The team at Craft & Hobby Association just made a video about their upcoming winter 2013 conference and trade show.

• It showcases the creativity of the people planning it.
• Clearly spells out they want members and expo folks to join them.
• And makes me giggle.

The video also invites their members to join the fun.

• Near the end, they announce a video contest.
• Inviting others to creatively promote their upcoming event.
• And offer an exciting prize to boot!

Here’s the video from YouTube:

Makes me think of chapter leaders, how do you give your events energy months before they happen?

The American Water Works Association did just that.

• Got creative.
• Had some fun.
• Made their members smile!

I love it!

I should know.

I’ve been slow to buy new clothes to wear around the house.

• I have nice clothes for the road – so I look good for clients.
• And clothes that fit for the gym – so Mollie can watch my form.
• But not so much for my casual wear.

I’m on a six-month, fat-burning challenge.

• The weight is peeling off me.
• I won’t wear the clothes for long.
• Does it really make a difference?

A certain friend thinks so.

• When she discovered I was wearing summer clothing that fit 50+ pounds ago.
• Threatened to turn me into one of those fashion makeover shows.
• For wearing such oversized rags!

I didn’t think it was that bad.

• So decided to do a test.
• Got a pair of jeans and a top that fit closely.
• Did a photo shoot.

Here’s my before and after:

Hmm…Maybe she has a point.

• I feel better in the smaller clothes.
• Got some swagger in my walk.
• I’m surprised I didn’t realize how bad it was!

I’m burning up the fat in my body with my six-month challenge.

• Guess it’s time to burn up the fat clothes too.
• (Or at least donate them so someone else can wear them.)
• I’m worth the investment – even for clothes I wear around the house.

A special thanks to a certain friend for the hard-to-hear wake up call!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you make sure your chapter activities still fit your members and their interests?

And a new chapter in my life.

Three years ago, my cousin Sarah visited me.

• We both thought we looked good.
• Decided to play makeovers.
• We cut her hair and bought new makeup.

Exercise was not my thing back then!

• A trip to the mailbox was huge.
• I had to walk to and from the end of my driveway.
• Plus up and down three steps!

Today I ran a 5K for the first time in my life.

• The heat index was in the 90s.
• I fought off heat exhaustion with the help of my team.
• Ran across the finish line in a state of wonder.

Even more fun…

• Sarah flew in from Denver to run with me.
• She’s been doing her own fitness journey.
• And is looking great.

Discovering the new me is fascinating adventure – having someone to do it with is even better!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you include others in your growth?

As a teen, I was well trained.

• Dad attended military school.
• He shaved before coming down every day – so I cleaned up too.
• Hair and makeup done before breakfast.

Most of my adult life, I never left my house totally undone.

• Even going to workout.
• Would put on lipstick – just in case.
• So did my workout friends.

When I was really big, I needed glamor.

• My clothes looked like tents.
• At least my hair looked nice.
• And face was finished.

Two years ago I started my fitness quest.

• I sweated like crazy.
• Wearing makeup to the gym was painful.
• And I looked dumb as it dripped down my face.

The more fit I get, the more I like me.

• So much so I put up photos of me sans makeup on the Internet.
• With red-faced sweat at full glow.
• How far I’ve come!

Still, sort of glad my Dad doesn’t surf the Internet!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…do you let others see you sweat?

I was finishing my healthy dinner when it hit.

• An urge that almost overwhelmed me.
• I wanted chocolate.
• Right then – and lots of it.

The cupboard taunted me.

• Inside it was a bag of decadent 60% dark chocolate chips.
• I could cut the corner.
• Know one would know but me.

The craving grew stronger.

• My stomach turned.
• My mind could taste the chocolate.
• Just a few steps away…

I needed to remove myself from the kitchen.

• Immediately.
• So I did.
• The dishes could wait until later.

The voice of reason started to ask questions…

• Did I have a trigger food by accident?
• Did I want a glass of water?
• How about playing on Facebook?

I wish I could say it was easy.

• It wasn’t.
• But, today wasn’t my day for a treat this week.
• Not. Today.

I’m sad the craving raged.

• But proud I walked away.
• My travels require me to be around food.
• I need to love myself more than a few bites of junk.

Score tonight: Cynthia-1; Craving-0

Makes me think of chapter leaders…How do you stay strong on your chapter’s new path when the old ways want you back?

Had a chat with my trainer Mollie yesterday.

• About my progress.
• Actually backwards slippage due to cracked toe.
• Time to recalibrate.

We started with measurements – a.k.a. reality check.

• Talked about cleaner eating.
• And what to do the 22 hours I’m not in the gym.
• My new goal: Down 40 pounds by Halloween.

I smiled and agreed.

• Then totally freaked out when I hit my car.
• 40 pounds by Halloween!
• In 2012?

I immediately began listing why this was impossible…

• I’m traveling a lot.
• Running a business.
• Got family commitments.
• No time for needed cooking.
• Want time for James and the girls.
• And on and on.

If I was my client I would get in my face and challenge big time.

• Instead I started accepting defeat.
• Before I even pulled out of the gym parking lot!
• What a loser.

I ran 2.5 miles of intervals today.

• Had quite an argument with myself.
• Was this goal logical?
• Could I do it?

Mathematically, 40 by Halloween is possible.

• It’s not really outrageous.
• I know how to do it.
• It sounds scary.

Decided to share with all of you.

• So this goal can’t slink away into my fuzzy memory.
• Instead, you all know now.
• It’s up to me to make it happen.

And I’ll get there with a little help from my friends.

Makes me think of chapter leaders… how do you plan for success when committing to big goals?

This weekend I started to run again.

• My cracked toe finally healed.
• The pounding doesn’t hurt.
• (Took long enough!)

Am now rebuilding.

• First day was .5 mile run/walk intervals.
• Saturday I did 1.2 miles.
• Today I clocked 2.0 miles!

I still have to keep my attitude in check.

• I’m slower than I used to be.
• (Any slower I’ll be running backwards!)
• On a fun note, I feel much stronger than pre-toe.

My first 5K is scheduled for July 4th.

• Training will be tough.
• I’m traveling almost every week.
• But I’m committed.

I’m not worried re times for that race.

• Just want to finish with a smile on my face.
• Takes a ton of pressure off my training.
• And lets me focus on fun.

The Queen of the Very Slow Trot on the Track is back!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…what goal are you working towards that brings you joy as you grow?

Or even that you want me.

Got a personal invite to a chapter event.

• The group was a good fit for me.
• The meeting sounded fun.
• I was tempted.

And then I read the next paragraph.

• She acknowledged I was not a member.
• Shared the event location – five hours away.
• And date – tomorrow!

Did she seriously think I would drop everything to attend a full-day commitment the NEXT day?

• Instead of being thankful for the invite.
• I’m sort of put-off.
• What happened to respect?

First impressions are lasting…

• She is my (lacking) image of the chapter.
• I’m sure other chapter leaders might think more ahead.
• But I don’t have time to check them out.

Personal touch is not enough – I want respect too.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…what kind of first impression do you make with potential members?

Went down to the beach to watch the sunset.

• Noticed a good-sized wedding.
• Taking place in the back of the beach.
• How lovely.

I walked to water’s edge.

• Joined a small crowd of folks.
• Happy to end the day in beauty.
• Sat down and started to relax.

Unfortunately the bride had other ideas...

• She wanted wedding shots on the water’s edge.
• Right in front of me.
• Friends and family blocking my sunset view.

They stormed into the midst of my happy space.

• Kicked sand in my face.
• Positioned themselves with total disregard for the rest of us.
• Focused on their photos.

I moved several feet down the beach.

• To get away from them.
• And reclaim my nirvana.
• They followed me.

I’m a fan of true love and beautiful pictures.

• Rudeness – not so much.
• No apologies offered for ruining my view.
• Either time.

It was an unnecessarily frustrating end to a long day.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…are you aware of the impact your actions have on others in your chapter?

Decided to cook dinner.

• In rental unit kitchenette.
• Got fresh meat.
• Heated my pan.

Tossed the meat in right after a little oil.

• Smoke started to billow immediately.
• No fire.
• But lots of smoke.

Turned down the heat.

• It was too late.
• The kitchen became as smokey as a bar after midnight.
• It was hard to breathe and to see.

I opened the windows.

• Turned on the ceiling fan.
• Swung the front door back and forth.
• The room stayed dark with smoke – no matter what I did.

I went to pull my hair in frustration.

• And discovered my sunglasses on my face.
• I thought my contacts were out and I was wearing my normal glasses.
• Whoops!

Removed the sunglasses and saw a fairly smoke-free room.

Makes me think of chapter leader…What gets in the way of you seeing issues clearly?

For the day.

Three months ago my trainer Mollie issued me a challenge.

• To work out at the beach guys’ lifting gym.
• The next time I was at a beach.
• Today is the day.

I woke early this morning.

• Sick to my stomach.
• My nerves jangled.
• My workout scheduled for early afternoon.

As the morning progressed, it got worse.

• I studied the workout Mollie gave me.
• Practiced the moves as if at the gym.
• Nothing helped.

My productivity was shot.

• Decided to hit the gym early.
• Walked through the Beach Bods gym doors with knees shaking.
• And pretended like I belonged.

The staff person on duty was welcoming.

• The gym was small.
• He still gave me a tour.
• No kettlebells or medicine balls to be found.

I strategized some modifications.

• And started my workout.
• I relaxed as soon as I started lifting weights.
• With 100% concentration, the rest of the world faded away.

I completed the workout.

• It was hard.
• Some of the machines were different and felt a little weird.
• Couldn’t wait to text Mollie!

Oh yeah… I held my own with the Beach Bods people today!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you conquer your personal roadblocks?

Times FOUR!

I worked out with my trainer Mollie this morning.

• Exercising around my cracked toe.
• To keep the rest of me strong.
• And ready to run again in the future.

Mollie usually gives me sets of exercises to do.

• This morning was no different.
• 15 push ups on the BOSU ball followed by 30 seconds of Russian twists.
• Four sets of each.

I did the math quickly.

• 4 X 15 = 60!
• 60 push ups in just our first round of exercises.
• My prior record was 36!

The cool thing – I didn’t totally freak out.

• And self doubt.
• Although I did squeal a bit.
• Then assumed the position to start.

I did them all.

• I won’t lie…
• 59 and 60 were really hard.
• I finished feeling pretty proud.

Mollie shared she had another client do more than 100 push ups in one session!

• Wow!
• And I smiled inside.
• Knowing I had a glimpse of my future too.

Mollie gives me sneak peeks of where she is leading me so I don’t get too comfortable where I am.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you help your members stay comfortable with continued growth?

Of a rain storm.

Sunday was supposed to be the big day.

• Running my first 5K.
• Trained for weeks to get ready.
• Dreams crushed last week by a cracked toe.

Never thought about rain.

• Did my training on a track in the gym.
• Was going to do four runs outside before the race.
• To get used to pounding on cement.

Not sure I would have run that morning.

• Was it safe to run in a storm?
• Would my contacts stay in my eyes?
• Did runners wear raincoats?

Wow – I wasn’t really prepared for the race.

• My training had focused on me
• Ignored the big picture of what could be.
• No plans for potential challenges.

What an eye-opener!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you keep your eye on the big picture as you do your volunteer work?

Should be easy, right?

Yesterday I decided to invest in a training program.

• Participated in a webinar with the expert.
• Enjoyed his energy and easy teaching style.
• Focused on growth area for my business.

I checked out his website.

• The package looked great.
• Would spell out just what we needed.
• Plus promised instant access.

I had no plans last night.

• TV looked boring.
• This was perfect timing.
• Was going to get a jump start on the materials.

Placed the order.

• Gave my credit card.
• Got a receipt.
• And nothing.

No instant access to materials.

• Not even 15 hours later.
• And after submitting a request for help to their support desk.
• Simply radio silence.

Wish he hadn’t promoted the instant access.

• I was extra excited.
• Now sort of let down.
• I’m sure I’ll eventually get the materials.

Glad I saw this guy live – if not I’d be worrying about the quality of the materials too!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how well do you deliver on the promises you make your members?