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January 1, 2021: Knockabout Newsletter: Free Gifts, Quote, Listening, Fun, Better Human, Question, Join me for live session

I hope you and your family had an awesome holiday break. Everyone on the planet has earned some time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. I hope you found yours.

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My family and I are very excited that our oldest daughter, Allyson, was engaged on Christmas morning. Amazing! We are blessed!

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I’m preparing for the new year as I always do, with a brand new journal, an ink pen, and my goals. This year I added some new strategies looking at how I plan my week and individual days too.

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1. Two free gifts for you:

I’m sharing two tried and tested tools in this email to help you start your new year. The first is my ebook The Greatest Year of Your Life. It is 50+ pages of insight on how to start your year off right and keep it going to deliver the results you seek. The second is a leadership tool I designed to help leaders make an optimum impact; I call it the Leadership Matrix. It is a tool to help you lead your best, whether it be at home, at work, or in your community.

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2. Quote I am reflecting on:

“You’re valuing someone else’s opinion too much.”

~Gary Vaynerchuk

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3. What I am listening to:

My wife and I joined Audible.com this past year to listen to some books during our commutes. I have enjoyed that very much. Recently I found a version of The Little Drummer Boy by The Bird and Bee featuring Dave Grohl that I love. (I’m a rocker.) It is enchanting for any time of the year.

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4. Something Fun:

Over on Instagram from December 1 to December 24, I flexed my art muscles a bit and drew a Santa every day until Christmas. I included a timelapse, 30-second video of me creating it. Last night I added a Baby New Year 2021 drawing and animation. My user name is kcroy if you are interested in checking them out. Drawing is fun and relaxes me.

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5. Becoming a Better Human:

I recently removed all social media from my iPhone for about 60 days. I watched a documentary on Netflix called the Social Dilemma that influenced this experiment. The documentary explained how social media manipulates us. During the experiment, I only used social media once during the day in the evening on my iPad. I added it back to my iPhone during the holiday break. I enjoyed being in control of social media. I also found I approached social media differently; I enjoyed engaging with others with positive comments on a deeper level more than the mindless scrolling. Whether we have social media on our phones or not is not necessarily what my focus is; I am more intrigued by how we use them, or they use us. I want to be in control.

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6. My Question for You:

What is something you need to do this year to build better relationships with others? Who?

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Bonus Opportunities:

Join me and my dog, Jedi, as we do a read aloud of our book Unthink Before Bed, LIVE on Facebook this Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 7:00 PM EST. It’s Free. It’s fun. It’s for 30 minutes. You can watch it at: www.facebook.com/kellyshawncroy​

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Would you like a Free Wired Educator Podcast sticker? Complete this form to get your FREE Wired Educator Podcast Sticker: https://forms.gle/RsEBuVwkapeGTc9D6​

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Interested in working with me? Each year I work with few people virtually to help them achieve their goals. I have helped educators publish books, start podcasts, become keynote speakers at conferences, and more. I might be able to help you. Does that interest you? Once a year I send out a survey asking interested people to fill out an application. It’s super short. I pick three or four people and contact them and I become their accountability partner. It’s that simple. If you’re at all interested and think I might be the person that can help you finish that project that you always dreamt about finishing. Just fill out the form. It doesn’t mean we will work together but it means we could. I would love to be a help to you. Complete this Application Form if you are interested in having me coach you : https://forms.gle/NNo6KUHqu9NBUNM47​

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Thank you for being a part of this newsletter.

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I am wishing you much peace & prosperity, good health & happiness, and love & laughter in this new year.

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Kelly

​This link will take you to ALL of my social media: https://linktr.ee/kellycroy (I would love to connect with you.)
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FFP 040: The Problem with 100 Percent

How to Build Better Habits

In this episode of The Future Focused Podcast, I outline how abandoning the mindset of 100% can help you create better habits and accomplish more. 

Click here to listen to this episode of The Future Focused Podcast.

This 40th episode of The Future Focused Podcast will help you level-up your leadership and design a more dynamic life by focusing on the power of a proper mindset and building habits that deliver. Unfortunately, too many people adopt a mindset that they put complete belief in, but in reality, actually hinders performance.

I’m talking about the problem of 100%.

Hit play and take a listen to this ten-minute podcast.

Thank you for listening. I hope you will subscribe and leave a review.

Kelly

Want to give your child or a child you know the gift of confidence and tools to tackle worry and anxiety? Order my new book Unthink Before Bed. It is a children’s book on mindfulness. It’s the perfect gift and bedtime book. I am so proud of it! It is a very fun read.

Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. Want to learn more? Send an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 180 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader a book on personal and professional leadership, and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

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How to Help Kids Deal with Anxiety at Bedtime, a Television Interview

CBS WTOL Television Interview baout my Book; Unthink Before Bed: A Children's Book on Mindfulness

I had the good fortune this past week to be interviewed on CBS Television Affilate WTOL about my new book, Unthink Before Bed. The interview was a lot of fun, and I am excited it is helping to deliver the message about helping people with anxiety through the simplicity of mindfulness.

Thank you to Paul, the WTOL cameraman, and reporter Zeinab Cheaib. You can get your copy of my book here. 

Click here to read the article on WTOL’s site.

Here is the television interview: 


Here is the article from WTOL:

How to Help Kids Deal with Anxiety at Bedtime

‘Unthink Before Bed’ was written to help kids develop healthy routines as they go to sleep, especially in times of uncertainty.

TOLEDO, Ohio — A northwest Ohio author is doing his part to help kids relax and unwind as they get ready for bed.

“Unthink Before Bed” is a children’s book on mindfulness. Written by Kelly Croy, the piece is aimed at helping kids develop healthy routines before bed, like disconnecting from electronics and nding healthy ways to relax as some children may struggle with anxiety.

“The times that we’re living in right now, every day, we’re a little uncertain of what the next day is gonna look like. Our patterns and routines have been interrupted. The book tries to help young people to develop patterns before bed to develop a way to think strategically about the next day,” Croy said.

Croy’s motivation comes from raising his four daughters and his experience teaching seventh grade English for over 20 years.

He said he has always wanted to write a children’s book and due to the pandemic, he thought now would be the ideal time to help kids release some of the anxiety they may be dealing with before bed.

“I think it’s good for anybody. One of the most surprising comments that I have received is that after reading it, parents tell me it was good for them,” Croy said.

This unique book has a rhyme scheme similar to Dr. Seuss, with fun illustrations based on real-life characters.

“There are over 40 illustrations. I drew them in. Jedi – who’s in the book – that’s my dog. He’s a real dog,” Croy said.

Croy acknowledged the fact that some parents might not be able to read to their kid every night. But, he has a solution for them, too.

In the back of the book, there’s a code that will send the reader to a website that has a recording of the author reading the book, so nobody is left out.

Want to give your child or a child you know the gift of confidence and tools to tackle worry and anxiety? Order my new book Unthink Before Bed. It is a children’s book on mindfulness. It’s the perfect gift and bedtime book. I am so proud of it! It is a very fun read.

Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. Want to learn more? Send an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 180 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader a book on personal and professional leadership, and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

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Begin Every Day with Gratitude!

Begin Every Day with Gratitude!

For years a banner hung in my classroom that read: ‘Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?’ It was one of my favorite posters because it packed so much into one small saying. I learned right away as a teacher and coach that my students and athletes would mirror my attitude.  If I arrived with an enthusiastic spirit willing to learn, so would they. If I was short-tempered and impatient, well, they would mirror that as well.  It’s no surprise then in the workplace or in sports that people mirror the attitudes of their leaders, whether they are the manager of a company, the team captain of a sports team, the classroom teacher, or a parent leading a home.  Attitudes are mirrored. 

I once read a powerful quote that went something like, “If you can’t be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you have avoided.” I just love the power of quotes.  In order to have a great attitude as a leader, you must be gracious. There is always something to be thankful for in any situation regardless of how bleak it seems. Be thankful for all that you have and begin your day by giving thanks. Run through your mind all to which you can offer thanks. Be thankful for the material things you have, the people in your life, your mental health, your physical health, opportunities, your faith, a good attitude, and anything else that crosses your mind. Get your journal out and brainstorm your thanks if necessary.  Giving gratitude puts your entire day in perspective. Your problems begin to shrink.  When you look for the best, you find it.  You’re not avoiding the problems; you’re focusing on the goal. 

So many wise and helpful leaders have shared with me the importance of gratitude.  Each emphasized the need to begin our day being grateful, and in times of doubt or trouble reminding ourselves of our blessings. It works. Every time I have encountered some dismal prospect, I remind myself of the great opportunities and people I have been surrounded within my lifetime. My attitude instantly gets back on track. 

Leaders have an attitude of gratitude. 

Give up some gratitude! When you feel the pressure building to a point that you aren’t sure you can handle it, start thinking of people, situations, and things in your life for which you are thankful. When you start thinking about what you are thankful for it puts your life in perspective.  You remember it’s not just about you. Others are counting on you.  And the biggie… many, many people have it worse than you and would trade spots with you in an instant.

How is your attitude?

Kelly

 

Want to give your child or a child you know the gift of confidence and tools to tackle worry and anxiety? Order my new book Unthink Before Bed. It is a children’s book on mindfulness. It’s the perfect gift and bedtime book. I am so proud of it! It is a very fun read.

Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. Want to learn more? Send an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 179episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader a book on personal and professional leadership, and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

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FFP 039: Five Financial Apps You Must Have on Your Phone

In this episode of The Future Focused Podcast I share the five financial apps you must have on your phone, and share a little on how to use each one to level up your leadership and design a more dynamic life. 

Finances matter. They really do. You can’t lead others nor live your best life if the weight of financial strife is holding you back and impairing your decisions. While these five apps are extremely helpful and will give you an edge, it takes personal discipline to manage your money. These are not get-rich-quick apps or anything like that. These are apps that help you spend less, budget, keep an eye on your money, invest, and learn about finances.

Click here to listen to this episode!

Money matters. To be a good leader and to design a dynamic life, you need to master your finances, and mastering your finances begins with mastering yourself. You need to be extremely disciplined. Rules I follow: Eliminate Debt. Build savings. Create multiple revenue streams. Invest.  You need these buckets. You do need to have fun too. 

This podcast will serve you well. Let me know what app I should have included and why in the comments below.

Kelly

Want to give your child or a child you know the gift of confidence and tools to tackle worry and anxiety? Order my new book Unthink Before Bed. It is a children’s book on mindfulness. It’s the perfect gift and bedtime book. I am so proud of it! It is a very fun read.

Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. Want to learn more? Send an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 178 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader a book on personal and professional leadership, and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

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FFP 038: The Importance of Mindfulness

Unthink Before Bed

In this 38th episode of The Future Focused Podcast, I discuss the importance of inaction, stillness, and mindfulness in relation to leadership and living a dynamic life.

We live in a fast-paced culture where multitasking, overwhelm and frustration are not only the norm but are often spoken of as virtues and badges of honor. I challenge this notion in this episode and remind listeners that like muscles, our brains need rest, and like devices, we often need a reset.

Listen to this episode by clicking here.

Knowing about the importance of stillness and mindfulness is not enough; it must be scheduled and practiced. Too many people don’t start because they feel they must study it and learn more. Nonsense! I’ll share everything you need to know to get started NOW and share a couple of helpful resources too.

This episode is an important episode that I hope you will really put into action. If you want great ideas, and the end to anxiety, then this is the episode for you.

Unthink Before Bed is my newest book and it has made a tremendous debut across the globe by helping families teach their children (and themself while they’re at it) to learn the art of mindfulness. How do you expect children to become mindful, reduce worry, anxiety, and stress if you don’t teach it or provide the tools? Well, that is what my book does in a really fun way! Unthink Before Bed is the perfect bedtime book with over forty, beautifully colored illustrations and a whimsical rhyme reminiscent of Dr. Seuss. Follow the bedtime adventure of a young boy and his dog as they learn how to prepare their mind for bedtime. Written and illustrated by a veteran educator of thirty years and a father of four. This is Kelly Croy’s second book. Unthink Before Bed teaches children (and adults) how to slow down, build a routine, get to bed, and fall asleep. Woven into every stanza and illustration are the ten, secret lessons of mindfulness. Reduce anxiety, worry, and stress. Fall asleep happily. Get a peaceful night’s rest. It’s also two books in one…. There’s a QR code in the back which takes you to the audiobook of me reading it. Order your copy on Amazon today. 

Please let me know your thoughts.

Have a great week.

Kelly

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Ryan Holiday’s book Stillness is the Key

My new book Unthink Before Bed.

A great resource of them importance of breathing titled, Breath by Belisa Vranich

Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. Want to learn more? Send an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 176 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader a book on personal and professional leadership, and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

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My New Book: Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness

I Wrote and Illustrated a Children's Book on Mindfulness Titled Unthink Before Bed

I just published a new book titled Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness. It is available on the world’s largest bookstore, Amazon, now. You can get your copy here.

II am very excited to share this book with families. It is a fun bedtime story with incredible artwork. This is exactly what children need to hear right now. (Parents too.)

We are living in uncertain times and children (and adults) need the strategies to prepare their minds for the challenges in today’s world. Unthink Before bed teaches children how to relax, reduce stress, and give themselves an advantage to get the rest they need a prepare for a new day. You are going to love it.

I had so much fun writing this book and illustrating every page. There are over forty, beautiful pages of illustrations. This book has a fun rhyme. I have even built a free audiobook inside the book. I’m not kidding. Wait until you see how I did it!

There are so many great surprises inside this book. Kids are going to love it. Parents are going to love it.

The book hit #2 in bedtime stories yesterday and was featured as one of Amazon’s “Hot New Releases” and one of their Best Sellers. I am so excited.

I will be sharing more about the book, but I just wanted to share my excitement with you!

Thanks for your continued support and encouragement.

Let me know what you think about the new book.

Order your copy of Unthink Before Bed today.

Thanks!

Kelly

Here is more about the book:

Unthink Before Bed is the perfect bedtime book with over forty, beautifully colored illustrations and a whimsical rhyme reminiscent of Dr. Seuss. 

 Written and illustrated by a veteran educator of thirty years and a father of four. This is Kelly Croy’s second book.

Unthink Before Bed teaches children (and adults) how to slow down, build routine, get to bed, and sleep. 

Woven into every stanza and illustration are the ten, secret lessons of mindfulness. 

Reduce anxiety, worry and stress. Fall asleep happily. Get a peaceful night’s rest. 

Enjoy this fun and relaxing bedtime story. 

Readers are leaders. 

Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. Want to learn more? Send an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 173 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

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WEP 037: Repetition is a Strength, Not a Weakness

Level up Your Leadership, Design a Dynamic Life

Repetition is a strength, not a weakness.

You don’t need a pandemic to start building good habits. You just need to start. 

Repetition is a gift when it is intentional and skillful. Any successful person is so because of one factor, consistency. What is consistency? Consistency is a disciplined repetition. 

This episode of The Future of Podcast is about how to look at the pandemic differently and positively.

When all is lost, repetition offers us hope. Routines serve us, not imprison us. They free us. 

I do hope you are safe and well. Thank you for listening to this episode. 

Level up Your Leadership, Design a Dynamic Life

~Kelly

Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. Want to learn more? Send an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 170 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram