and we are trained and cross trained. We study, read, CANI, and work SMART.However, without you (our friends), everything we do would be in vain.  We’re not entitled to stay open.  We know that.  So this time of the year we stop and simply thank you.

John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them”. 

Please stop by the office on November 20^th between 11 and 1 for lunch on us.  We belong to you and you belong to us!

How are your relationships?

November is here and there are less than 60 days in 2014. Traditionally and culturally we simply celebrate for the rest of the year. 

Consider just some of your celebration opportunities.  (By the way, these are straight from Wikipedia)

November 1^st was All Saints Day^t, a day to honor all Saints, known or unknown. Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and the second Monday of October in Canada.

Veterans Day is November 11^th.  A day set aside here in the US to honor our service men and women.Bodhi Day: December 8^th — Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama) experienced enlightenment.

There’s also:

• Advent: fourth Sunday preceding December 25^th
• Saint Nicholas'  and Krampusnacht Day: December 6^th:The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on 6 December. In Alpine countries, Saint Nicholas has a devilish companion named Krampus
• Our Lady of Guadalupe: December 12^th — An important honor of Mexico's Patron Saint before Christmas officially begins on December 16^[4]
• Saint Lucia's Day: December 13^th — Church Feast Day. Saint Lucia comes as a young woman with lights and sweets.
• Christmas Eve: December 24^th -- it is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day.
• Christmas Day: December 25^th — one of the most celebrated holidays around the world, increasingly celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike.
• Anastasia of Sirmium feast day: December 25^th -- venerated as a healer and exorcist
• Twelve Days of Christmas: December 25^th – January 6^th :a distinct period focused on commemorating the Nativity of Christ. Different traditions follow slightly different days and traditions  
• Las Posadas: December 16^th – 24^th — procession to various family lodgings for celebration & prayer and to re-enact Mary & Joseph's journey to Bethlehem
• Saint Stephen's Day: December 26^th : Patron saint of stonemasons. He is considered the first martyr in Christianity.
• Saint John the Evangelist's Day: December 27^th : John (also known as the “Beloved Disciple” is credited with the authorship of three epistles, one Gospel, and is supposed by many to be the author of the book of Revelation
• Holy Innocents' Day: December 28^th : commemorating the massacre of the children by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus 
• Saint Sylvester's Day: December 31^st : St. Sylvester was Pope for twenty-four years and eleven months
• Pancha Ganapati: December 21^st – 25^th  — modern five-day festival in honor of Lord Ganesha, celebrated by Hindus in USA.

Historical, all occur on December 25^th :

• Malkh: a festival dedicated to the Deela-Malkh in Vainakh mythology
• Mōdraniht: or Mothers' Night, the Saxon winter solstice festival.
• Saturnalia: the Roman winter solstice festival
• Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Day of the birth of the Unconquered Sun): late Roman Empire

My point is that life is all about relationships and celebrating.  We were designed for relationship. 

The next couple of weeks we’re going to consider how we behave and balance our relationships.

Ruminate on the words from the 1960’s song, “No Man is an Island”, by The Lettermen

“No man is an island, no man stands alone, 

Each man`s joy is joy to me, 

Each man`s grief is my own, 

We need one another, so I will defend, 

Each man as my brother, 

Each man as my friend”

I have said it often, “Use things, and love people”.  This being said - finish 2014 by celebrating your relationships.