Change-Makers, Champions, Leaders, & Trailblazers #27

Well..I am so happy to share #27 of the Change-Makers, Champions, Leaders, & Trailblazers series.

A few weeks back, the effects of the pandemic got to me. I have to say for about three weeks, even spending time on LinkedIn was tough(never thought I would ever say that). I had a hollow spot that was growing as I came to the realization that I was missing inspiration and felt like I was not paying much f it forward either.

I had built up so much momentum for summer 2020. It fact if I go back to the beginning of the year, it looked like the summer was set for success and I would be in it to win it; travelling, creating impact, inspiring others, and empowering professionals to level up their LinkedIn game by understanding the Power of LinkedIn and Art of Social Reciprocity.

Just thinking about it creates this surge of excitement in my core. But, my reality was that all speaking engagements / keynotes were cancelled / postponed because of the pandemic. I got it! But, it did not take away from the fact that my excitement and joy took a downward hit every time another event would bite the dust.

I didn't even realize how it all had effected me until this past June. After a few rough days, I had to go back and do some deep reflection; back to the last time I walked on fire where I committed to standing strong through the rough times and never forgetting about my worth and value. Easier said than done. It can be easy to forget since self confidence and self doubt will continuously battle things out through the course of life and heightened through times of uncertainty.

Luckily, I can say that my LinkedIn community was there for me. Whether it be members of my LinkedInFam or people that I have gotten to know and treasure their words and messages like gold.

I have learned that to be inspirational does not mean I have to be in front of a live audience and to receive inspiration means that I just have to have a heart and mind that is open to receiving it.

#27 is about people who inspire; people who inspire me.

I can't believe that this is #27 and I can't believe that I have had the opportunity to feature over 500 change-makers who definitely make LinkedIn a better place!

Dr. Ivan Joseph: "The belief you can accomplish anything = Self Confidence."

Jessica-Joan Richards: "Vulnerabilities and learning to acknowledge them make you stronger.Emotional intelligence is so important when looking to improve our self-confidence and knowledge, that’s why high-feelers are so good at knowing how to treat people. When was the last time you embraced your vulnerabilities and insecurities? If it’s been a while, what have you been afraid of"?

Scotty Schindler: "So you’re getting older? Growing older is a privilege with some benefits like...Knowing who you are??What your values are??And knowing your why??So...Harness YOU?????? Believe in YOU ??? YOU are here for a great reason too ??????

Sheldon Rodrigues: "Creating an environment in which people openly and thoughtfully give and receive feedback and recognition builds trusting teams. When you empower your team to give and receive feedback, you are fostering leadership".

John Gora: "Never be too consumed by your place of work, be loyal and do your responsibilities right. Do not let your place of work create enemies out of your friends. Let it not take away the loyalty between you and your family. Never allow your place of work to be what makes you be known, make your place of work be known. All these are because there comes a time when you will have to be either replaced or simply be cut off from the same place of work. Friends will never fire you, your family will always be there working or fired, the last place to be after every day’s work is home. The last place to go after getting fired is home. It is said “Never fall in love with your company, be wise and fall in love with your work” you will gain and the company will gain too. When the two separate no one feels heartbroken."

Dean Kulaweera: "Sometimes, when the same things keep happening to you over and over again, you eventually need to start looking at yourself - because you're the common factor."

Cherene Francis: "Begin to reverse engineer the steps that it will take for you to get to your goal. In your mind, imagine that you have already achieved the goal. Then begin to think “what is the last step that I took to get here.” Then from that step, ask yourself again, what did it take to get here? And repeat until you have walked backward from your goal to now."

Craig Allan: "We all must start looking to the future and decide whether we submit and cave in as individuals and businesses, or whether we will see opportunity in adversity and start planning for Post Covid. I’ve been a fighter most of my life and I am totally ready to kick Covid’s arse!"

Michelle Harwood-Lange: "We cannot remain stagnant in our journey. We have to grow to live and love through change and challenges. In the moving past the moment we experience the wow factor, the epiphany, the soul language. Remember in mistakes, setbacks, stumbling blocks are born our greatest gifts and powers to become our most amazing selves. This experience is the building of your character connecting you back to tour path, your purpose."

Andrea Harkins: "If you are headed for negativity, you may need that car horn to steer you back on track. Or, you can simply decide that today is the day you will improve your mindset. Set daily affirmations on your calendar that pop up every day or print them off where you can see them frequently. Include positive, powerful comments about yourself, about who you want to be, or what you want to accomplish. They can be simple or elaborate:

I am worthy I am smart I am successful I will reach my goals I live a powerful life"

Marc Merulla: "Strategic alignment and actionable objectives start with meaningful conversations...not a presentation!"

Shaun Robinson: "Never be limited by other people’s limited imagination!"

Jocko Willink:

Tucker Hood: "You find the real magic happens when you slow down and start back again. When you look inward, do the hard work, ground yourself in humility and gratitude and push onward."

Lisa Orbe-Austin: "When you are driven by what others think of you and how they feel about your accomplishments, you don’t dream your own dreams. In order to own your greatness, you have to think about what you want for yourself and the plans that you have for your own professional journey. That may take a little disentangling, but it is worth taking some time to reflect on:

Is that what I want for myself? Or what others want for me?

Am I more concerned with what others will find valuable, impressive, or interesting more than what I find to be fulfilling?

What are my dreams (even if I dare not share them with anyone else yet)?

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Love Shelly ??

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