Meaningful Connections. Stop and smell the roses.

One of the most important things I can do in life is to build meaningful connections with people. Technology can play a major factor in how people build relationships. It can be a benefit if we use it to promote good. It can be impersonal if we rely on it as our sole means of communication. Face to face connection with people is still, in my opinion, the best way to impact people's lives. There is something powerful in being able to look into someone's eyes and read how they are truly feeling. You never know what someone is going through in life and we should never underestimate the power of influence we can have on someone at the grocery store, at the gas station, in our workplace, in our community, on the fields, on the courts, in our place of worship, or in our homes. I am getting ready to host a bunch of kids at my house who were strangers just a year ago. The kids and their families have become my friends and I adore each one of them. My goal is to make them happy and applaud them for what they have gone through and are about to endure. I love doing book signings because it allows me to teach children about how many company started as a gift and how important giving back is. I also want to teach them that they can dream big because I started something from nothing. I want to share these things because I want to help others be able to get out of their comfort zone and know that they too can build meaningful relationships with those around them. In our workplace, we have the power to impact. If we choose to bury ourselves too deeply into our work, hide in spreadsheets or be "too busy" to look around us, we might miss an amazing opportunity to serve or to help someone. No matter how important that next deadline is, don't forget to open your eyes, stop and smell the roses, and take notice of those around you. Thanks for your connection and if I can ever do anything to help you, please don't hesitate to reach out.