I’m going to try to set aside my wicked Maximizer strength so that I can get this blog written quickly whilst doing justice to the awesomeness of the accomplishments contained herein. Can I write this in 30 minutes? The clock is ticking!
First of all, Sharon from Missouri – congratulations on beginning your new job TOMORROW (click here to read the blog on her courageous choice to build a new life). It’s your first day in your new role – good luck – we’ll be sending you tons of positive energy!
Second, let’s wish Khalid a fabulous expedition and leadership experience as he participates in a corporate service corps experience in Columbia. He leaves very shortly. We don’t know what is in store for him. What we do know is that he will return with new horizons and lessons learned, which we hope he will share with us in a future guest blog post. I know what a great ambassador he will be – the team is lucky to have him. Here’s a link to his blog that describes his adventure: http://khalidraza9.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/corporate-service-corps-my-journey-begins/ (blasted wordpress wouldn’t let me insert the link…)
Third, let’s congratulate my friend and client, Jen. Jen doesn’t race into the spotlight, so I’ll keep this short and sweet and state how proud I am of her for leaving a company where she had been employed for over 10 years, and joining a new firm that values her for her rock star value proposition (and she took the time and energy to craft a value prop, by the way, so it wasn’t a coincidence.) Jen also worked really hard on understanding and communicating her strengths in the interviewing process, and was able to connect her natural talents with measurable outcomes. She’s starting week 3 in the new role. Way to go, girlfriend.
Finally, there are a few other amazing people in my life who continue to pursue their dreams by remaining open to the journey. Each are involved in new beginnings, new courses, new projects (Hint: Vicki, Cheryl, and Hazel.) I am so grateful that you’re in my life, and are willing to share feedback & ideas. Good luck, and have fun (like the kids in the photo – oh, that we could keep that joy in our hearts and minds forever!)
Vicki, you taught me how to “pause and celebrate” – you used those words with me a few years back when I survived some sort of a disastrous work situation. It was a real eye-opener for me because it felt pretty darn good to have you stop by for a virtual high-five.
Call To Action: I need to be reminded that taking time to pause and celebrate even small victories is healthy for everyone involved – me included. Encouragement is effective and it is easy on the budget, too!
I pause and celebrate for you and with you – and I appreciate your role in helping me become a better leader and success architect.
Onward! (29 minutes, 44 seconds…)
Maureen: Ideation~Strategic ~Learner~Achiever~Individualization~Maximizer
Lydia
Hi Maureen! Where is the celebration of your achievements?
First I would like to congratulate, because you made this blog under 30 main.(Gosh,that’s fast). I want to say,that I admire you, your persistence towards reaching your goals, the energy you’re spreading around you,the support you’re providing despite being really occupied with many tasks. The role model you are with kind words and compassion. I am appreciating all these qualities you have and the fact,that I got to know you! Be wholehearted as you are! ( I am just reading Brene Brown’s book and thinking about you often!)You influence my life positively
Maureen Monte
Hi Lydia! Oh my goodness, what a gift you have given me! You stopped by to celebrate with me! Thank you for doing that – it is very kind. Anytime my name and Brene Brown’s name is used in the same sentence… well, nothing but good can come of that!
And I should have included YOU – based on our conversation last week, with the many challenges and new behaviors you are embracing as part of your learning journey – much positive energy being sent your way, too, my friend!
I celebrate with you, and only wish I had the confidence and persistence that you have at your young age. Hang in there, stay strong and true to yourself.
Vicki Flaherty
Maureen, how delicious is this post?! Love, love, love the celebratory spirit of it. And, I’m most definitely with Lydia, it’s missing something BIG! A celebration of YOU. You are a role model of knowing your truth and following your heart, of envisioning a future filled with success and moving toward it. I’ve seen you stumble and I’ve seen you soar – any journey worth taking will have some of both, no? What if you took the rest of the week to reflect on your soaring moments, and built in a little celebration time of YOU each day? :)
Your post was a gift and a reminder to me that I always have an impact (even when I am not conscious of it or don’t choose it). Who knew the effect of my pausing to celebrate your accomplishment those 3 or so years ago or that it would bring us here remembering. Here’s to creating special moments every day by being conscious and awake and making time to be with the person or people you are blessed to be with.
Maureen Monte
Hi Vicki! Ah yes, you have seen me stumble and seen me soar – (of course, the stumbles are more vivid in my mind – are they in yours?) I like your coaching – I think it would be good for me to take account of things that have gone well – my soaring moments. You have identified something that I noticed myself – I am tracking 12 or so key things that will help me “thrive” (this is part of my book I’m working on). This is a daily exercise. I have a key metric that says “Success Journal.” Day after day after day, it is empty. What does that tell us? “Oh dear,” Maureen says, shoulders slumping. Part of it is work troubles, and part of it is tweaking how I spend my time. I’m on week 3 or 4 – time to step up to the plate, girlfriend! Thanks for your help – and indeed, who knew the impact those words would have on me- I’d NEVER had ANYONE stop by to celebrate with me. Huge moment. :-) Onward!
Vicki Flaherty
QM – no, indeed, the soaring moments are brighter for me than any stumbles I may have witnessed…I believe you are soaring sometimes and don’t even realize that’s what you are doing. Soaring takes work, muscle, energy – sometimes it might very well feel like stumbling, at least in the moment. An empty success journal for you? Oh, dear, yes, you have on a pair of glasses that are filtering the light, my friend. I see so many successes for your journal! Are these noted in there: courage to share what’s true for you with the world in this blog, persistence to keep focused on your growth and the growth of others, awareness that enables you to see the challenges at work and opportunities for something different and more delicious, energy that keeps you stepping up to the plate, wisdom that you are capturing in bits and pieces and shaping into something we’ll all be pausing to celebrate with you some day – your book. And, I do believe, I’m just getting warmed up! You are amazing, my friend.
Jennifer Elmore
Ummm hellooo? I celebrate this blog, lady! I am reminding you that this is fantastic- today and always. Short and sweet ;)
Maureen Monte
Thank you, Jen! Short and sweet! ;-)
Hazel
Like Lydia said, you spread energy around you. Here you are throwing a party for everyone else and forgetting to invite yourself!
With your help, I am noticing the things I do that would have been outside my comfort zone previously; where I have grown. By noticing (I am not really a party person, noticing is almost celebrating), I become more comfortable, like when you are on wobbly rocks and you take a moment to check your footing – then you stand much more confidently. Thank you.
Also, congratulations on the sub 30 minute blog!
Maureen Monte
Thank you, Hazel! I thought I was hosting the party! :-) That’s the fun part! I get to work, play, laugh, moan, and plan how to take over the world with you guys! :-)
I love, love, love your observation about steadying yourself on the wobbly rocks… what a great visual and oh so true to the journey!
Thank YOU for a marvelous conversation last week – I learned a lot about myself and how to be more effective in a given circumstance…. still processing it, but all good. And Thrilled to have you on the C1 team… :-) Onward!
Janet Cohen
I’ll pile on as well, Maureen. Here’s to you…encouraging us to celebrate others, and yet we’re here checking out your blog because of the positive energy and great ideas you always provide. Thank you for continuing to be yourself…and “available” to the rest of us mere mortals! As the song from Wicked goes…”Because I knew you…I have been changed for good.”
Maureen Monte
HI Janet! so good to see you here! I often tell your story of how you led your team through the strengths journey – it was so fun to work with you!! We are all mere mortals, but knowing what makes us AWESOME mere mortals is a lot of fun.
Your kind remarks are wonderful – thank you for the gift of stopping by to celebrate!!!
Khalid Raza
Maureen – I am a Muslim but I believe in destiny. God sent you in my life to make it better and you do that with each passing day. Thank you once again for making us realize how crazy busy we are in ‘getting’ stuff and not ‘enjoying’ it. We get fatter salaries but don’t spend money to enjoy it, we make new friends but never call them or meet them, we buy new cars but never go on a long drive… In less than 30 minutes, you told us the juice of a lifetime – which most of us miss to sip.
And as Fatboy Slim says in his song, I dedicate these lines to you Maureen
“We’ve come a long long way together,
Through the hard times and the good,
I have to celebrate you baby,
I have to praise you like I should.”
Wait for the day we meet and we shall have the best celebratory time – till then stay blessed!
Maureen Monte
Hello Khalid! What a great comment to wake up to! :-) We make each other better – we always have. I think you’ve taken my remarks and raised them to a level of effectiveness that I wished for, but did not achieve – thank you for your help! I love Fatboy Slim’s lyrics (I don’t personally know him.) One question if you have time (I know how busy you are getting ready for your rock star adventure!) does a belief in destiny conflict with overall Muslim beliefs? I am not well-informed on the subject, and wish to know more. (as always.) Thanks again my friend – we make a difference. Onward!