A tribute to Steve Jobs:
Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.
He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation
including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,
and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.
Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.
www.kellycroy.com
1-800-831-4825
Each and every day I take out a small index card and make my to-do list. The result is simple; I get things done.
Each year I set goals for myself and monitor them regularly in my journal. The result is always positive; I accomplish some great goals each year.
Still, there are some tasks that either evade me, or I am avoiding, and some BIG life goals that I cannot even seem to get started. With them, I seem to be in a rut. I continually write them down as ‘to-do’ but barely make any progress. The worst of it is in the the reality that these are the goals and accomplishments that would mean the most to me if completed. They would make the biggest impact in my life.
I have always read and heard that you need to write goals down and that they need to be specific. Most of the time that works well for me, but recently I have uncovered a secret that has allowed me to make progress in those really tough areas that I have been stagnant for so long.
The solution is: The Secret of ‘Some‘.
A novel can be 50,000 words. You can’t write one of those in a day.
Ten pounds is 35,000 calories. You won’t be losing that in a day.
Too often the knowledge of ‘the amount’ it takes to finish prevents us from starting or staying on track.
We surrender out of fear of failure and convince ourselves with the improbability of success or imagine the exhaustive state we will be at, even with a fraction of the progress.
That is why most people don’t write novels or ever lose that ten pounds.
I recently discovered this amazing adjective called some. It’s not scary nor even measurable, yet with it you can get anywhere and accomplish anything.
Can’t run a marathon? Great, run some.
Can’t reduce your diet down to 1800 calories a day? Super! Just reduce it by some.
Some allows us to reach our goals. Some allows to make progress.
The only thing that must accompany some to make it happen is the noun consistency.
Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.
He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation
including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,
and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.
Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.
1-800-831-4825
Today is September 11th and our home reflects a dichotomy of emotions.
A woman on the television solemnly reads the names of those who lost their lives ten years ago at the World Trade Center.
…our house is decorated with balloons and streamers.
Airports are on heightened security due to unconfirmed reports of terrorist movement.
…we will eat cake and sing.
Our leaders hold their breath.
…we celebrate my daughter’s birthday.
It’s not easy celebrating anything on such a solemn day, but I cannot allow my daughter to be robbed the joy of celebrating her life. Still, my mind drifts elsewhere. I think about the lives lost, and I briefly question the wisdom of going to a cinema or a shopping mall in fear of some act of revenge on the anniversary of perhaps the darkest day in our history. We proceed. Perhaps our decisions are weighed a little move heavily. Perhaps I am a bit more conscious. I privately and publicly mourn those who died, honor the heroes, and carry on being a father.
That’s what Americans do best; we carry on. March forward. Advance.
We do not forget.
My daughter gets it; the day is no longer hers. An unfortunate lesson. A sad coincidence. A lesson in service, honor, perspective and gratitude. Families were robbed of loved ones, our country defiled of its innocence and safety, and her day is overshadowed by the remembrance of a tragedy. In truth, she would have it no other way. I believe she feels honored to celebrate her life today as a tribute to so many who gave up theirs. At times it seems odd, and at times, perfect.
Yes, today is September 11th. It’s okay to celebrate birthdays, cheer for your football teams, drive your child to soccer, and laugh at a movie. If we didn’t, the act of terror would have succeeded and continued, and the so many who gave their lives so willingly, truly would have died in vain. We must carry on, march forward, advance, yet never forget.
At church this morning we were reminded to forgive, and I know that cannot be easy. I celebrate my daughter’s life while another father marks the anniversary of his daughter’s death, and yet, I know forgiveness indeed takes place. How do you do that? I am amazed. I have much to learn.
September 11, 2001 was an incredibly humbling day for me. It was as if Death itself had given me a glimpse of my own mortality, a reminder of life’s frailty, and an understanding of the horrors man can conceive and act out. Yet within that shadowy bush of thorns, a blossom of hope and courage emerged like a single red rose, as I was also given a glimpse of the courageousness of mankind, witnessing selfless acts of every day people, stepping forward like the heroes in the comic books I read as a child. I saw giving, sacrifice, compassion, and the complete erasure of nearly every dividing characteristic. On that dark hour we were not aligned to political parties, economic classes, or members of a race. We stood together.
From the ashes of destruction fueled by misguided hate rose a nation united, determined, to advance against a common cause, to make an impact.
On our country’s darkest hour, I was reminded what it means for me to be an American, a Christian, a father, and a neighbor.
Today is September 11th and our home reflects a dichotomy of emotions.
Carry on. March forward. Advance. Never forget.
Happy Birthday Allyson.
Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.
He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation
including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,
and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.
Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.
1-800-831-4825
I picked up my daughter’s basketball sitting
where she practices at home. It was as smooth as an apple. Useless. All the bounce was gone, and it was becoming threadbare in some areas. I was about to toss it in the trashcan and get her a new one when my daughter stopped me. She told me she was taking it to practice with her that day and that her coach would give her a new basketball. In fact, she elaborated, her coach would give her a new basketball for every one she wore out. Wow! What a fabulous idea!
My daughter’s coach did in fact give her a basketball for every one she wore out, but more amazing than that is that her coach instilled in her a desire to practice, gave her a visual goal, and reinforced the successful habits of a committed athlete. Well done.
I incorporated that idea into my own life. I have been wanting a new laptop for some time. Not just any laptop, but the new MacBook Air from Apple. I have saved my money and all I need to do is place the order, but I made a commitment to myself to wait until I have finished the book I have been working on for the past two years. My current laptop used for writing will be replaced with the new one when the book is finished and query letters mailed.
It’s easy to become distracted, but there are techniques we can employ to counter them and become more productive, and I believe creating your own buy-back program is an excellent idea to meet your goals.
Discipline, focus, commitment, and training are the keys to success in any area in life, whether it be writing, sports, art, or anything else. The distractions become less influential when we have a clear measurable goal in front of us.
I hope you can find an area in your life that you can set-up a similar buy-back reward program. Perhaps you can use it with a friend or family member, or perhaps even with yourself.
Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.
He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation
including corporations, schools, churches, conferences,
and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.
Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.
1-800-831-4825
Children hear a lot of things during the course of a day. Each and every word makes a lasting impact. Parents, teachers, coaches, advisors, and mentors must choose their words carefully. We aren’t always going to have the right words at the right time, but we always need to try. Here are six things I think children need to hear more often:
1) Yes! We want to keep children safe and prevent them from becoming unruly and spoiled. The word “No” is often set as default. I think children need to hear ‘Yes’ more often. You don’t have to give in to every request, just quantify when they can do something. “Dad, can I go to a friend’s house?” Try, “Yes, but not today. When your room is clean ask me again for another day.”
2) I Make Mistakes Too! Children need to know that everyone makes mistakes, and that failing is the pathway to success. We want students to accept and demonstrate responsibility, show leadership, and try new things. When we as adults use the wrong words we need to let children know we made a mistake for that too.
3) You Can Accomplish Anything! I use to think everyone heard this from their parents. By the end of my first year of teaching, now twenty, I knew this isn’t true. This really was a great gift my parents gave me. I placed no limitations on my future. I dreamt big, and went after and achieved goals that really should have been unobtainable. Remind children every day that they too are limitless despite any odds or environment. Remind them they can accomplish anything.
4) How Can I Help You? Children need to understand that they can always ask for help, but also need to know that we aren’t going to give them the answer or do the work for them. In the age of Google, Click to Read More
Do you really want your child to be a leader? I posed this question a while back; it received a notable response, and it remains one of my most popular posts. Where do we stand as parents in the responsibility of raising leaders? Weigh the question carefully. Consider the contrasts between raising a leader and a star. Do you really want your child to be a leader?
I hope you answered yes, but I will understand if you didn’t. Leadership and popularity rarely go hand in hand, and leadership requires a lot of hard work. For me the answer is simple; I want to raise leaders. I want my children to be prepared for anything, to make a difference, and live a life of purpose.
If you really want to help parent a leader, you need to make three clear commitments.
1) I will educate my child about leadership. Leadership really needs to be taught. It amazes me how many people don’t understand this simple truth. If you want your child to become a leader, surround her with leadership resources. These can be books, audio, video, and so much more. This includes the comments you make about leaders in front of your children. This includes the leadership examples you take within your community, church, school, and work. If you don’t serve a leadership role, your child probably won’t either.
2) I will provide my child with leadership mentors. A mentor is the greatest gift you can ever provide for your child. Mentors can arrive in the fashion of a relative, a coach, a teacher, an advisor, or many other roles, but don’t take it for chance, and don’t assume these people are mentoring. Set it up. Contact someone you admire, or talk with your child about possibilities, and then meet with them and discuss what you are looking to accomplish. I will include a future post about how to do this, but know this: Mentoring Works. A recent study demonstrated that a teen with a mentor is 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs. For me, sports, Scouting, and my family surrounded me with lots of authentic mentors that provided me with the one on one discussions I truly needed. Mentoring must be one-on-one, consistent, and have a clear purpose.
3) I will encourage opportunities for my child to lead. If you want your child to lead you must allow them to accept leadership roles and encourage them. It may require some extra driving and scheduling responsibilities on your part, and may even create some unwanted drama, but leaders are made during moments of discontent, not harmony. They will not get it right the first time either. They will need to make several attempts at it. With the proper support, education, and mentoring your child will fail their way to becoming a successful leader. Sadly some students finally receive an opportunity to lead, but have not received any education or mentoring about leadership, and fail so badly they vow to never lead again. I understand I need to listen to my child about the types of leadership roles they are interested in, and at other times I will need to encourage possible leadership roles for them.
Leaders make leaders of others, and parenting is one of the most important leadership roles we may ever serve. I hope will join me in raising a leader and give great thought to how you can provide the education, mentoring, and opportunities of leadership for your child. I look forward to reading your comments.
Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.
He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation including corporations, schools, churches, conferences, and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.
Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.
1-800-831-4825
I recently finished reading Mark Sanborn’s book The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. It was a National Bestseller. I love this book! What a fresh approach to leadership, customer service, and personal growth! I cannot imagine a person in any field, whether it be raising a family, organizing a community service, or leading a Fortune 500 corporation that would not find incredible value in this book. I want my children to be Freds! I want to work with Freds! And most importantly, I want to be a Fred!
You’ve encountered them and more importantly you remember them. You know the ones: the people whowent above and beyond your expectations, those who took exceptional pride in the services they provided for you, the men and women that made you feel important, the seemingly rare 1% who work hard at making each detail right. What do you call those incredible individuals? Can’t find a name for them? Well, Mark Sanborn has. He labels them Freds, after the exceptional service he was provided by a postal carrier. Not only does Mark identify and label this unique type of person, he explores what makes them tick, why we love them, and how we can replicate their dedication and service in our corporations as well as in our personal lives.
This book shows identifies exactly what this special “Fred” quality is and why it is so important, how we can possess it, and most importantly how we can develop it in others. The book has a great forward by esteemed leadership writer John C. Maxwell and testimonials by legendary speakers Ken Blanchard and Brian Tracy. I was honored to receive a signed copy of the book and write a review on it.
Mark Sanborn’s The Fred Factor is excellent book on leadership and personal success that should be read and shared by all. Corporate leaders will want to read learn how Mark Sanborn demonstrates how easy it is to replicate this awesome behavior in others. These same corporate leaders will want to hand out the books to their employees to offer an example of the type of employee they wish to retain. Parents, teachers, and coaches will enjoy this book for the same reason; The Fred Factor helps individuals become their best, and teaches how to bring out the best in others.
I highly recommend the Fred Factor to everyone interested in becoming their best and to those interested in leadership. It is a fun read full of interesting narratives, memorable lessons, and worthwhile examples. This book is packed with lots of take-aways that you can begin to apply immediately. Unlike some leadership books, Mark doesn’t talk down the reader, or make leadership sound like some unattainable state of being. He engages the reader in an easy to understand manner and the book flows as naturally as a conversation.
After reading The Fred Factor, it is to understand why it is a national bestseller and why Mark Sanborn is one of the most sought after and recognized speakers on leadership and customer service. If the Fred Factor isn’t on reading list, order it now.
I hope to one day meet Mark Sanborn and possibly share the stage with him at a leadership event and be a part of his powerful message.
www.kellycroy.com
Click to email Kelly questions about presenting at your event!
1-800-831-4825
Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.
He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation including corporations, schools, churches, conferences, and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.
Please consider booking Kelly for your next event
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I have embraced the power of technology and social networking but I have not been so foolish as to have abandoned the single most influential and personal form of communication available — letter writing. It still amazes me that I can send my words to someone thousands of miles across the country in such a short amount of time, and make an impact in their life, and perhaps even mine. Letter writing is indeed a lost art, and one leaders need to embrace and master.
Can’t afford to give your hard working employee a raise?Reward them with hand-written praise. Even a post-it note with a couple of well chosen words hand-written will go farther than your most skillfully worded email or text, because you’ve made it personal. You took time out of your day for them. You created something tactile. It’s art.
Letter writing isn’t just a skill, when it’s done correctly it elevates itself to an art form. Its power is only increased by the fact that so few others participate in its creation. Think about it. Nothing is more cherished in the mail than a hand-written card or a well worded letter. People receive hundreds of impersonal emails a week but perhaps only one personalized letter. (If even that.)
If you want to stand out and make an impact: practice, master and utilize the lost art of letter writing. People remember those who remember them.
Write letters. Write thank-you cards. Send a note of congratulations. Leave someone a personalized message of appreciation.
There are few things as exciting as seeing a personalized letter in your mail. Not a form letter or junk mail, but a real letter written by someone, just to you. You know someone took the time to pen this note. You stare at the envelope and wonder what is inside.
It’s Unique. No one else is doing it. Letters stand out. Wow! You took the time to do this for me!?!
Compliment: Corporations and organizations receive a lot of negative feedback. It is rare indeed when someone writes a letter to offer thanks or recognition. Sometimes they like to reward that. I actually received a phone call from the CEO of OGIO bags once because I wrote a letter telling them how awesome I thought their bags were. They loved it. I was invited to assist with a creation a triathlon sports bag. The product never got off the ground, but it all started with a letter.
To Thank & Congratulate: I am always mentioning my Moleskin journal in my posts because I know of its incredible value in my life. I always keep a couple of thank-you cards in the built-in folder in the back. I like being first to thank someone for their help or congratulate them on a success. I strive to be first and I strive to be memorable. Always write thank-you notes and send congratulation cards. It’s never too late. There is never a bad time to send a get well or sympathy card. Be on top of this!
Postcards: The power of a written letter is that it is personal. When you remove that personal touch and create a form letter that you mail to a hundred or more people, it is now reduced to junk mail. People just don’t have time for these. (Yes, I know there are exceptions.) My postcards are a little different because on the reverse side I have my art and that, at least for some, makes it a keeper and more importantly a reader. It is also very easy to personalize a postcard with one sentence and your signature. “I am looking forward to meeting you at this conference! ~ Kelly” A powerful one liner. Keep it short.
I recommend writing a letter a week to those you admire. Ask nothing in return. Just let them know you exist and you appreciate what they do. Practice your craft well. One day a door will open, and you will be remembered.
Be sincere. Be authentic. Don’t say what you don’t really mean. Keep your word.
You need to read well written letters. Study them. Practice. Enjoy the process. Find ways to make personal letter writing a part of your leadership practice.
Click to email Kelly questions about presenting at your event!
1-800-831-4825
Kelly Croy is a chalk artist and professional speaker.
He has entertained and amazed audiences across the nation including corporations, schools, churches, conferences, and anywhere people come together to be entertained and inspired.
Please consider booking Kelly for your next event.