Exceptional People Magazine September/October 2021 by Atela Productions, Inc.

September/October 2021

How to Get Your Prospect to Envision Your Idea Nine Ways to Build Resilience and Grit Top 10 Reasons for Starting a Home-Based Business

She Followed Her Calling: Now Parents Are Following Her

Leslie Lucy

LETTER FROM Founder and Publisher Editor-in-Chief Monica Davis Writers & Editors Jon Crump Marla Gem Suzanne Harris Company Writers & Contributors Donna Carletta Kathy Kentty Pat Markel Other Contributors Andrew Horton Greg Williams Jack Canfield Annemarie Cross Art and Graphics Designer Jenette Antonio Sityar Exceptional People Magazine is published bi-monthly by Atela Productions, Inc. The opinions of the contributors are not necessarily those of Atela Productions, Inc. Exceptional People Magazine is a copyright of Atela Productions, Inc. The contents of this publication may not be printed, copied or distributed without the express written consent of the Publisher. Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved.

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P R O D U C T I O N S , INC.

the Publisher

Dear Friend,

It seems this year is quickly coming to a close. I can't believe that we're already starting the last quarter of 2021. Thank you for your ongoing readership of our magazine. We hope you continue to find it inspiring, informative, and helpful in your daily life. Though 2021 has been a challenging year for all of us, and we're slowly getting back on track, there are many important lessons I hope we all continue to learn as we go forward. Some of those lessons include: • F aith, patience, and perseverance enable us to walk through adversity with the confidence and belief that things will turn out the way they're supposed to turn out. • S haring a kind word can lift a person's spirit and outlook on life any time of day, any day of the year. • N o matter how much we have or don't have, there's always something we can share with others in need. Which one of these have you been practicing? Which has had an impact on you personally and professionally? I encourage you to continue to be strong and courageous as you seek to live your best life. With every good wish for great achievements,

Monica Davis Founder

CONTENTS EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

LESLIE LUCY She Followed Her Calling: Now Parents Are Following Her

MINDING MY BUSINESS

Are You an Entrepreneur? How True Entrepreneurs Think!

Strategies for Building a Solid Personal Brand

Making Your Employees Feel Valued

How to Effectively Manage Your Time

Top 10 Reasons for Starting a Home-Based Business

It's not the successes that make you a stronger, more successful person; it's the failures.

Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. Winston Churchill

WELCOME TO THE TOP SECOND EDITION

Learn from the best and get proven and time-tested advice needed to succeed. Discover powerful strategies and systems, and endless possibilities to rapidly grow your business in any economy. Gain powerful insights to help you achieve growth quickly and save your most precious resources—time and money. Wow, I simply love this book. I was personally empowered by this tome of collective wisdom and insights. WELCOME TO THE TOP IS A MUST-READ FOR EVERY PERSON WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT LEADING A FULFILLING AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE. My heartfelt thanks go out to Monica for providing us a clear way to manifest our destiny. Dr. George C. Fraser, CEO, FraserNet, Inc.

WELCOME TO THE TOP IS A MASTERPIECE AND AN ABSOLUTE MUST-READ FOR ENTREPRENEURS. It should be mandatory reading in every business school. Many of the ideas and the advice they offer can be applied immediately to any business. I have used them for my business and had great results. The wisdom they each share is profound and will shorten the learning curve for readers and save them from making a boatload of costly mistakes. Chrissy Carew, Hall of Fame Master Certified Coach & Founder of Insightful Player, LLC

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She Followed Her Calling: Now Parents Are Following Her

Leslie Lucy

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

“TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.” — PROVERBS 22:6

any preschools quote biblical scripture to encapsulate their philosophy, but Orange Tree Christian Preschool isn’t like many other preschools. Founded in 2006, its teaching methods are a sea change to the now-established philosophies of late 1990s educational reform. Since its founding in 2006, this non-denominational school is attracting parents from far and wide – parents who prize classical education’s more traditional methods and values.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

Who’s behind this massive shift in early education? A former surgical assistant named Leslie Lucy. Working in the medical field until age 35, Lucy discovered her calling while raising her own three children. In them, and in the many other children she encountered, she saw a need to focus youngsters on the perseverance, collaboration, and empathy skills crucial to arriving victorious against the challenges of life. Lucy enrolled at Saddleback College to get her education in Early Childhood Development, fulfilling a calling she’d had from a very young age. She’d always been drawn to nurturing and caring for the children around her. It wasn’t long before she was chosen to lead a pilot program at Calvary Chapel of the Canyons, where she was instrumental in putting together the Orange Tree Teaching system.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Not long afterward, Leslie launched the first Orange Tree Christian Preschool in Lake Forest, California. In 2011, Orange Tree opened its second location in Newport Beach. A third branch recently opened in Costa Mesa, and from the looks of things, more branches are inevitable. Lucy is soft-spoken, but her words are weighty. She’s clearly committed to the goal of shaping every single child to be confident, capable, equipped, and ready for their next level of education, and for life. “When we change the way we do preschool, we are changing the world,” she says, and it’s hard not to see her point. Making lessons and skills training fun for kids is her talent, and she’s already got something of a movement of engaged parents and teachers behind her. Lucy credits author Bruce Wilkinson and Pastor Rick Warren as her most significant influences, crediting the latter’s Saddleback Church with helping people to grow the way she believes everyone should grow. In this way, her mission is for Orange Tree to be “fruitful” by teaching children, teachers, and parents how to become involved with learning how to live and how to love. Speaking with Leslie Lucy last month, we were privileged to hear her share more about her life, her thoughts, and her inspirations. Monica: When did you realize that you had the gift of childcare? Leslie: My earliest memory of taking care of children comes from the story that my mom used to tell where I was two years old and my little baby sister was six months old. From that age on, I was taking care of kids. I’ve always had a natural inclination to care for young children. Monica: As an adult, what was your main career and how did you transition into becoming a preschool owner? Leslie: It was definitely not something that I ever thought that I would do. I was working as a surgical assistant. I loved my job and was really good at it. It

WHEN WE CHANGE THE WAY WE DO PRESCHOOL, WE ARE CHANGING THE WORLD. was fascinating to be able to work in the operating room helping people in that way. I went to a church service and heard Bruce Wilkinson speak about his book, The Dream Giver. The idea is that God gives everyone a dream from the time that they're very young. And the reason we have this dream is because that's what God wants us to do with our lives. So I started searching my own heart, looking at what I'd love to do and what my natural gift may be. At the time, my youngest of three children was one year old and I had to put him into daycare. I walked into the little preschool; a home preschool with a beautiful backyard. All the children were in the backyard playing. I knelt down to say goodbye to him. And I just looked around and thought, “This is where I want to be.” Who would want to be in a backyard, playing in the dirt with the kids? To me, that was my little dream. That's when I first knew, and that's when I started this journey. My son is now 22. The adventure has been very fun. I'm very excited about the future and where God's taking the rest of this. Monica: What about the sermon that you heard gave you a renewed vision and direction? Leslie: When you realize that God has a plan and a purpose; that we all have a purpose. It's nice to have a great income and a good job, but is it your life's work? Is it serving the Kingdom? And when I asked those important questions of myself, the answer was no. Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

So, I had to take a leap of faith to quit that career and start a new career. But as you've heard it said before: Where God guides, God provides. That's been my theme for the last 20 years. Monica: Without that faith, you are not going move forward because you're going not going to trust yourself. You need to put trust in God first. Leslie: Exactly. At the time, I did not know what I was doing, but I did trust God. I was able to take those continued leaps of faith. I still do. At every turn and every corner, I have to trust that God has a plan. Monica: You believe your true calling is to change the way we do preschool. What do you think can be done better in childcare? Leslie: It starts with the system. Our current childcare system has become a very well-oiled machine to pump kids through. The way that it's managed is very efficient, and it yields high returns as far as the amount of revenue that the industry produces. The problem in this system is that the children are not being equipped with the tools that they need to be able to support their life circumstances growing up. That's why we see kids who have anxiety, depression, ADHD, who are socially awkward or have other struggles. It's because we're not equipping them for life. The majority of schools will tell you that they run a “child-centered” developmental program. What that means is that the children initiate what they want to learn. The teaching opportunities are laid out for them, they say, “I'm interested in this or that,” and then the teachers help them when they need help. In that system, it's not necessary to have highly skilled or highly trained teachers. The prerequisite for a teacher in the preschool world is to be 18 years old with four college classes. That's it. Preschool teachers do not have to be highly educated. They just need to be able to babysit or take care of a need that a child might have if they 8

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

IN ESSENCE, WE'RE NOT ONLY EQUIPPING THE CHILDREN; WE'RE ALSO EQUIPPING THE PARENTS TO BE BETTER PARENTS. WE ARE MINISTERING TO THE WHOLE FAMILY AND EVERYBODY'S BENEFITING FROM THE EXPERIENCE. need help with something that they want to do. And in that system, we can pay the teachers a lot less, making it a more profitable industry. Here's the downfall to that system. There are many things that kids need to learn that they're not naturally going to want to learn. So you have to create an environment that makes learning fun. This creates a love for learning. It creates a perseverance to push through the hard lessons so that those skills are adopted into a way of life. These children are independent thinkers who are able to practice for the goal of mastery; they're not going to give up after trying one time. When you have a system that teaches them all the skills they need, then they go into their next phase of education equipped, excited, prepared, and ready to learn more. Monica: You are the visionary and the owner of Orange Tree Schools. What kind of feedback are you getting from the parents of the children that you're working with?

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Leslie: We actually pre-qualify the parents who come to our school. It takes a parent who is really willing to partner with us to do the same hard work that the teachers are doing. In the past, I didn't require parents to be as involved as we need them to be. But if the parent's not reinforcing at home the important life skills that the teacher is teaching, then the likelihood that the child's going to continue after preschool is pretty low. But if the parent understands the value of what we're equipping their children with for life, then the parents are going to learn as well. And they're going to adopt the practices that we're sharing.

In essence, we're not only equipping the children; we're also equipping the parents to be better parents. We are ministering to the whole family and everybody's benefiting from the experience. So the parents love our school. They walk away more prepared for life with their child as a result of being at Orange Tree. Monica: How do you determine the criteria for selecting teachers for your school? Leslie: We have found that there's got to be give and take. At this point, until we get the higher paying salaries

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

for preschool teachers, we have to figure out how we can hire college educated teachers and still pay them what the other teachers are making that don't have that high level of education. We're offering to take college graduates and teach them how to be great teachers. It is a trade off because we're not paying the high salaries that they will be making when they go into higher education, but the trade-off is worth it because they're getting the support that sets them up for success in their next phase of life. So, while they're getting their teaching credentials and master's degrees, they're learning classroom management and all the things that a successful teacher needs to know.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

It supports the ministry and the mission because now we have equipped all of these teachers to go out and equip children for life in the same way. It grows the Kingdom because we're influencing that many more students with well-trained teachers who can do this work. Monica: What are some key components of your system that helps prepare kids for life? Leslie: We're doing skills training all day long, and we make it fun. Whatever we're practicing, we play a game, we have a contest, or we do it through music and movement to make it enjoyable.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

As the kids are learning and growing, they're realizing, “Hey, I'm getting really good at this.” It makes them want to practice more. As they are mastering skills, they are becoming confident and self-assured. That's how they adopt the love for learning. That is really the key to the system. The success of the system is equipping them, having them become confident, and then making lifetime learners out of them by making learning fun. Monica: Part of your mission is to teach the kids perseverance – a trait that is often challenging for adults. How do you instill in a young child the benefits of perseverance and patience? Leslie: It's funny that people don't realize that when children are young, that's usually when they get their free will, at 18 months. From 18 months to six years old, kids are just looking for answers. When you show them and you lead by example and you make it fun, they'll follow you. It’s very simple. If you're having fun, they're going to be having fun. They think they're just playing games all day at school with their friends, but we're teaching them perseverance because we're practicing the same thing every single day. Monica: What is your vision for Orange Tree? Leslie: We're continuing to open schools in churches which have empty classrooms Monday through Friday. It's a very good use of space. It's beneficial to the church and it's beneficial to the preschool, the parents, the community, and the children. It provides jobs for the teachers. We would like to continue to open locations nearby. The next step would be to franchise and show people who want to own their own preschool how to do this. It's a reproducible system. We have the model. That's one of the things on the table for the next three to five years. In addition to opening multiple locations, we're also in the process of launching our staffing solutions. We have a lot of teachers right now who are looking for work, and we would love to be able to bring

THE BIGGEST PART OF CHILD UPBRINGING IS THE LOVE AND CARE THAT THEY RECEIVE. teachers in, train them, and then send them out and help them to find really good jobs. Monica: What challenges has COVID introduced to your business? Leslie: Being flexible is one of the things that we've learned over the last 18 months. It's important to be flexible, but also to stand with integrity. Sometimes, you face a make or break situation. There are so many contagious diseases in the preschool world, so our system before COVID was virtually the same as after COVID. But COVID has put everybody else on the same page with us: to follow this protocol and keep everybody well. Let's keep our area clean and not be complacent about cleanliness, washing our hands, and covering our coughs. Those are all things that we've always done. If you're sick, don't come to school. That's been our message all along. So, in that regard, I really am happy about the effect that COVID had. The flip side of that is that we have to hug the kids. We have to show them love. We cannot distance ourselves from the kids at such a young and impressionable age. We have taken that stance. We're not willing to compromise the integrity of a child's understanding of the world around them. The biggest part of child upbringing is the love and care that they receive. When parents ask, “Are you requiring that that you can't hug the kids anymore?” the answer is no. We are always going to provide that part of the child's upbringing. Love is the key to raising a healthy child. Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Monica: Have you received any negative feedback from the city or the county in which your schools are located? Leslie: We have not. A lot of other schools have called me to ask, “How are you handling this?” And I pray for wisdom. I believe that God gives me wisdom when it comes to protecting the children. That is my heart and that is my goal. I give the parents every bit of responsibility to ensure that we are partnering for that common goal. Because we work together for that goal, we don't seem to have a problem. Monica: Is it your plan to always utilize the spaces that churches have for classrooms? Leslie: We'll have multiple locations that operate out of churches. That's the business model. Then we'll expand to allow other people to follow the same model and open up a franchise in their local church, which really doesn't limit the number of Orange Trees that we could have. Monica: How can people who love what you're doing support you? Leslie: You can pray for us. That's probably the biggest thing. You can go to our website, www.orangetreechristianpreschool.com. There's a donate button. If you'd like to give, it is a taxdeductible donation. We’re open to anybody who is interested in coming alongside us to help with the growth process. Our team is small and we can always use more help.

There are different ways that we should behave in the grocery store, at church, on the playground, or visiting somebody's house as a guest. When we teach kids that there is a time and a place for everything, it teaches them that we should be doing the right thing in spite of how we feel. That's lifechanging for a child. 

Monica: Would you mind closing with your last word? Leslie: Thank you for the opportunity. One recurring theme that I've been teaching my teachers is that there's a time and a place for everything. It seems like such a simple concept. But teaching children how to assess the appropriate behavior for the circumstance and the place is probably the biggest gift that you can give them.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

www.orangetreechristianpreschool.com

MINDING MY BUSINESS Your brand is only as strong as its people. So, how do you get the best and brightest to join your team? When you’re looking for reliable partners or employees, they must relate to your “why.” The smaller your business, the more accurate this is. People who connect to your “why” are more likely to stay loyal, work hard, think outside the box to make things happen, and see the work they do as an opportunity rather than as a burden or source of income. The truth is, the best and brightest talent don’t just want a job--they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Are You an Entrepreneur? How True Entrepreneurs Think! BY DONNA CARLETTA

MINDING MY BUSINESS

re you a true entrepreneur? Maybe you’re a true entrepreneur but never realized it because you haven’t started a new business yet.

The makeup of your personality determines whether you are a true entrepreneur. If you’re a true entrepreneur, your default mindset comes from two primary sources: • unshakeable self-confidence, and • the ability and desire to think on your feet. Other significant characteristics of a true entrepreneur include the drive to be a fierce competitor, the need to be in control, and the desire to do what others will not or cannot do.

If someone has done something before, it’s as good as done before the entrepreneur starts. If it’s something that has never been accomplished before, the entrepreneur focuses on the result of being the first to get it done. The’ How’ is insignificant at that point. Their unshakeable self-confidence has carried them through all manner of challenges, problems, disasters, and victories. It will take them through this adventure too. They know it. A true entrepreneur, moreover, rarely considers the risk involved. Risk is a factor for people who don’t have the drive or mindset of an entrepreneur.

ABSENCE OF DOUBT

At no point does a genuine entrepreneur attempt to make money. They will make money, but whether it’s enough or whether it’s quick enough may well be a deal-breaker because entrepreneurs get bored quickly.

True entrepreneurs have a unique way of looking at things. The absence of doubt is a fundamental aspect of entrepreneurial thinking. An entrepreneur never asks whether something can be done. Of course, it can be done! The only question is whether the entrepreneur wants to do it.

Entrepreneurs may walk away from fantastic opportunities because they have just “had enough”. It’s not about the money. Ask any true entrepreneur if they’ve walked away from massive paydays just because they were “done” with that project, opportunity, or business.

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

MINDING MY BUSINESS

UNCONVENTIONAL THINKING True entrepreneurs are action-oriented people. They don’t like being caught up in the small details of anything. They are the absolute best at starting anything but probably the worst at staying with it. It’s not because they can’t; it’s that new projects are so much more exciting! Entrepreneurs are unconventional in the way they think and the way they do things. They will change the way things are done just because they can. Entrepreneurs are adventurers, pioneers, and creative thinkers for whom results are the primary goal. Consider these characteristics: 1. Entrepreneurs have a present-moment mindset. They have no fear and spend no time thinking about yesterday. Today is where it all happens. They will start early and finish late to get ahead of any schedule, timescale, or competitor. 2. Their work is an adventure. Entrepreneurs have no concept of real work because everything they do is fun for them. The moment it begins to feel like work, they are gone. They are the first out of the door when the fun stops. • This is why you’ll never find a true entrepreneur as an employee. They don’t like conforming to anyone else’s rules, and they don’t like being told what to do. • Being an entrepreneur is almost like having an obsessive-compulsive mindset, so family members describe many of them as workaholics. The entrepreneurs themselves don’t see it like that, of course, but everyone around them does!

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

3. Planning more than a few steps ahead is pointless in an entrepreneur’s eyes. Rather than have a detailed plan or blueprint to follow, entrepreneurs view business and life itself as if they were driving down the freeway at night. • They have high-beam lights to illuminate the next 200 yards. If they can see what is happening in those 200 yards, they have time to stop, change lanes, or maneuver around any obstacle. • They trust that, as they drive along, they will react and respond to everything that comes their way. That’s all they need—the next 200 yards. • Their ability to think on their feet, change direction at will, and let their intuition run free will take care of everything. They never doubt that.

WORKING WITH A TRUE ENTREPRENEUR Working with an entrepreneur can be challenging. True entrepreneurs have a constant flow of new ideas, perspectives, and projects. They don’t care much for planning, and they have no time to wait. They live very much in the now and struggle to understand why everyone doesn’t think like them. This is why true entrepreneurs are solitary beings who work very well on their own, or as the leader of a team, but very rarely as a team member. The only rules that interest them are those they make themselves. On the plus side, being around a true entrepreneur is an excellent education, and it’s always fun. Does the above description fit you? If so, maybe you’re a true entrepreneur! 

PROVIDED BY ATELA PRODUCTIONS

MINDING MY BUSINESS

n the previous issue, we wrote about why you need a personal brand. In this issue, we’ll share what you need to do to begin. We’ll identify and list the individual strategies you can use to build your own compelling personal brand.

STEP #1:

DETERMINE WHO YOU ARE

The first step in creating a powerful personal brand is to determine who you are. Remember, building your brand is about sharing your authentic self with the world. Said another way, you build your personal brand upon your skills, passions, values, and beliefs. You must know yourself if you want to create a solid personal brand. Ask yourself: • What unique skills do I have? • What are my core values? • What are my passions? • What unique experiences have shaped who I am? • How can I most effectively serve my core audience? • What do I have to offer that no one else does?

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

The answers to these questions should shape your brand. They should help you get to the core of what matters most to you and how you can add value to your audience.

STEP #2:

DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE

Once you’ve identified the core of who you are, it’s time to think about what you want to accomplish with your brand. Answer these questions: • What would I like to accomplish, both personally and professionally? • What do I want people to identify with me? • If I could be the world’s foremost expert on a topic, what would it be? • What key message do I want to communicate? • If I could only give one piece of advice, what would it be? The answers to these questions should further solidify in your mind how your personal brand will look.

MINDING MY BUSINESS

STEP #3:

IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

The simple reality is that you can’t effectively serve everyone. Rather, there is a core demographic of people who will resonate deeply with you, your brand, and what you offer. This core demographic is your target audience. It’s these people whom you will serve most effectively and who will be your ideal client. To identify your core audience, ask yourself these questions: • Who can I most effectively help? • Who will benefit most from my skill set and knowledge? • Who am I most passionate about serving? • Who will resonate most with my brand and me? When determining your core audience, it can be helpful to create a persona. This persona represents your ideal client. Include the following information in the persona: • Demographics: How old are they? Are they male or female? Single or married? What is their level of education? What career do they have? How much do they make?

It’s where you take all the answers from the previous three points and put them together into one brand statement that sums up who you are personally and how you serve your core audience. A UVP typically looks something like this: • I help (target person) to (achieve X) so that they can (outcome) For example: “I help B2B companies implement turnkey marketing solutions that increase revenue, create efficiency and increase customer lifetime value.” Or, “I help entrepreneurs scale their businesses over six figures per year so they can live a life of freedom.” Your UPV doesn’t have to say everything about your brand, but it should get right to the heart of who you are and how you help your audience. It may help to give your UVP a unique name that will stick in people’s minds. For example, if you teach young entrepreneurs how to be more productive, you could call your UVP the “Power Productivity Formula.” Or, if you help entrepreneurs scale their businesses, you could call your UVP something like, “Scale Without Fail.”

• Hopes and dreams: How do they want their future to look? What are their goals?

It simply needs to be short, memorable, and aptly describe what you do.

• Challenges: What obstacles do they face? Why haven’t they been able to reach their goals?

Put much thought into this step. Creating your UVP gives you a high degree of clarity about what your brand is all about.

STEP #4:

DETERMINE YOUR UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION

Take the necessary time to craft a UVP that adequately captures your brand’s purpose.

Now it’s time to identify your Unique Value Proposition (UVP).

STEP #5:

Your UVP is your brand summed up into a single, powerful, compelling statement that describes what you do for your audience.

Once you’ve identified the core of your brand, as well as your target audience, it’s time to start treating yourself as a brand.

START TREATING YOURSELF AS A BRAND

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

MINDING MY BUSINESS

What does this look like? You should stay true to your brand message in every communication with your audience, whether a blog post, email, podcast, social media post. You constantly speak about the problems you solve, consistently encourage your audience, and voice your brand’s message. Apply it to everything you do. It also means creating a robust and compelling website to serve as your home base for all your online activities. Treating yourself as a brand also means creating a media page or media kit on your site for media inquiries. Your goal is to portray yourself as a strong, compelling brand, not just an average person. You have to treat yourself like you indeed are: a powerful brand that has a powerful message.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

STEP #6:

OPTIMIZE YOUR WEBSITE

Now it’s time to get into the essentials of optimizing your online presence so that it matches your brand. Your website functions as the “home base” of your business. In other words, it is one of the primary places people get to know who you are and what you do. Your website also functions as one of the primary ways you turn visitors into paying clients, and it must be optimized for that. First impressions are crucial when it comes to your website. Visitors should be able to immediately determine how you can help solve their problems. If they can’t, there’s a good chance they’ll leave.

MINDING MY BUSINESS

So how do you optimize your website to reflect your brand? • Have a professional logo designed. Having a professional logo shows people that you’re serious about what you do and treat yourself as a brand. Freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are great places to start. • Show off your Unique Value Proposition. From the moment they arrive on your website, visitors should see your UVP. It’s what will draw them to your site and make them want to investigate more. deally, it will be front and center at the top of your website so that it’s likely to be the first thing that people see. It should be impossible to miss. • Use professional photographs. Have a professional photographer take high-quality photos of you. Low-quality photos will ultimately reflect poorly on your brand. • Use testimonials. Testimonials are proof that you really can solve people’s problems. They help overcome your prospects’ hesitance and objections. Also, if you’ve been featured in media outlets, include those credentials. • Present a clear call to action. Ultimately, you want people to take action when they’re on your website. You want them to join your email list, watch your webinar, or sign up for a free consultation. Give visitors a clear call to action. • Create a compelling “About” page. On this page, tell your story. How did you get to where you currently are? What motivates you to serve your audience? Why do you do what you do? • Create a services page. If you want clients to hire you, it’s crucial to have a services page in which you explain what you offer, what’s included, and more. • Give away free resources. One of the best ways to build your brand is to give away free content on your website. This could be anything from blog posts to videos to an eBook. • Giving away content in exchange for a visitor’s email address is also a fantastic way to grow your email list. • Create a contact page. Web visitors must have a way to contact you.

STEP #7:

DEVELOP YOUR CONTENT STRATEGY

The primary way to build your brand is by creating strategic content. By content, we mean blog posts, videos, social media posts, emails, podcasts, and more. Every piece of content you share with your audience should serve to build your brand. Developing a strategic content strategy is one of the most effective ways to ensure that you’re constantly staying on brand. We recommend the “Pillar Method” (a term coined by Gary Vaynerchuk) when it comes to your content strategy. The Pillar Method works as follows: • At set intervals (every day or every week), create a longer piece of “pillar” content. This could be a blog post, video, or eBook. The point is that it needs to be on the longer side to be repurposed in numerous ways. This pillar content should consistently reinforce some part of your brand. Maybe one day, you speak to a particular pain point. Another day you encourage your audience to strive for their goals. Whatever the case, it’s essential that your pillar content always be tied back to your brand. • Publish your pillar content on your primary platform, whether it’s your blog, YouTube, or iTunes. • Take your pillar content and cut it up into smaller, shareable pieces of content. In other words, if you have a 10-minute video, find three parts of that video that could be shared on their own and extract those clips. If you have a 1,000-word blog post, extract five 100-word excerpts that can stand on their own. • Share the smaller pieces of content across all your channels. Once you’ve created your smaller pieces of content, you’re going to post those across all your channels, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and email.

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

MINDING MY BUSINESS

If you don’t want the task of logging into each social platform separately, Hootsuite is a great tool that allows you to share to all your social media at one time. • Repeat the process again and again. Consistency is the key. By consistently sharing your brand message, you’ll steadily build your audience. Using the “Pillar Method” for your content strategy ensures that every piece of content you post is always on-brand. The main point is that everything you send out should be brand-related. You want to reinforce your brand to your audience constantly.

STEP #8:

You create a tribe of passionate people who care about the same things you do. So how can you build a community? • Start a private Facebook group. In this group, people can interact, share ideas, interact with you, and raise questions. • Host live or virtual events. These events allow you to meet members of your tribe. Create a membership site. You can give people exclusive access to you and the content you provide for a small monthly fee. You can also give them access to group calls every month, ongoing webinars, and a forum where they can interact with you and other members.

CONSISTENTLY ADD VALUE TO YOUR AUDIENCE

ARE YOU READY TO BUILD YOUR BRAND?

When it comes to building your brand, it’s essential that you constantly give value to your audience without asking for anything in return. Yes, there will be times when you invite people to buy from you or become a client, but you don’t want that to be the main focus of your brand.

The simple truth is, you have a personal brand, whether you want to or not. Every single thing you share with your audience either adds to or takes away from your brand. You absolutely must be intentional about building your brand.

The main thing people should take away when interacting with your brand is how much value you provide.

Here’s a quick summary of what we covered in this article:

The primary way you provide value is through your content strategy. This is why it’s so critical to publish new content constantly.

STEP #9:

BUILD A COMMUNITY

One of the best ways to build your brand is to create a community where you and the members can all help each other. The value in building a community around your brand is that it gets others involved in helping to promote your brand.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

• Identify what matters to you. • Define your core audience. • Determine your Unique Service Proposition. • Treat yourself like a brand. • Create your compelling website. • Create your content strategy. • Constantly bring your best self to your audience. • Build your community. The more you do those things, the more you’ll build your brand, and the more you’ll attract an audience of raving fans. Get started on it today! 

Making Your Employees Feel Valued BY JON CRUMP

MINDING MY BUSINESS

n the last issue, I shared a few critical points on finding great employees for your business. Finding the right employee is only part of the process of developing a powerful team of workers. You may have excellent employees, but your business will struggle if you don’t manage them well.

TREATING EMPLOYEES WELL BENEFITS YOU AND YOUR COMPANY You can’t underestimate the importance of treating your employees well. You may not be able to make your employees millionaires, but how you treat them makes a lasting difference. How you treat your employees often affects the morale of the company more than the individual income levels. Certainly, compensating your employees well is important, but how you treat them may even be more important than high pay. In a Harvard Business Review article titled, “Proof that Positive Work Cultures are More Productive,” they concluded that cut-throat, high-pressure business cultures are less effective than inclusive businesses that prioritize their employee’s needs. Why? In the short term, your business may thrive under highpressure management. Your employees may work twice as hard to meet your rising expectations. In the long term, however, there are significant consequences to the high pressure, specifically: • High healthcare costs and increased health issues among employees • Disengagement among employees • High turnover rate

A study conducted by BMC Public Health concluded that individuals who work at high to medium strain jobs visit their general practitioners 26% more than those who work at low-pressure jobs. They also go to a specialist 27% more often. Studies such as this show us that, to present a safe and healthy working environment for employees, it’s important to note the mental, physical, and emotional strain of the job.

DISENGAGEMENT Workers who are disengaged are less likely to perform well and far more likely to have an accident or make a mistake. Here are some surprising statistics about disengaged workers: • 89% of employers think employees leave because of money when, in fact, only 12% go primarily for better pay. • Companies with engaged employees make 2.5x more revenue. • Employees who are highly engaged are 87% less likely to leave their company. • It’s estimated that disengaged employees cost organizations between $450 and $550 billion annually. • Fewer than three out of ten employers have an engagement strategy. Statistics credit: https://www.officevibe.com/blog/disengaged-employeesinfographic

HIGH TURNOVER High-stress jobs also lead to high turnover rates. Employees don’t feel loyal to jobs that leave them feeling unhealthy and unappreciated.

HEALTH ISSUES WITH HIGH-STRESS JOBS

According to the American Institute of Stress, the number one cause of stress in people’s lives is their workloads. They also said that 19% of people polled had quit a previous job due to stress.

The number one issue that arises from high-stress businesses is its toll on your employee’s health.

The cost of replacing an employee is high and should be avoided when possible.

Let’s look at these consequences in greater detail.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

MINDING MY BUSINESS

So, how can you be sure that you’re treating your employees well?

HOW TO MAKE EMPLOYEES FEEL VALUED You can do many things to help your employees feel like they’re valuable team members. Here are some highly effective ways to let your employees know that you care about them and you’re glad that they’re part of the team: 1. Compensate them well. You don’t have to pay your employees so well that you forfeit a healthy budget. However, paying your employees a fair wage will go a long way. You may only have jobs that would typically pay minimum wage, but a slight increase from that would mean a lot to your employees. 2. Offer flexibility. There are a growing number of employees who desire flexibility in their work schedule. A study from the Harvard Business Review said that 96% of US professionals want flexibility in their work schedule, but only 47% feel that they have it in their current position. While a 9-5 job was once the norm, this is changing with younger generations. Employees want the option to have a flexible schedule that fits their lifestyle. They want the freedom to work a different shift or work changing shifts based on their needs.

types need more affirmation than others, but most people need to know that their work is essential and valued. 5. Have reasonable expectations. It’s easy to feel like your employees have easy jobs. It’s especially true if it’s something that you’ve been doing well for a long time. While you certainly don’t want to employ completely incompetent people, remember that people learn and acquire skills at different rates. 6. Teach your employees well the first time. It’s far better to teach them well initially than to keep retraining them on the same tasks. Plus, they’ll feel like you’ve taken the time to work with them rather than rushing through important information that they need to know for their jobs. 7. Don’t be afraid to lighten up a little. Work is a place of work. But there’s also power in play. Google, one of the most successful tech companies globally, knows the value of happy employees. They allow employees to bring their pets to work. They also offer gyms and swimming pools, video games, foosball tables, and loads of other perks. You may not be able to give your employees as many perks as Google, but you can take a page out of their handbook. Giving your employees time to have fun can have substantial benefits. 

Many job applicants are looking for work that allows them to work remotely, some of the time. 3. Listen to your employees and show them that you care. Taking the time to listen to the people who work for you will make a difference in how they feel about their time at work. Do your best to give them your undivided attention. Schedule a time to speak with them. 4. Show your employees appreciation. Almost everyone needs to feel that the work they do is seen and appreciated. Some personality

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

How to Effectively Manage Your Time

BY KATHY KENTTY

MINDING MY BUSINESS

t doesn't matter whether you are at home or work; achieving your goals will always be difficult if you don't have good time management skills. It isn't challenging to acquire them; you have to practice, so try incorporating some of the tips below into your everyday life.

You have to make decisions about what should be your most important focus. For example, if you have children, make your commitment at the start of the school year to the time you will commit to their homework, to after-school activities, and so on, and stick to that commitment.

Firstly, make sure you have a calendar or schedule book and use it. You are much more likely to remember something if you have written it down, even if you never look at it again. It can be pretty satisfying to use a planner and write out your tasks. It will remind you what you need to do and how you plan to do it, and it will help you organize your day efficiently so that you can achieve your goals.

In your work life, think about which committees/ groups you can join without becoming overcommitted. Overcommitment is the enemy of high-quality work.

Have a look at your schedule or calendar daily before you set out for work or start your tasks at home. Take a look at it over breakfast and coffee, plan out your day in advance and adjust your previous plans as necessary. If you build a reasonable degree of flexibility into your schedule, unanticipated problems will be easier to handle.

Finally, you should create a structure for your day. If you have a schedule for your entire day, then accomplishing routine tasks will become easier. Ultimately you will be able to achieve things more quickly, allowing you to devote more time to other things.

Make it a habit to confirm any meetings or appointments with others to ensure that they are still going ahead. If you need to change the time or date, don't be afraid to ask for a time more convenient for you. Scheduling meetings for the beginning or end of a day is more productive than having them in the middle because mid-day meetings can seriously impede your momentum. For many people, bad habits related to time management develop because they overcommit in terms of task level and assistance for others. If you feel like you're being rushed and overworked, you won't perform at your optimal level. Make sure that you make time in your schedule to address your own mental and physical health. If you take the occasional break to think about what you are doing, what's going on in the future, and what needs the most focus, your time management will improve.

If you are constantly late, wear a watch that has an alarm or set alerts on your phone. It can make you more aware of time and less likely to fall behind.

Think about your living space and the effect it has on you. Clean up your kitchen before you leave for work, load the dishwasher, and wipe down your countertops so that you won't have cleaning tasks facing you when you get home. Similarly, in the evening, put away your cooking things and tidy everything up before you go to bed, so you don't awake to chaos and a feeling that you are already behind. 

TIME MANAGEMENT IS AN ESSENTIAL SKILL, AND PRIORITIZING IT WILL REWARD YOU A THOUSANDFOLD. Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

MINDING MY BUSINESS

Top 10 Reasons for Starting a Home-Based Business BY JON CRUMP

MINDING MY BUSINESS

or many, launching a home business is a formidable prospect, but it can be a lot simpler than it seems! A quick browse of the internet brings up a multitude of home businesses. Dog walkers, personal trainers, cooks, life coaches, carpenters, jewelry-makers, and many more have all taken the plunge, so why not you? The trick is to embark on an enterprise based on something you love. This will help you create a business that is viable and enjoyable and all from your own home! A home business can take off and can be the start of something big, but for many, it will remain a more modest way to make some extra money while doing something that you love. The simple truth is that many of us don’t want to spend every waking moment on a business. Instead, we value a more laidback and stress-free existence that leaves us with a bit of extra cash at the end of the month but also some highly valued free time. If you made just $60 extra every week, you would have over $3,000 by year-end. That’s enough to buy you a fantastic holiday, a top-notch bike, or perhaps some much-needed home improvements. What would you do with an extra $3,000? Launching a home business can help you exploit your free time to its fullest by doing what you love while making

money. Let’s take a closer look at ten great reasons to launch a home business. Greater independence: By starting your business 1 from home, you can loosen the grip your day job has on you. All you need to do is look after your customers and suppliers, and you will enjoy greater freedom and independence. A sense of pride: Creating your own business, 2 even if it is something you work at only in the evenings, can leave you with a great sense of pride. If you are doing something you love, a home business can significantly boost your well-being. Expanded networks: Your professional and 3 personal networks exponentially grow when you launch your own business. As the head of your venture, you’ll interact with suppliers, customers, advisors, and more, and there is a wealth of business organizations out there that you can join for free. The people you’ll meet will all be banking on your success, and you’ll find lots of doors open to you. Tax incentives: It’s essential to speak to an 4 accountant or tax office to ensure you are informed but having your own business can cut your tax bill. To illustrate, you can claim tax back on items bought for

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

MINDING MY BUSINESS

your business, such as computers and office equipment as well as your home office space, internet and telephone costs, and more! Financial independence: Perhaps your business 5 started as a hobby, but you could be onto something. If your business keeps growing, it could replace or even exceed your regular income. It may seem like a long shot, but it’s a reality for thousands of home business entrepreneurs. Financial resilience: A second income stream can 6 give you financial stability. Waking up each morning certain that you can pay your bills is a great feeling. You may even be able to overpay, bringing down your debt and shortening your mortgage, or you could grow your savings or pension pot. Confidence boost: Money is essential, but it isn’t 7 everything. Dedicating time to something you are passionate about can boost your confidence and give you a pep in your step. Seeing others enjoy what you create can be invaluable to your self-worth, and you’ll experience a ripple effect in all areas of your life. Now’s the time: Internet shopping was growing, 8 but the COVID-19 pandemic has kept people worldwide indoors and precipitated this upward trend. As a result, there has never been a better time to 30

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

launch your home business. Your potential customer base is vast, and working from home can bring benefits for you and your family. Procrastinating won’t make launching your enterprise any less risky or easier. The most important thing to do is take the plunge and start. You can adjust things as you go along. Greater agency: You don’t have to be raking in 9 millions; bringing even a bit more money into the home can relieve financial pressures and give you greater control over your life. Taking control of a business can help you take control of much more. BYO reason: Most likely, your most significant 10 reason for starting a home business will be personal to you. What could launching a home business do for you? Perhaps you want the freedom to take to the road and not be tied down to one place. Maybe you need to be at home near a loved one. Perhaps you want to prove to the people around you that you are capable of more than they think. Whatever your unique reason for launching a home business, keep it foremost in your mind and let it drive you forward. Launching a home business can be financially and personally rewarding, so what’s stopping you? Start taking steps to launch your home business today, and you’ll soon see the results. 

Phenomenal Women’s Virtual RoundTable A SUCCESSFUL WOMAN SHOULDN’T HAVE TO WALK ALONE. When you join the Phenomenal Women’s RoundTable, you’re getting more than a discussion group—you’re getting your own personal board of directors. Led by executive coach, trainer, and mentor Judy Hoberman, this is a community of strong, like-minded professional women who have been there and done that . . . and want to see YOU succeed. Over the course of 6 months, you’ll have access to: Bi-monthly confidential sessions with your “board of directors” 2 x 45-minute Executive Coaching sessions with Judy Accountability and connection within a small, private group A wealth of resources, including tactics to ignite your leadership strategies, an engaging network, and a problem solving “think tank” Get the support you deserve, from professional women who understand where you’ve been and where you want to go.

Because women want to be treated equally,

NOT IDENTICALLY. ™

To learn more or join the next RoundTable: sellinginaskirt.com/roundtable

judy@sellinginaskirt.com

203.605.3635

September/October 2021

Experience a Transformation by Giving Your Time to Others Making Your Employees Feel Valued How True Entrepreneurs Think

RAQUEL MILLER Life’s A Gift, So She’s Giving A Bunchful

a l i G z t r Ku

Dog Is Good:

A Success Story

CONTENTS EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

GILA KURTZ Dog Is Good: A Success Story

RAQUEL MILLER Life’s A Gift, So She’s Giving A Bunchful

EMPOWER YOURSELF

Nine Ways to Build Resilience and Grit

53 55

15 Easy Ways to Self-empowerment

The Art of Persuasion: How to Get Your Prospect to Envision Your Idea

Experience a Transformation by Giving Your Time to Others

10 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Life in Six Months

LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE

62 64

Same Thought; Different Day Recipes

When opportunity knocks, will you be prepared to answer?

Dog Is Good:

A Success a l i G Story z t r u K

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

“W

e are not getting a dog.” The rest, for Gila Kurtz, is history.

Kurtz’s husband Jon, an active duty U.S. Navy Captain, couldn’t have been any clearer when she mentioned visiting a new litter of Dalmatian mix puppies in the area. But Gila went. Gila saw. And Gila was conquered – by a little spotted fluffball she named Zoe. Within a few days, dogloving Jon was smitten too. Seven years earlier, Gila had put aside her childhood dream of teaching when Jon’s successful military career required the couple to move almost annually. Instead of teaching, she started three companies which could be profitable regardless of the couple’s geographic location: home party lingerie, skincare sales, and coffee vending. Although all three businesses were humming along, Gila felt something was missing from her life. She just couldn’t figure out what that something was. Enter Zoe, the highly energetic Dalmatian mix. With no kids yet and her side businesses providing little fulfillment, Gila was thrilled to have a cute companion to nurture – along with the new challenge of learning how to train her. It wasn’t long before Gila realized she could combine her love for

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

dogs with her passion for teaching people by becoming a dog trainer. So, she studied animal behavior, practiced, and grew a thriving dog training business. She also co-founded Dog Is Good, a lifestyle brand for dog lovers, with Jon, who shared her vision. Dog Is Good took off like a greyhound. Juggling the business with one-on-one dog training took just about everything Gila could give. Despite her nearly 24/7 work schedule, the born workaholic and perfectionist had trouble admitting that her life was now completely out of control. Enter BOLO, the ball-obsessed Lab who taught Gila how to finally stop and smell the rawhide. At the dog park one day, Gila noticed BOLO’s laser focus on one particular ball despite being surrounded by dozens of other balls, dogs, and people. In an epiphany, Gila realized that she’d been chasing far too many balls for far too long – and her quality of life was suffering as a result. Accepting that one’s life is out of balance is hard. But through her dogs, Gila suddenly could see that she desperately needed to dig deep, define her true life’s

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

goals, and clearly map out her journey. The result has been a multifaceted approach to empowering others to unleash their true potential, lead with impact, and master their mindset. Combining her natural relate-ability with her teaching and dog expertise, Gila now inspires business and motivational audiences with her uniquely “mutt-nificent” approach to life and leadership. Her keynote speaking topics include Lead, Follow, or Get Out Of The Way; Keep Your Eye on the Ball; and Fetch a Life Worth Barking About. Her book Fur Covered Wisdom: A Dog Can Change The Way You See The World quickly became an international best seller. Gila has been recognized as Woman of the Year by the Women in the Pet Industry Awards, and one of the Top 25 Women of Influence in the Pet Industry. She’s been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur Weekly, Success, and multiple other media outlets worldwide. And along with Jon, Gila has taken the Dog Is Good brand from start-up to multiple sevenfigures, always donating generous portions of sales to dog- and animal-related charities and relief efforts. Dog Is Good also offers affiliate partnerships, pop-up shops, and brand ambassadorships to others who want to join the growing community. Finally barking a firm “No!” to the stress of workaholism and perfectionism, Gila Kurtz has clearly found the perfect mix of her two passions: dogs and teaching. Now she’s on a mission to help others find theirs. Here’s what she told us when we recently sat down with her.

our household – a Lab Dalmatian mix that I had to beg my husband like a ten-year-old to let us bring into our home. When you bring a dog into your home, your life does change. It's a unique experience that can be very profound, and for me, it really was. It made me seek ways in which I could be more involved with dogs. Hence my career in professional dog training, and then into the life that I lead now as one of the co-founders of the Dog Is Good brand. Dog Is Good markets apparel, home decor, and accessories for the humans at the other end of the leash. It strives to celebrate the dog-human bond and bring attention to the positive impact that each has on the other. Monica: What is the vision behind your work with dogs? Gila: The main mission is to change lives, one dog at a time. We're creating a movement of dog lovers who seek to celebrate those relationships and be a force for good, whether that's how dogs impact our lives personally, or how we can support organizations around that as well.

GILA HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS WOMAN OF THE YEAR BY THE WOMEN IN THE PET INDUSTRY AWARDS, AND ONE OF THE TOP 25 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE IN THE PET INDUSTRY. SHE’S BEEN FEATURED IN FORBES,

Monica: How did your interest in all things dog come about?

ENTREPRENEUR WEEKLY,

Gila: It started years ago with the addition of a brand new puppy into

OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS

SUCCESS, AND MULTIPLE WORLDWIDE. Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

My life is very driven on my belief that dogs change the way you see the world. I do a lot of work as a professional trainer. I help local families raise well-mannered pups so that they can live their entire lives with their dogs; keeping them out of the shelters and preventing them from being surrendered. My other mission, which has grown with support from our team and our community, is in providing opportunities for others to share their passion for dogs through business and through giving. We recently launched our nonprofit, Dogs Is Good For Good, seeking to expand that message and mission. It’s again centered on people helping dogs help people with the power of the dog-human bond. Monica: What is it about a pet or a dog that can help change a person's life? Gila: One of the reasons that people are so connected to their dogs is the fact that we are so technologically integrated. We have communication at our fingertips 24/7. We have built super-fast paced lives, busy and communicating all the time. But we're more disconnected from each other than ever before. What I've seen is how connected people are with their dogs when they stop for a moment to really engage with their dogs. Dogs bring unconditional love and playfulness. They bring a smile to your face the moment you see them. Dogs shift who we are in that moment, because we're not receiving that from each other. If we can learn to live a little bit more through our dogs, or be inspired by how dogs take on their days, we might enhance not only how we feel, but how we make others feel around us. That's where I see dogs having the greatest impact. Monica: Would you say that dogs have an ability that no other pet has? Gila: Many pets have the same ability. It depends on the person. Some people are only dog people or only cat people. I happen to love all animals. The example that I often give is when you've been gone and you come in, you are already anticipating the greeting that that four-legged creature is going to be giving to you. Those first two minutes in the door are significant. The pure joy, the level of love and the laughter change your 38

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

stress level. It reduces your blood pressure. There's this real thing that's taking place below the surface, and it's why we feel so good. That's why we love those moments so much. Imagine if we showed up for others in that same vein – that when we connected, we were so truly excited to connect and focus on them. Not looking over our shoulder or checking our phone while they're talking, but instead being really excited and present and engaged. These are the characteristics that dogs have. Other animals do too, but in a different way. Monica: You've created a dog-centric approach to selfleadership. Would you mind talking a little bit about how that works? Gila: That actually came about through something I call Fur Covered Wisdom. It’s a series of noted inspirations about how our dogs bring us lessons every day. I chose to look at some of those lessons and see where they apply to daily life. From there I realized that in the world of dogs, we often talk about the alpha, the leader of the pack. That term alpha often comes with a negative connotation. But it occurred to me that everyone is a leader. They may not be a leader of a company, but they might be a leader in their family, a particular group of friends, or a religious organization. Everyone is a leader, because at the end of the day, we all have to lead at least one person: ourselves. The idea for Alpha Reimagined is let’s reimagine what that means – alpha as a leader. To me, it's about self-leadership. Let's learn to lead ourselves well, so that we can be a leader worth following. My dog-centric approach to helping others create a greater state of awareness and acknowledge that where they currently are in their lives may not be where they want to be. Whether it's a relationship, their financial situation, their career, or their physical environment, I try to help them clarify their vision so they can identify where they want to be. The “L” in alpha is letting go of limiting beliefs. Where we are right in this very second in time is no mistake. We are here exactly where we are because of the way we think and because of the actions we do or do not take each day.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

The “P” is for pursuing our purpose. We all want to be in alignment with what serves our soul; it’s how we feel when we're in flow. So this is about being “on purpose” – doing things deliberately in support of your own personal mission. The “H” is for habit. Dogs are all basically habit driven. It’s the same with us. We are habit driven, but our habits are either serving us or they’re not. “H” refers to helping people identify the habits they need to master, and then how to master them when they haven't been part of your repertoire for so many years. The last “A” is for accelerating the process. How do you lead yourself? You have to know where you are. You’ve got to let go of the things that have kept you stuck and are not allowing you to move forward. You have to move forward on purpose with habits that will support that, and then accelerate the process and every piece of your life including relationships, health, environment, and mindset. I am often amazed at how every door that's opened has led to learning, transformation, and a process that has brought me to what I love to talk about most. Dog Is Good offers dog lovers a way to turn their passions into a business for themselves. Our company has a system called the Dog Is Good Pop-Up Shop for people who want to be in business for themselves, but not by themselves, part-time or full-time. It’s an opportunity for people to have a mobile pop-up store using our product line. We offer mentorship and a strategic process to help them succeed with it. Beyond that, we're building a strong community of what I like to call “go-givers,” to be a force for good. The name steals from a favorite book of mine, The Go-Giver by Bob Burg. It's a full ecosystem: the brand, the mission, and the additional service. Monica: In helping others build a business of their own, what prerequisites do you look for? Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Gila: The core requisite is that they're action takers. They don't need to know how to do anything because we have all that mapped out. They just have to have a desire to turn that passion for dogs into something.

Gila: Absolutely, but I think the bigger question is: Are you open to that? People often are not looking for that awareness. If they're presented with the information or the ideas, they suddenly become aware.

The other prerequisite is to be a positive person. They have to be growth-minded. They get to decide how often and where they want their pop-up shop. We support them in all of those things, but they have to love dogs, have a positive attitude, and be action-oriented and growth-minded. Everything else is easy to teach and we're having fun doing it. We're just delighted to see the growth and the success of the people who are becoming a part of our community.

In the first four months, puppies go through quite bit of change. The lessons are not so much in what the puppy is doing, but in noting how we are responding. When people first bring puppies home, they're so cute and adorable. At eight weeks they seem easy except for house training. But at 10 weeks, you start to see changes.

Monica: Can a person raising a puppy to adulthood apply those lessons or experiences to themselves in terms of self-leadership?

WE'RE DRIVEN BY OUR CORE MISSION RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS NOT ONLY TO REMIND PEOPLE HOW GREAT LIFE IS WITH DOGS IN IT, BUT THAT WE EACH POSSESS THE POWER TO CHANGE LIVES ONE DOG AT A TIME, THROUGH OUR DOGS, AND WITH OUR DOGS. 40

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

Then around 12 weeks people wonder “What is going on?” Their puppy is starting to become more alert and active. So people's patience gets tested. Their time management and ability to implement structure gets tested. That's where some of those lessons are. Do you have realistic expectations? Can you identify what you want? When I work with families, I often hear what they do not want: “I don't want the dog to do this or that.” But no one ever comes to me and says, “When people come into my home, I want my dog to go over to his mat and wait politely until I release him, and then go and greet by wagging its tail or sharing a toy.” Nobody speaks in terms of what they want. I think that's how they live their lives too. Most people are aware of what they don't want and what isn't working for them. To me, that's where some of those early lessons through our pups can begin. What is it that you want? What does success look like to you? What is the experience you want to have? Through that, we know what to teach. Monica: What are some of the best examples that you've seen in terms of change in working with people who have dogs? Gila: I'm very impressed with all of my clients this year.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Everybody is putting in the work. Again, I'm there to train them. My job is to help them frame the situation and understand the expectations, and then to communicate clearly what they need to do, and ensure that they understand the consequences for not taking action. My clients have all done well that way. This year I've seen some amazing puppies being raised and everyone's happier for it. That may be due in part to the fact that everybody was home and able to put in the time.

We're driven by our core mission right now, which is not only to remind people how great life is with dogs in it, but that we each possess the power to change lives one dog at a time, through our dogs, and with our dogs. Monica: Regarding your pop-ups, do people get the opportunity to decide based on the various options that you have, or do you advise them on what you think is best for them?

Monica: To be a canine expert, I would imagine that there's a lot that you must understand, not only about dogs, but about yourself. What was the journey like, to get to the point where you truly understand dogs and are able to use dogs as a way to help humans?

Gila: We tend to advise. When somebody decides they would love to do this, the first thing we talk about is their vision. What do you want this to look like for you? How do you want to work? How do you want this business to be part of your life, not control your life? How much revenue do you want to make?

Gila: I've been training professionally for almost 22 years. In the beginning, I had a fascination for dogs and a desire to teach. Learning and getting certified professionally required a lot of education. You have to understand the history and the evolution of the modern dog, the different breeds, classes, body language, as well as training techniques and animal learning theory.

We make sure they have clarity on their basic goals and objectives. It’s different for every person, and that is why it's not a cookie cutter franchise opportunity. It truly is tailored to each person, and they're not alone. They feel connected and supported. Most important, they're expanding their knowledge base which is essential because we're all about mindset, positivity, and taking action.

About eight years ago I realized my need for transformation. I was suddenly aware that I was not where I wanted to be. I didn’t like waking up the way I was feeling anymore. I needed some changes, and I looked to my own dog for guidance in that process.

They're getting a whole new perspective on a different way of thinking that's not only enhancing them, but, because they're growing and learning, also benefitting the people around them.

The training process has transformed as well, because I am helping people see both how much joy they can have with their dog, and how they can step up and learn to love themselves and do for themselves with the same level of commitment that they have for their own dog. Monica: Where do you see Dog Is Good in the next few years? Gila: My vision is not just mine. My husband is a huge part of our company, and I feel very grateful that we share this same vision. Our vision is a global brand. We expect it to be to dog lovers what Harley-Davidson is to motorcycle enthusiasts; top of mind for all things, products, services, and experiences. When people think about something as it relates to their dog, or a service for themselves, we want them to be thinking, Dog Is Good.

Monica: Talk a little bit about DIG Direct. Gila: DIG Direct is a division of the Dog Is Good brand. It happened organically through the pop-up program. When you have all these pop-ups around the country, other people see them and they think “I would love to do this.” Popups look like a retail store. They've got inventory. They're investing in products and selling at events and other places. These individuals can become brand ambassadors with the Dog Is Good brand, get their own e-commerce site fully operational and share all the different marketing collateral and campaigns that we put together. They can share those or do retail sales and make money without having to carry the inventory required to set up what would look like a mobile store. That comes with an affiliate program so that as they are sharing products and making commissions on the sales of products, they're Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

also cultivating connections with people who become VIP customers or “super fans” aligned with the mission of changing lives one dog at a time. These people want to contribute and to be part of something bigger than themselves. Monica: It sounds like you're giving people an opportunity to go well beyond what they thought they could do in terms of not only being successful as business owners, but growing as individuals and broadening their mindsets. Gila: Exactly, 100%. Monica: What do you love most about what you do? Gila: I think collectively. I see myself as a conduit to something that makes people feel good. As a dog trainer, I become the conduit to a relationship that they can enjoy for many years. The quality of that relationship is so much better for the work that we do together. And in the case of helping people build their own businesses, there's that same theme: a conduit to something bigger than what they thought was possible for themselves. In the case of the dog moms that I get to serve and support through Alpha Reimagined and Fur Covered Wisdom, I see myself as the conduit to opening the door for their own journey of self-discovery and transformation through the eyes of dogs. So, the commonality with all three is a conduit to something that simply brings a sense of joy. And that, to me, serves my purpose. Monica: Would you mind closing the interview with your last word? Gila: I am going to close our conversation with four messages that are part of the Dog Is Good brand. They really speak to living life full out, which is what our dogs do each and every day. First: Think big. We often think too small and we limit our possibilities. Second: Chase those dreams. Go after something with pure, enthusiastic excitement, like dogs do when they're chasing something.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

Third: Never walk alone. It's not where you walk; it's who walks with you. We need to be intentional about who gets to walk that path with us. There will always be those who lift us up and those who pull us down. Bringing the right people along is critical. Four: Keep your eye on the ball. It’s so easy to let things pull us off focus, whether it's technology as a distraction or other people's opinions and judgments. Keep your eye on the ball, and just like dogs you'll make things happen. 

Think big. Chase those dreams. Never walk alone. Keep your eye on the ball.

Life’s A Gift, So She’s Giving A

bunchful Raquel Miller

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

tarting a new business venture is rarely easy. Making one successful during a pandemic lockdown requires savvy pivoting talent and nimble action.

That’s exactly what Raquel Miller did when Covid-19 hit. Bunchful, her fledgling corporate gifting platform, offers individuals and companies the ability to personalize and send meaningful gifts to clients, employees, and others. Miller started Bunchful in 2018, after studying philosophy at Queens College and working in financial underwriting and technology at companies like Bear Stearns and Heartland. Bunchful’s “smart gift” technology was just taking off in early 2020 when suddenly, the last problem companies had was choosing gifts for their employee and clients. The lockdown’s paralyzing effect on supply chains also had a devastating effect. But Raquel Miller isn’t one to give up – and she’s been a keen observer of people, communities, and entrepreneurial opportunities since she was a child growing up in Jamaica. What immediately stood out to Miller when the pandemic hit was the effect of lockdown isolation on people. She noticed the rise in loneliness and depression due to bans on social interaction. She also saw that a new opportunity had suddenly emerged. With the elimination of old divides between work, socializing, and home, organizations now needed new ways to engage, excite, and unite their teams. Miller quickly redirected Bunchful’s gifting mission to encompass a broader purpose: To create new human connections while shining a light on those who give back to their communities. The Ensom City TalentQuest and The Annual Bunchful Awards are two results of Miller’s talent for combining philanthropy, individual and cultural connections, and community-building. EnsomCity helps companies discover the unique talents of their teams, create more inclusive work cultures, and celebrate diversity in remote work environments. Named after a district in Jamaica’s Spanish Town, EnsomCity does this by providing a platform where people can perform and share their talents with their teams, growing connections and having fun in the process. The Annual Bunchful Awards, slated for Spring 2022, are inspired by Miller’s desire to celebrate people who share their gifts and abundance with others. The Bunchful Awards 44

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

are aligned with the wider efforts of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” Through these awards, any individual or organization from around the world can show off the philanthropy and social good they do, or shine a spotlight on others who selflessly give back to their communities. Miller herself has been giving back for decades. Currently serving on the board of the New York chapter of The New Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH), Miller also volunteers with both the NY Women in Film & Television and the Neighborhood Housing Service of Northern Queens. She’s also taught intensive English language immersion with Pueblo Inglés, and served for eight years as Executive Director of the New International Center of Diverse Artists (NICODA). As the M/WBE Certified CEO and Founder of Bunchful, passionate keynote speaker and Bunchful Podcast host, Miller believes that for any entrepreneur to live with purpose and passion, they must build philanthropy into their business right from the start. Through her company and initiatives, she certainly is leading by example. Here’s what Miller told us recently about creating a more “bunchful” world. Monica: Who inspired you to become a champion for entrepreneurs? Raquel: My grandmother. I grew up in Jamaica, so I'm Caribbean American. I grew up in a small farming town in the countryside. I lived with my grandparents, who were entrepreneurs. My grandparents owned a shop which was a grocery deli during the week and a bar on weekend nights. They also had a farm with livestock and a sugarcane plantation. They hired people to work on the farm as well. They had their own little mini enterprise going. My grandmother was the person whom I looked up to since I was born. I lived with her until I was about 10 years old. She taught me many lessons, but one really stuck with me. She taught me my first lesson in generosity; the ability to give. She carried out her duties as an entrepreneur, and made sure everyone was on task. But she also took philanthropy

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

very seriously. At the time, we simply called it taking care of those who couldn't take care of themselves. Early every morning, my grandmother would wake me up to take breakfast to my uncle, who lived across the street. I remember those early morning walks. One morning when we got there, my uncle was curled up on the floor near his bed. He had passed away. I later found out that he was not my uncle. In fact, he was no relation to us at all. I admired how much my grandmother cared for him over all those years. Through her I learned that the giving itself is the gift. It was a lesson that took time for me to fully grasp, but it was a powerful lesson. Monica: What gets you excited about waking up every day? Raquel: On a smaller scale, I get really excited when I'm going to give someone a gift at Christmas. I can't wait because I know the person really wants that particular thing. The joy they get is such a high for me. On a larger scale, we're now seeing more people meditating, taking an introspective turn, and coming back to an understanding of themselves in the world – the importance of what we do and how we help each other. We blossom through the joy of giving and understanding that the giving itself is the means and the end. In helping others, we are in fact helping ourselves. Monica: An important lesson for entrepreneurs is that the focus should not be about making money, but about helping others achieve their goals. By doing that, you help yourself. Raquel: Yes. That is what it means to truly give. That said, I understand the struggle of entrepreneurship. Years ago, I wasn’t ready to face the importance of the work that I had to bring into the world. I stopped. I retreated. I avoided. I took many turns along the way because it seemed like a monumentally heavy task. I was afraid of it. But I kept finding parts of myself along the way until I came to an understanding of who I am intrinsically. As entrepreneurs, we have this task of bringing about what we know is inside us – the thing we must create in the world. But we often think, “Oh, I don't have enough money to do it. I don't have enough time or energy to do it.” We come at it from this position of “not enough” in ourselves or “not enough” external resources. I was trapped in that mindset as an entrepreneur.

We started off as a gifting company. Suddenly we got a big order. It ended up getting stuck due to the pandemic, and we could not deliver. I found myself just rocking in the corner for weeks. I couldn’t come to terms with the loss that I felt. I felt broken, thinking, "How could I finally have this great opportunity, after everything we've gone through, that somehow did not work? What am I left with now? What am I supposed to do?" In those moments of introspection, I looked at the early tenets of the Bunchful organization – the vision and goals for the company. And I realized that I was still avoiding what I knew deep down I had to bring about. Once I abandoned all of that “not enough” thinking, I could see who we really are and what we are supposed to do. And I said, "We're going to start there." Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Another thing that is very important: Sometimes we talk only about giving from ourselves to someone else or to something else. But it's also important to give to ourselves, so that we, too, share in our own abundance. We share in that entirety of giving: giving to ourselves, and giving to others. One of the technologies that we launched globally at Amazon is the EnsomCity platform. EnsomCity is a platform where you get to show off your talents in a talent quest competition. It's a fun place for self-expression, and so important now because of all the mental health issues due to people feeling isolated. EnsomCity brings people together and gives them a voice – a place to say, “I'm a data analyst, but guess what? I'm also a dancer” or “I'm a marketing guru, but I also can sing, or draw or paint.” Monica: What outcome are you hoping for, from the EnsomCity platform? Raquel: We're hoping for people to celebrate each other's unique talents and have everyone be able to say, "Oh my goodness, I didn't know you could do that. Now I see another side of you, and I get to appreciate this other talent that you have." What we are seeing is that just having the ability to show your talents and compete in a friendly way really helps to build camaraderie. From the very beginning, we coined the term "Bunchful" to mean sharing your wealth and your abundance with others. So it was always about giving, even when we started off in gifting. The first thing that we wanted to recognize and celebrate were those who give back. We founded the Bunchful Awards, which opens in November of this year with a panel discussion. That is a lead into the actual awards ceremony in the spring of 2022. The Bunchful Awards is one aspect of Bunchful. We also have Be Bunchful technology. We're so happy because right now, we're in a program that is helping bring the Be Bunchful platform to market. It helps organizations show all the philanthropy and social good they do, all on one platform. And that again goes back to the heart of who we are as a company. 46

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Monica: You studied philosophy and started a philosophy tutoring program for students. Would you say that philosophy has played a role in what you've done and continue to do? Raquel: Philosophy is the basis of my life. It is the most fundamental thing in my approach to founding the Bunchful organization. I was president of the Philosophy Club for two years. During that time, we collaborated with other universities and addressed some very important topics about life. We went to Yale, and we were very much engaged in philosophy. We were teaching and tutoring other students, making sure that we had a tutoring program because some philosophical concepts can be challenging. We were doing some pretty important work. Monica: You support various charities. How do you determine who to support with the donations that you receive?

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Raquel: That's a great question. There are so many areas of need. From the beginning, we wanted to make sure that we were leading by example. I looked through my network at some of the organizations. We donated N95 masks for the inner city hospital. We made a small sponsorship to the Feminist Karate Club in Seattle. With the Bunchful Awards, we'll have something more expansive. The people who are nominated for the Bunchful Awards will select a nonprofit or charity that they would like us to support. Our sponsorship dollars will go to both these nominee-selected causes and to those who win an award. The nominations for the awards are open until about January 7th, 2022. You can go to www.thebunchfulawards. com or www.bebunchful.com and nominate yourself or someone else. We're looking for people who are exemplars in the ways that they give, in the way that they display their generosity. The awards are open to everyone who has shown that they are giving back in impactful ways to their communities. Those selected for an award are those on whose behalf we will make a donation, or provide them with funds to help support those organizations. Monica: You support the International Rescue Committee. Can you talk a little about who they are and what they do?

Raquel: The International Rescue Committee, or IRC, is responding in real time with boots on the ground in areas of crises. We saw what was happening in Afghanistan, and in Haiti with the earthquake. The IRC have people there who are helping and responding, providing food, necessities, clothes, whatever is needed in order to help those people who are living through absolute fear. We chose the IRC because they are responding in over 40 countries, on a global level. They're providing economic support for people in their times of need, and they're also providing basic necessities. We can think about building empires of the world, but if our basic needs are not met, then we are trapped. How am I going to eat? How am I going to live until tomorrow, let alone build something? The IRC is doing really important work. People can make a direct donation to the organization, or on our website. Monica: What do you love most about being the connection between people who generously give and those on the receiving end of those gifts? Raquel: It's delivering joy. We have to celebrate ourselves, but sometimes we are so focused on ourselves that we don't recognize others. This work is important for me in that I have an opportunity to celebrate others, to shine a light

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

and uplift those who are doing good so that they can do even more good.

I BELIEVE THAT OUR

Monica: What advice about giving back do you have for entrepreneurs who are just getting started, even if they don't have much to give?

CENTRAL PURPOSE IN LIFE

Raquel: When you build in generosity and give back, you are making that part of your life. Young entrepreneurs may say, "We're just trying to raise money. How can we give when we don't even have enough money to support ourselves?" But you can build in giving back from the very beginning.

WITH GREAT ABUNDANCE

What I realized was that my company was not something that existed outside of myself. In fact, it is the whole of my life. When it is the whole of your life, then your approach is not other than yourself. It is yourself. Start by giving. You can give your talents, your skills. You can give in ways that help others. In doing so, you will see the increase of your gifts and your ability to give. And the more that you have, the more you can give. Build it in, right from the beginning. It is not just something that you attach to your business because it’s trendy. You build it into your business – and into your life. Monica: You sit on the board of the New York Chapter of the New Executive Women in Hospitality as Director of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. What does equity, inclusion and diversity mean to you? Raquel: It means that you invite people who are not in your immediate sphere, who have different lives, experiences and perspectives, and you engage them. You give them the opportunity to express and bring in the richness of their experience into what you're doing. It means opening the doors of access to others. Many people have different levels of access, but they're not at the table. Equity inclusion means inviting others in and giving them a real seat, not just a window dressing. We want your thoughts. We want your opinion. We want your actions. It's important. You are invited and you are included. Monica: Is there anything additional you'd like to mention? Raquel: Yes. The Bunchful Awards are open to anyone – any neighborhood heroes who you would like to recognize for the way that they give back, or have gone above and 48

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

IS TO GIVE AND TO GIVE AND LOVE, KNOWING

THAT WHAT WE GIVE WILL

COME BACK TO US IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. beyond. Don't be shy. Nominate yourself. Nominate someone else for one of our awards. Seven of our awards are modeled after the UN SDGs, which the UN created to help humanity. One award is a Rising Star award – whatever rising star means to you – someone you think is doing great things in philanthropy, or yourself. Another award is called the ZHAG Award, which is the Zayed Hakim Award for Generosity. So many people help build Bunchful. Zayed was a personal friend and someone who gave of himself unconditionally. He unfortunately died last year. We want to honor his memory as the person who gave so much. Monica: Would you mind closing with your last word? Raquel: I believe that our central purpose in life is to give and to give with great abundance and love, knowing that what we give will come back to us in many different ways. To give because our lives depend on it, to give to others and to ourselves, and to realize the impact we can make in creating thriving communities so that we can all grow together. 

EMPOWER YOURSELF

It has often been said, “When one door closes, another opens.” But in order for it to open someone must be on the other side or you must have the key to unlock it. You can’t gain access to many things in life without the appropriate key. Keys can open doors we never thought possible. Keys to success can be in the form of integrity, hard work, and perseverance. On any given day each of us hold keys that enable us to accomplish many things.

Start Your Business Right

A Comprehensive Guide to Entrepreneurship Success SECOND EDITION Monica Davis’ book ‘Start Your Business Right, A Comprehensive Guide to Entrepreneurship Success’ is a musthave tool for every entrepreneur and anyone contemplating that decision. She gives you the tools first and follows it with the roadmap. Your journey is mapped out. Judy Hoberman, President, Selling In A Skirt

Ever wondered what it would be like to read a relevant guide that can take you through each step of starting your business the right way? Monica Davis has brilliantly written that guide. If you want to start your business the right way or turn an existing business around in the right direction, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU READ THIS INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE. THANK YOU, MONICA, FOR THIS MARVELOUS RESOURCE! Faye Hill, CEO, The Hill Agency International LLC

The ultimate guide to help you plan your business and make smart decisions at the most detailed level before and while you’re developing your business. Start Your Business Right gives you a blueprint for success and provides critical insights, tools, and resources that most entrepreneurs spend thousands of hours and dollars discovering.

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BY MARLA GEM

EMPOWER YOURSELF

ou may have an excellent education, be very talented, have many skills, and a high degree of brilliance. However, if you don't have resilience, persistence, and grit, you won't use your other great attributes to the greatest potential. If you picture the most successful people you've met, you probably find that generally, they don't have a tremendous amount of talent, but they don't give up, and they make sure that things get done. You need to ask yourself whether a lack of resilience and grit may be holding you back. Below are some techniques that can make you more resilient and grittier.

to improve; do something to help them get improve. If the potential for constructive action is available, seize it.

SPEAK TO OTHERS.

REMEMBER EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEATEN SINCE YOU WERE A CHILD.

If you're having a rough time, your inclination might be to isolate yourself from the rest of the world. It would help if you didn't do this. Support networks do precisely that; they support you. Don't imagine that every strong person copes with life without any support. Many of them will appear strong because they are leaning on the support of others. Keep your relationships alive.

BE OPTIMISTIC. You'll find it easier to show strength if you expect things to get better. Look at every time you've had a hard time: didn't things improve eventually, every time? If you believe that the good times are coming, you'll find it easier to show grit and resilience. Stay focused on positive results.

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF. Whatever else you have to face, you still need to have fun, take exercise, get dressed, eat, and make time for loved ones. Taking care of your physical and mental health will mean that you're better positioned to face any difficulties that arise. Many people make bad times worse by not focusing on looking after themselves.

BE PROACTIVE. You'll find it easier to face challenges if you make positive steps to get ahead. Don't just sit back and wait for matters

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

TAKE A MENTAL BREAK. The most resilient people in the world need breaks regularly to relax and let their batteries recharge. Whatever your favorite way is to give yourself some mental rest, whether it's going to the movies, reading books, playing a sport, build time for it into your schedule.

Everyone's life has its ups and downs, and you have faced down and beaten many challenges already. When you're having a hard time, remember how successful you've been in the past. Use that as an inspiration to stay strong and motivated in the present.

TRY TO FOLLOW YOUR INTERESTS. Doing a job you can't stand requires more grit and resilience than doing something you love. Try to pursue a career that aligns with your interests, and outside of work, make time for your hobbies. The more you love what you do, the less resilience you will need to do it.

ASSOCIATE WITH RESILIENT INDIVIDUALS. We all tend to absorb the qualities of the people with whom we spend the most significant time. Choose your friends carefully. If you associate with solid people, you will become stronger yourself. Associate with people you admire and whom you would like to emulate. Just imagine what your life would be like if you showed the same grit and resilience as some of the people you admire. You would be forging ahead! Many people devote their lives and careers to improving their skills; it could be more beneficial to become more gritty and resilient and learn how to use your skills in every situation. 

15 Easy Ways

TO SELF-EMPOWERMENT BY PAT MARKEL

EMPOWER YOURSELF

o matter who you are or your wealth and status, you have it in your power to empower yourself. If you want to enjoy greater success in life and be more in control, have a look at the 15 essential tips below that can help you start working immediately on self-empowerment. BE REALISTIC: All success is motivational, and failure is demotivating. Set targets that you can achieve. Don't start out thinking you can lose 20lbs all at once: aim for 2lbs first and move on from there.

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF: Self-care is an essential element of self-impairment. Make sure you eat healthily, get regular exercise, and sleep a minimum of seven hours per night. STICK TO A BUDGET: Getting your finances in good shape will give you greater security and help you to tackle significant projects. Plan carefully in terms of investment, spending, and saving. Seek professional advice if necessary.

ENHANCE YOUR SKILLS: You can help your potential with lifelong learning. Look at self-help books and take courses online in areas that interest you. Learn all you can from others.

DIVIDE THE HOUSEWORK: Do you feel those you live with don't pull their weight? Make sure everybody is doing a fair share of the household chores and parenting if you have children. Be reasonable but firm, and you can free up more space for your projects.

CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS: Most of us like to stay within our comfort zone, which can inhibit long-term success. If you are scared of something, work through it in your head and talk it over with others until you reduce the problem to manageable proportions.

GET YOURSELF NOTICED: Don't just rely on doing your job well; make sure that others know that you are doing it well. Update your managers on what you have achieved, and make sure that you acknowledge the work of others and how it has helped you.

HAVE SELF-BELIEF: Don't allow negativity to tell you you can't achieve what you want. Think positively and stay focused.

MAKE COMPLAINTS WHEN NECESSARY: Don't brood over unsatisfactory service, be proactive, draw it to the appropriate person's attention, and explain what your expectations are. Be polite and tactful but firm.

USE YOUR SUPPORT NETWORKS: Associate most with those who make you feel positive, and don't be afraid to ask for help if necessary. HOARD YOUR TIME: Time is a precious commodity and one we can't get back once it's gone. Prioritize what is most important to you and try not to waste time on what isn't. GUARD YOUR PRIVACY: What do you do about intrusive questioning? Set your boundaries and make it clear that you will maintain them. If somebody or something is making you uncomfortable, feel free to step away. DAILY MEDITATION: The more aware you are of yourself, the easier it will be to achieve empowerment. Look at how you think by meditating or filling in a journal. Ask others for their opinion on you, or take online personality quizzes.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

AFFIRM YOURSELF: Dealing with stress and overcoming challenges can be easy if you find a positive statement you believe in and repeat it to yourself. Create your own mantra. CHECK YOUR BODY LANGUAGE: The way you carry yourself can significantly affect your feelings and others' perceptions. Hold your head up and stand tall. Take control of your life, be responsible for yourself, be positive in your choices, and you will be on the road to the outcomes you want most. 

10 Things You Can Do

to Improve Your Life in Six Months BY PAT MARKEL

EMPOWER YOURSELF

erhaps you feel like it’s too late to make a change. You have made too many bad choices and walked the same path for too long. You are mistaken. With dedication, you can transform your life in only six months. Six months is long enough to achieve a lot but not long enough for you to dash your chances of success by setting overly daunting goals, like wanting to be a millionaire in the next decade. To succeed, there are several strategies you can follow. FIRST, you need to establish goals in four categories: your finances, your health, your professional life, and your personal life. Your goal may be to reduce your debt or save a certain amount in terms of your finances. Some common goals are to lose weight, eat better, or perhaps run a marathon when it comes to health. Your goals will likely focus on securing a promotion, starting in a new role, or changing professions altogether for your professional life. Last is your personal life, which can encompass any number of things. Perhaps you want to buy a new bike, learn a language, or travel. Remember, always choose goals that excite you and that you consider challenging but achievable. SECOND, to improve your life, think about where you are right now. To achieve a goal in any of the four categories, you need to know your starting point. So, for example, check your bank balance and what you owe, weigh yourself, test how far you can run, and think about what skills you have. THIRD, once you have your goals, reflect on how, specifically, you will achieve them. Make a clear plan for what to do next, and don’t forget to keep your six-month timeframe firmly in mind when you do. FOURTH, think about what it will take for you to succeed. What habits do you need to cultivate to, for example, save money, eat better, and get that promotion? Also, what bad habits do you need to break? It could be not ordering takeout (for better finances and health!) or seeking the guidance of a mentor at work.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

FIFTH, think short-term. Even six months can be a long time to remain absorbed in a single goal and lead to procrastination. Establish a couple of short-term goals for each six-month goal, ideally 60-day goals, to help you get there. SIXTH, act. Setting goals and making plans are necessary, but you can’t stop there. You need to work on these plans. Thinking is not doing. SEVENTH, keep a record of your experiences, including your successes and your failures. How do you feel? What are your ideas about your journey? A journal can be rewarding to look back on and may inspire you to make more positive changes in the future. EIGHTH, regularly evaluate your progress. How are you doing? If you are not moving forward as you hoped, what do you think needs to change? Keeping a record of your progress will help you to reflect and recalibrate if needed. NINTH, adapt when you need to. Your original plan is unlikely to be perfect. It will probably need to be tweaked and finetuned. Focus on your goals but be adaptable in terms of how you achieve them. TENTH, keep going until the end. This is the final and most crucial step of this process. Don’t stop until the six months are up. Things may get complicated, and returning to the status quo can be tempting, but if you persevere, you may surprise yourself. Can you transform your life in only six months? Why not? If you are committed, you could find that the next six months are the most fruitful of your life. We can all get stuck following the same unproductive patterns day after day—aim higher. Establish your six-month goals and see what you are capable of achieving. 

THE ART OF PERSUASION:

BY JON CRUMP

EMPOWER YOURSELF

t's virtually impossible to overstress how important it is to persuade people to accept your point of view or ideas. If you're trying to convince someone, using vivid images will help them picture what you are saying. Don't just overload them with as many facts as you can or evidence that you believe proves your case. Try appealing to them emotionally, and you may enjoy much more success. Instead of just using logical arguments, demonstrate to them how what you are saying will positively affect all parties. Paint them a picture of what will happen if they agree with you; make it emotional and make it bright. Everyone wants to succeed and improve their life. Show them how your ideas will do that. Creating a picture or image of future success inside a person's mind is worth a million rational, persuasive arguments. Most people don't think rationally: they think emotionally and are driven by their subconscious wants. If you can find a way to appeal to them and try to persuade at the level of emotions, the more likely you are to convince them.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

Let's take the example of asking your manager for a raise. Create a picture for them showing how with a higher salary you will be less worried about money, and how this, in turn, will increase your productivity because you can devote all the time you previously spent worrying about money to company business. Don't bombard your manager with examples of how hard you work and how much you deserve a raise; engage them emotionally at the instinctive level, and you will have a better chance of succeeding. You should aim to create a picture of success for all, with you as a happy employee being more productive and more successful, leading to greater company profits and more praise, success, and promotion for your manager. Remember, this is a shared picture, with you and your manager in the frame. Both of you will profit from your success. Ultimately, your manager should come away with the feeling that you weren't just asking for a raise for yourself but showing them a picture of how such a raise would make life better for all. 

EXPERIENCE A TRANSFORMATION BY GIVING YOUR TIME TO OTHERS BY MARLA GEM

EMPOWER YOURSELF

f you're feeling pressed for time, give more of it away. Studies show that when we help others, it makes us feel like we have more time for ourselves.

Participants were divided into two groups in research done at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. One group performed tasks like writing to a sick child or tutoring at-risk students. The other group was given busy work or told they had completed their tasks for the day and could go home early. Those given the prosocial activities perceived their time as more abundant and spent longer working on additional tasks. After a draining day at work, you may feel like crashing in front of the TV or focusing on your to-do list, but doing things for others will make you happier and more productive. Use the following ideas to get started.

HOW TO GIVE MORE TIME TO OTHERS 1. Call your parents. If you live too far apart to visit often, you can phone your parents regularly. How about making it a video call so they can see you? 2. Volunteer in your community. Find a worthy cause you want to support. You could sort cans at a food bank or deliver meals to seniors. Go on your own or bring along family and friends. 3. Help a coworker. Notice when a colleague is under pressure. Ask them how you can help. Maybe you can proofread a document or return some of their phone calls until they can catch up. 4. Greet a neighbor. Introduce yourself to the families who live on your block. Bring them extra tomatoes from your garden, or invite them over for coffee. 5. Chat with a stranger. Introduce yourself to the families who live on your block. Bring them tomatoes from your garden or invite them to your home for coffee. 6. Read to your kids. Turn bedtime stories into a regular ritual. Take turns reading to each other and inventing your own stories.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

7. Date your spouse. Set aside time to spend as a couple. Go out for dinner and a movie or take a stroll through an art gallery or shopping mall. 8. Hang out with your friends. Nurture your friendships with regular lunches and potluck dinners. Share laughter and deep conversations.

HOW TO BE MORE PRESENT IN THE TIME YOU GIVE TO OTHERS 1. Live in the moment. Focus on whomever you are with instead of dwelling on the past or thinking about the future. Put aside any distractions. 2. Listen closely. Practice attentive listening. Nod your head and provide encouraging feedback. Ask pertinent questions and paraphrase what you heard them say to ensure you understand the message. 3. Make eye contact. Meet the other person's gaze. Let them know they are seen as well as heard. 4. Provide validation. You can accept what others say even when you disagree. Recognize that their feelings matter. Tell them they have your support even when you have different opinions. 5. Show enthusiasm. Take a sincere interest in the lives of others. Remember how much others have done to help you, from teaching you to read to helping you overcome your illnesses. Care about their happiness and wellbeing. 6. Hide your phone. If you're tempted to check your phone, put it out of sight. Turn the volume off for a while. Being generous with your time will make you feel like you have more hours in your day. Show your family, friends, and colleagues that you care by giving them your time and attention. 

LIGHTER SIDE

OF LIFE

Same Thought; Different Day By Dorothy Rosby

read somewhere that the average person thinks 60,000 thoughts every day. That sounds like a lot. But that’s if you’re average, and really, how many of us can say that?

The author went on to say that no matter how many thoughts you have, 95% of them are the same ones you had yesterday. Ouch! That makes me feel so shallow. And it did yesterday too. I don’t know if I even have 60,000 thoughts per day, but if I ever start counting, I’m pretty sure I’ll have fewer of them. “Where did I put my car keys?” That’s one. “What about my sunglasses?” That’s two. “Why can’t I learn to put my sunglasses and my keys in the same place every day?” That’s three—all of which I had today, yesterday and pretty much every day last week. You can see how counting would discourage deep thought. Like many other startling facts I’ve seen on the internet, these two may not even be…uh…factual. An email I received recently claimed red cars are stopped for speeding more often than any other color of car. That’s probably true when you compare red cars that are speeding with other cars that are not. Or there’s that “fact” that periodically makes the rounds on the internet about how more people are killed by donkeys than by airline accidents. There’s probably no way to prove that since, as far as I know, no one keeps records of donkey-induced fatalities. If it were a problem, I would think someone would be keeping stats. I apologize for getting off track, but it did give you something to think about, didn’t it? And that’s the point. 62

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

I don’t know about you, but if I were honest with myself, which I seldom am, I would have to admit that many of the thoughts I’m having today are the same ones I had yesterday and probably the day before that. Besides “Where are my keys and my sunglasses,” there’s “What am I going to make for dinner,” and “Why can’t my stomach be flat?”

LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE

I know my life would be more interesting if I could think some new thoughts. I would probably be more interesting too. You’re already very interesting, but I’m going to make some suggestions anyway.

WAYS TO HAVE NEW THOUGHTS TRY NEW THINGS. I’ve never had a burning desire to try sky diving or bungee jumping. I worry that certain new experiences might kill me, and dead people are not known for their abundance of new thoughts. But long ago, I got up the courage to try sushi, the cha-cha and texting. In fact, because texting is my son’s main form of communication, I have become—and I don’t mean to brag here—almost adequate at it. Now I’m trying to encourage him to try something new: Call me!

READ. I read whatever is in front of me, including cereal boxes, which recently inspired several new thoughts: “Why wasn’t my box of cereal the one with the $100 gift card inside?” And “What is tripotassium phosphate and why are they putting it in my breakfast food?” But when it comes to mysteries, I prefer mine in a book. Mystery novels prompt many new thoughts: “Whodunit? What was the motive? And what was that noise I just heard in my basement?” TRAVEL. Traveling is also a great way to trigger new thoughts. Some possibilities include: “Why do hot dogs cost $20 when you’re away from home,” “Did I remember to lock the front door when I left” and “Thank goodness I’m flying and not riding a donkey.” 

Images: www.freepik.com

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

RECIPES

Strawberry and Oats Grilled Peaches Streusel Bars a la Rosemary over Arugula Endive Salad INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

2 ripe, but still firm, peaches, wash and cut in half (remove stone)

1. Prepare a grilling pan (or grates) by spraying with non-stick grilling oil, then set grill to medium heat.

1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped ¼ tsp kosher salt 2 small Belgian endive, washed and each leaf removed whole 2 cups arugula 4 fresh mozzarella balls Balsamic vinaigrette (or olive oil and balsamic vinegar mix) Dash of kosher salt and ground black pepper

2. Put peach halves in bowl with olive oil, rosemary and kosher salt, and toss to coat. 3. When grill is preheated, put the peaches on, cut side down, and grill for 4 to 5 minutes, until charred lightly, then flip and grill 3 to 4 more minutes until softened slightly and charred. Remove and set aside to cool slightly. 4. Prepare individual salads by arranging endive leaves between 4 salad plates, then top each plate with 1/2 cup arugula, place one grilled peach half on top of the arugula, tear one mozzarella ball in half (for each salad) and place on top, then drizzle with a little balsamic vinaigrette and sprinkle a dash of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. SERVE IMMEDIATELY. MAKES 4 INDIVIDUAL SALADS.

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

RECIPES

Marinated Berries on Fresh Baby Spinach INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

1-pint ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced

1. Clean strawberries and blueberries and place in a large bowl.

1-pint ripe blueberries, washed and dried

2. Whisk together in a separate bowl the vinegar, olive oil, sugar, poppy seeds, shallot, paprika, and salt until frothy, then pour over berries.

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

3. Let berries marinate for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.

1 tbsp light olive oil 1 tbsp light brown sugar 1 tsp poppy seeds

4. Divide spinach between individual salad bowls. Spoon marinated berries over the top of each salad, then top with a sprinkling of walnuts and bleu cheese crumbles.

1 tbsp minced shallot 1/8 tsp smoked paprika

SERVE IMMEDIATELY.

¼ tsp kosher salt 12 ounces baby spinach Chopped walnuts Bleu cheese crumbles

Exceptional People Magazine | September-October 2021

RECIPES

Watercress and Crab Salad INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

2 bunches watercress, washed, trimmed and rough chopped

1. In a large salad bowl, toss together the watercress, crabmeat, celery, green onion, and tomato.

6 ounces lump crabmeat 1 stalk celery, chopped 2 green onions, chopped 1 Roma tomato, chopped ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup rice vinegar

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, rice vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper. 3. Drizzle over the salad and toss to coat well. SERVE IMMEDIATELY ON COLD SALAD PLATES.

1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil 1 pinch kosher salt 1 pinch ground black pepper

September-October 2021 | Exceptional People Magazine

Profile Resources Profile Resources

LESLI LUCY https://orangetreechristianpreschool.com/

RAQUEL MILLER https://bebunchful.com/

https://thebunchfulawards.com/

https://ensomcity.com/

GILA KURTZ https://www.dogisgood.com/

Design and Graphics

Magazine Design and Graphics, and Cover Design by Jenette Antonio Sityar

The clearest path to success is based on a foundation of faith, gratitude, persistence and consistency.