A Rewarding Resolution

A Rewarding Resolution

We explore a New Year’s resolution that will help you continue to grow and contribute to your community regardless of your stage in life.

Happy New Year! With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, many of us are reflecting on the year gone by and setting goals for the next 12 months and beyond. It’s an opportunity to assess where you’ve been and where you’re going.

New Year’s?resolutions?typically include things like returning to the gym to lose a few extra pounds, quitting a bad habit, finally organizing your closet, spending less, saving more, or learning a new hobby. All are great ways to kick off 2023.

But my friend?Cynthia Covey Haller?has a recommendation that’s more ambitious and much more rewarding: Resolve to live your life by continually growing in what you contribute, learn, and influence. She calls it living life in crescendo, which is the term used by composers to describe when the music builds in volume and intensity.

Cynthia’s new book,?“Live Life in Crescendo”?is based on the ideas of her late father, the leadership expert Stephen Covey. His life may be the leading example of living life to the fullest; in fact, he saw the “Crescendo Mentality” as the final component of a lifelong message that started with “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and inspired millions of people to lead more effective, compassionate, and meaningful lives.

The message of?“Live Life in Crescendo”?is simple: Use whatever you have – whether it’s time, talent, resources, gifts, passion, connections, or influence – to enrich the lives of your family, neighbors, co-workers, and broader community.

We cannot think of a better New Year’s resolution to share with our community.

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Examples of living life in crescendo

During a recent?Celebrations Chatter?podcast, Cynthia and I discussed examples of living life in crescendo versus in diminuendo, which is when the music – or life – fades to a whisper.

You can hear both parts of my conversation with Cynthia on?Apple Podcasts?and?Spotify. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any future episodes!

The discussion turned to retirees. When people leave their job, they have a choice: They can spend retirement resting and relaxing (life in diminuendo) or they can continue to contribute to their families, friends, and communities (life in crescendo). The latter leverages all the knowledge, wealth, and connections they've accumulated over the years.

For an example of living life in crescendo, Cynthia cited the example of Mike Mason, a former high-ranking FBI official who learned that his community’s school district needed bus drivers to ferry students to and from the classroom. He applied for the job and is now, as one newspaper put it, bussing kids rather than busting criminals.

"You can retire from a job or career, but you can never retire from making a difference in people’s lives."

-- Cynthia

Living life in crescendo isn’t just about retirees. Cynthia says it’s applicable at every age.

"Through every stage in our lives, you need to look to contribute to other people and bless them in ways that are needed in community. If you’re able to extend a hand and serve, it enriches your own live. It gives your life meaning and purpose and keeps you going."

-- Cynthia

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A simple way to start

How do you begin living a life in crescendo? The first step is to recognize that all of us have a unique power to lift other people. Even if you don’t think you have money, influence, or other material things to share, you can still contribute simply by connecting with other people.

We’ve frequently written about this special superpower and the simple ways you can use it. Start by creating a connectivity calendar of the people you’ll be contacting and when you’ll be doing so. Write it down and follow it!

How do you connect? It can be as extensive as setting a date for an in-person lunch or as simple as a quick email or text message. The most important thing is that you?use your power?of connection to build and strengthen relationships. It’ll make 2023 great for everyone – including yourself!

If you’re still feeling stuck, try humor. I often sends memes, GIFs, or funny cartoons to people on my lists to spark or liven up the conversation. Invariably people will respond with a positive reaction, or their own attempts at humor.

Remember that life’s ultimate value is all about contribution, not accumulation, and that relationships are the foundation of all the contributions. Regardless of your wealth or health, everyone has the power to connect with other people.?Use your power?today, and you’ll soon find yourself living life in crescendo.

Happy New Year!

Adam Hanft

Home of the Unfair Advantage. Working with companies, brands, and brand leaders - world leaders, as well - to construct narratives that harmonize with this moment and anticipate the next.

2 年

The musical metaphor is perfect, to which I would add "tenuto" - which means to hold a note or chord to its full value. That sustained performance is essential to a full, rich and consistently fulfilling life.

Kay Kepley

Managing partner, marketing specialist and Creative at Resonance Cards

2 年

Jim McCann Oh my goodness what a great article. Thank you so much for introducing us to this book and this woman!!! It's beyond a perfect way to start 2023 with an upbeat, uplifting feeling! We could buy the book and refer to it during a cold drizzling day in May or and over hot day in August, or a frustrating moment, this book ought to help. Thank you Jim and thank you Cynthia Covey H.

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Christine Lewis-Anderson BA,MT(ASCP) BB

Perpetual Inventory Clerk at Macy's

2 年

Love this ??

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