Check out Tory Johnson’s website www.womenforfire.com.  Tory is truly a force of nature.  She has build a team of top quality professionals who are dedicated to helping women succeed.  If she is ever in your neighborhood, run, don’t walk, for the opportunity to interact with her and her staff.

For more on this subject check out my blog at cynthiakwade.wordpress.com

“To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.” 

Wendell Berry

http://polls.linkedin.com/p/69791/dzqdv

This short comment was forwarded to me by a friend.  She found it posted somewhere in a Linked In Group.  I think the message is really worthwhile, so I am sharing it.  If anyone recognizes the author, please let me know.

“Do you remember how you felt when someone last encouraged you?  We all want to be successful. It is so important to encourage our family, friends and coworkers.  Sometimes this little word of encouragement can make a big difference in someone getting something they want.

We need to expect the best in people.  The best leaders believe that people can achieve the high standards that have been set.  This is called the Pygmalion effect.  It is a belief so strong that even if others do not believe in it initially, the leader’s belief gives rise to self confidence and it becomes a self- fulfilling prophecy.

Sometimes we feel that there is no way we can accomplish a certain task, however with the encouragement of a friend or family member we give it a try.  Then we are surprised when we have completed the task.

A caring person, who is possibly a friend, a relative or a boss who cares enough to give encouragement to another, can make a big difference in someone else’s confidence to give it a try, to move forward and to think in their mind that they can accomplish the task.  The encouragement spurs them on.”

A compliment is one of the simplest, yet most profound gifts we can share with each other.  Yet I hear from so many people (Many men in speaking about their wives…) that they avoid compliments because of the response from the recipient.  Often when a compliment is paid us, we diminish it and in turn, the giver.  We are unwilling to acccept it graciously.  It’s a lose/lose situation.

Today I challenge you to to pay a compliment to someone.  It can be anyone.  It can be for a very simple thing.  Watch their response to you and then your response to them.  Is it something that you can modify to reach a better outcome for all?

If you are lucky enough to receive a compliment today, I urge you to smile and just say “Thank You.’