Team Player

Recently, I've been doing some study on teams and how leadership affects the growth and health of a team. The reality is, we're all part of some sort of team. It may be a work team, school team, sports team, family team, or relationship team. The team may be a team of 2, 20, 200, or 2000; regardless of situation or size, the same principles still apply. We all need to know how to operate as good team players whether we are in leadership roles or not. It's easy to want to pass off responsibility to the leader or to shy away from the spotlights if you're inexperienced, but in order to become better, we have to step up to the challenge of improvement.
Winning teams have players who make things happen, and since life is not a solo sport, we'd better get good at becoming positive influencers and team players who get things accomplished. How do we do it? Here's three suggestions:

1. Find a mentor: The best way to get better at something is to invest time with someone who is better at it than you are. If you're at the highest level of those in the room, find a different room. We can always learn and grow from people who are challenging us to get to new heights.

2. Begin a growth plan: Results do not happen by accident; we must be intentional and deliberate with our investment of time and effort if we want to see a change. A detailed list of specific action steps you can take to further develop and grow your skills and abilities is going to be the catalyst for increased improvement.

3. Get out of your comfort zone: Guess what? Charting the unknown is the only way to experience new growth. Nothing great ever came from staying in your comfort zone, so get comfortable with being uncomfortable. This may mean doing something for someone else, going out of your way, changing your routine, or facing a fear. You've got to change to grow. You'll never know how much you could accomplish by simply remaining where you are.

It's been said that everyone wins when a leader gets better, and by growing in your ability to be someone who gets things accomplished, every team you're on and every relationship you have will benefit!
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Island Inspired









Happy first day of spring! This is one of the most lovely times of the year, and I couldn't help but spend the majority of the weekend outside enjoying the beautiful weather. We spent an afternoon (or two!) at the beach soaking up the sunshine and exploring the shell roads that open up to beautiful ocean views. This time of year makes me want to wear all things island-inspired, and when I saw this dress, I fell in love with the beautiful tropical print. The fit is fantastic, and the pretty, low-back detail makes it special. It's lightweight (great for the warm days and nights) and versatile. You could definitely dress it up for a evening out or wedding season, and it's great for brunch on the weekend. You can bet this one will be coming with me on my next island adventure!
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Are You Teachable?


One of the most interesting and challenging questions to ask yourself is that of "Am I teachable?" The initial reaction for many of us is most likely, "yes, of course!", but are you really? Are you willing to learn from others...even from those we don't agree with or situations that are challenging or uncomfortable?


The teachable spirit requires patience. A teachable spirit says, 'Every experience and person has something to teach me." This idea is incredibly freeing as you no longer have to try to be the authority on absolutely everything in life. Go ahead, Breathe a sigh of relief, whew! Now, this does not mean that you take everything as fact or listen to every opinion as equally important; however, it is an opportunity to see situations as something that can change us into better people if we allow it do so. Sometimes the most trying individuals or challenges we face in life can bring about the greatest lessons or reveal to us new abilities, levels of patience, or even a belief about ourselves that had been previously holding us back from greatness. While it is easy to say we're teachable, it is another thing to really live that way. How many times have we closed ourselves off from opportunity simply because we thought we knew better or we wanted to take the path of least resistance? I challenge you to allow yourself to be patient, learn from others, keep an open mind for possibilities and lessons, and watch your impact and success soar.
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In the Moment


"So what does it matter in the moment?" We often ask ourselves questions like this, thinking that the little things don't seem to mean that much in the grand scheme of life. It's easy to rationalize things to become seemingly insignificant, but in actuality, every moment matters. Life is comprised of little moments strung together. Some of the happiest and most joyful memories are created in the shortest flickers of time.


When we look at what separates the winners from the losers, the successful from the unsuccessful, it comes down to a small margin of differentiation. Upon further examination, we can trace that back to the habits (read more about habits here) and seemingly small decisions made day in and day out. You see, success is not necessarily about large quantum leaps but rather the consistent compounding of choices over time.
Consequently, the chasm between you and your goals is made up of tons of tiny steps, one foot after another, series of intentional decisions. What is simple and easy to do is also easy not to do. It is easy to get up and exercise and it is just as easy to sleep in. It is easy to read books that will expand your thinking and it is just as easy to mindlessly scroll on social media. It is the simple, positive decisions that make the biggest difference. Easy to do, easy not to do. The choice is always yours...and so are the results. Remember, every moment matters.
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