Way too long!

Yes it’s been way too long since I’ve posted.  Not sure what happened?  Oh, I bought a house, moved and still in the settling process, which from what I hear is a much longer process then when you rent.

So what to write on?  Well, I think this blog is going to take a little turn or better GO in a very different direction.  Since I started blogging I’ve focused on book reviews, interesting videos, the Adding Value To Others Campaign, funny stories, First Impressions.   All great things, but I think something as been missing.

Going forward I plan to continue relevant book reviews, stories, and we will finish the AV2OC just because I don’t like unfinished work, but I hope to add something as well.  I hope to add story.

What story?  Well it’s not written yet, it hasn’t been told or lived, it’s unknown.

The story will be about Grace and the people that attend Grace, how we show them we care.  Currently, our teams are responsible for making sure people are ready for worship by the time to sit down and to help them connect to the Grace family as a whole.

Right now we do a decent job, but I know we can do so much more!!! Do you want to be part of the story? Do you want to help people understand how much God cares about them?

Stay tuned, something is about to happen!

Days 84,85, 86

85. Write an ebook that gives people helpful advice in a certain area (like 103 ways to add value to people).

103 things may seem like a lot. But a list like this does a few things. It confirms what people are already doing in this area. It gives people some new ideas they might not have thought of. Plus, it gets the creative juices flowing and someone might come up with all new ideas of their own. This content is used with permission.

Now, I’m not about to write an ebook, but I have chosen to do a blog for each of these 103 ways to add value to others.  What are some things you could do?

86. Do a podcast that people can download and listen to on their mp3 player.

Just like putting video up on YouTube, podcasts are becoming more and more in vogue. There is free software out there that will record your voice, convert your file to an MP3 format, even store your file on the internet for free. Speak about a topic that you are passionate about and offer something that people can learn from you. This content is used with permission.

What’s your favorite thing?  What are you an expert in?  Start a podcast.

87. Write a book review on Amazon or on your own blog.

Write a book review in the comments of the author’s blog. Author’s are much more accessible now. One of the scariest things in the world for an author is to put his or her thoughts out there in the form of a book. Let them know what you think. They welcome the feedback. Plus, your review may be the thing that will convince someone of the value or lack of value in a book. Word of mouth is still one of the biggest forms of marketing products and services. This content is used with permission.

AV2OC Day 83 (Be There)

Show up in support of someone else’s event.

Your presence shows that they’re important, what they’re doing is important. You can also cheer and encourage. Recall when you were a little kid and your mom threw you birthday parties and you were so excited to see all these people show up to celebrate YOU? Well that is how the kid in all of us feel when our friends and family rally around us when we are doing something in front of an audience. At an awards night it is always nice to see the parents and siblings of a student show up…but if some of their friends are there as well, that is really something! Can you think of a friend who will be having a ball game or a blog post? Could you support your friend by giving of your time to show up to the game or to log onto their site? Valuing someone enough to share in their glory days shows what a big person you are as well as how selfless you can be! After all, what are friends for if not to watch you when you are in the spotlight? This content is used with permission.

AV2OC Day 82 (break a sweat)

Exercise WITH someone else.

Workouts are much better when you have a partner. You can serve as a spotter so that the other person can actually lift more than they could alone. You can run alongside someone else and speed up the pace. You can speak words of encouragement and motivation to the other person so that they’ll push themselves to get the most out of their workout. This content is used with permission.

Day 81 (annotate a book)

If you find a book helpful, consider getting a group of friends together who share your appreciation for it.

Have each person mark up the book: underlining passages they found helpful, writing notes of how they applied the information, and adding comments back to the author. Then mail the book back to the author. (Note: I’ve done this and it was one of the coolest gifts you could ever offer an author.) This content is used with permission.

I’m not sure there would be anything more meaningful to an author then to receive an annotated copy of their work.

AV2OC Day 80 (Make a Video)

Create a video on YouTube describing how to do something or create something. You can use this free resource as your own virtual classroom.

This is a fairly inexpensive way to offer something to the world on video. I have discovered that I can even create a video on my Treo 650 and upload it at YouTube. Just make sure you’re not putting up something that’s already been copyrighted. This content is used with permission.

Neat idea.  YouTube is loaded with how to videos for many different things.  Personally, I would suggest sending the link to several people that would personally benefit from the video as a way to add value.

Silent Monks Sing Hallelujah Chorus

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AV2OC Day 79 (Shut-up!)

Listen actively.

“To be an active listener you must do more than chime in with the “oh, uh-huh?” and the “mmmm!” When you are actively listening you are present when another person is talking and you are in the moment with them. I have become keen at being an active listener because I enjoy people and their stories! I love to get someone talking about themselves! I like putting together clues as to who they are. I will ask insightful questions if they have given me some good reasons to. The other day my family and I were at the dog park and there was only one other family there with us. I looked over at the “doggie daddy” and asked him the breed of his dog, and with a Canadian accent he said, “Stanley is a Terrier” and I said, ” Are you a Hockey Fan?” and he laughed and said, “WOW, you are quick for a blonde!” ha ha ha Turns out my new neighbor with Stanley the Terrier (named for the Stanley Cup) is Brent Severyn , “The Enforcer”, he played Hockey for Dallas and now is the radio color sportscaster for the Mighty Ducks! My active listening impressed him enough to offer up seats to Honda Stadium! He laughs with me every time we run into each other now…”Hi, eh? My bright, blonde friend!” (I don’t think he can remember my name, well, he did probably get hit in the head a lot with those flying pucks!!! ha ha ha) Next time you are in a conversation, remember to actively listen and play along with the rhythm of someone else’s story, add questions when you can and watch another dimension unfold!” This content is used with permission.

Ok, just to clarify, I’m not a blonde and I didn’t have the above conversation.  But that’s not really the point.

The idea here is to add value by making what  another person is saying more important then what you have to say.

Have you ever been in a conversation where the other person is so consumed with what they want to say that you can’t get a word in? Not the most thrilling conversation eh?

Here is the theory, in order to listen, you can’t be talking!

Admittedly, I struggle with this in my personal life.  Even today I found myself apologizing for cutting a friend off as she was explaining something to another person.

On occasion I’ve been told I’m a good listener… Personally, I think it’s a life-long discipline. So, next time you have the chance to add value to someone by listening, shut-up!

AV2OC Day 78 (B/U~B/O)

Discover a person’s individuality and help them discover it as well.

One of the questions I didn’t enjoy hearing as a kid was, “Why can’t you be more like so-and-so?” I realize now that those in authority over me (parents, teachers, coaches) were trying to get me to exhibit certain character traits. But you don’t hear the question that way when you’re a kid. I didn’t want to be another person, I wanted to be myself. It’s important to have models, to have positive examples to follow. But even more important is being able to be or become yourself. This is the greatest single lesson I learned as I worked on becoming a better public speaker. In the beginning, I would try to copy what I liked from other well known speakers. I would try to BE them. But it never works. I have since worked hard at learning in a way that it enhances who I am and who I am trying to become. I want to learn to do something well without losing my identity or pretending to be someone else.

You are unique, just like everyone else!!  But it’s true! we all have a unique personality with our difference quirks and ism’s.  These are things to be celebrated not diminished.  Are you comfortable in your own skin, or are you still trying to impress others but being like someone else?  Personally, I can relate.  Growing up wanting to be with the “in” crowd.  The truth is you trade who you were made to be for something fake and being “in” doesn’t feel as good as it looks.

Add value to someone by being yourself and helping someone else do that same!

“What will you do with your Gifts” December 27, 2009

Hey so, a few friends and family have asked to an opportunity to view the post Christmas weekend message from Grace Latham. This weekend was an amazing learning experience for me and I am so greatful to hear from those that were blessed by the message.Be an ace in your place!!

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