I’m at a seminar this weekend.

• Focused on framing sponsorships in new ways.
• I’m excited about the content.
• And look forward to trying it out.

The audience is interesting...

• Lots of passionate people.
• With big ideas.
• Looking to make a difference.

And then there’s the book lady…

• At first glance, she’s nice looking.
• Until you notice she has her book covers hanging on her.
• Like a billboard sign.

Would that approach make you want to buy her book?

• The covers are laminated and bent.
• Plus she’s quite pushy.
• Literally.

I’m all for being creative.

• But this seems too tacky for a professional event.
• What was she thinking?
• Didn’t she look in the mirror?

Of course, she may be rolling in the bucks by the end of the weekend - and I’ll be left just rolling my eyes.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…would you be willing to cause a few laughs if your promotions got the results you wanted?

Yesterday I had to walk through a revolving door to get into the airport.

• It was a big revolving door.
• Only two sections.
• Each could hold several people at one time.

I rolled into my section.

• As a team we moved forward.
• All focused on making our flights.
• And the door stopped.

We shuffled our feet.

• There was an UGH or two.
• And then it started moving.
• Until it stopped again!

After the third stop, I started to look around.

• It was getting old.
• Tempers were rising.
• What was going on?

Discovered a lady who did not travel often.

• (It was obvious.)
• Who did not move with the door.
• The door stopped when it hit her bag.

With a little coaching, she started to move.

• The door finally swung around enough so we could pour out.
• I’m not sure if she was just clueless.
• Or liked the power?

Either way, she definitely held up progress yesterday morning!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…when the world is moving forward, do you keep up so doors will open? Or refuse to move and stop your chapter’s progress?

Yesterday I flew home from Tampa.

• Got settled in the plane.
• Man next to me started the social chat.
• I shared I do leadership development.

He started to talk about himself…

• His job.
• A woman he knows who does what I do.
• And about Oscar night.

He launched into a description of his favorite movie.

• I gave all the clues that I didn’t care.
• I was grumpy getting on the plane.
• And he wasn’t helping my case.

He shifted to how his daughter-in-law is not sharp.

• His son was smart to not marry a professional woman.
• A non-driven woman who is silly.
• But knows her job is to stay home to raise children.

He then, knowing that I travel for a living, asked me if I have children.

• I couldn’t help myself.
• I said yes, I have one.
• (Raindrop counts, right?)

He sputtered in disgust, how old?

• So I shared - my baby was four and a half.
• Her dad stays home with her.
• And works on her skills every day. (Sit, stay, down!)

The guy got mad and made some crack about my warped world.

• Because of how I lived my life.
• According to what he thought he knew about me.
• (Was I terribly bad?)

The good news: he stopped talking to me - for the rest of the flight.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…Can you take a hint on when to press your members and when to hold?

   I won!

Last night I was comfy in my chair.

• Good book in hand.
• Adoring dog snoring near by.
• All was well.

Until I heard the scuffling noise…

• Scratch, scratch, shuffle, scratch.
• Some critter was invading my house.
• No way was he going to stay.

I knew exactly what to do.

• I ran for the kitchen.
• Grabbed the oil of peppermint.
• And doused a few pieces of cotton.

Zipped back in the front room.

• Placed the cotton on strategic vents.
• Turned the heat up just a smidgen.
• Peppermint wafted.

In a matter of minutes…

• I was in the peppermint palace.
• The critter high-tailed it out.
• And Raindrop snored on.

Another victory for the Peppermint Queen!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…are you prepared to take action when challenges come your way?

   UGH

My computer is playing tricks on me.

• It’s connected to a big screen.
• And has decided to amplify everything.
• I mean everything.

Working on my computer is a challenge.

• All the fonts are 24 point - or more.
• Normal screens shots don’t work.
• I only see a tiny piece of the big picture.

As a big picture person, this is driving me NUTS!

• How can I see relationships?
• It’s too much emphasis on too little!
• I’m making some dumb mistakes as a result.

I’ve got a crazy busy day.

• I don’t have time to play with my computer.
• And yet, I’m so slowed down.
• Maybe I don’t have time to NOT play with my computer to get my normal view!

I can’t imagine living life with such small blinders on.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…are you leading with a big picture view - or a tiny piece amplified?

   Do you trust me?

My answer?

• No.
• I like you lots.
• And it’s still no.

Got a promotion today for a conference.

• The focus is something I might be interested in.
• The registration fee about $1,000.
• Probably $2,000 with travel.

I go to the site for details and find only program titles.

• Some are sort of snappy, but…
• No speakers identified.
• No learning objectives.

How am I supposed to know if…

• If I want to hear the speakers?
• I need to be away from home a few more nights?
• It’s worth the money?

I won’t be going based on that promotion - would you?

Makes me think of chapter leaders…do you give your members the information they need to feel they are making a great decision in saying “yes” to you?

   Inbox treasures.

The second and third email bugged me.

• Same basic content.
• Same call to action.
• Same lack of interest from me.

Here’s the third email “John” sent me.

I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion, but I wanted to confirm you’d received my previous message. My company, XYZ, helps other companies turn paper documents into digital data to lower costs and increase productivity. If you have any interest in learning more, please simply reply to this email or call us at xxx-xxx-xxxx. We look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
John

Why start out with an apology?

• Especially if this program is all it’s supposed to be.
• Didn’t need to read beyond first phrase.
• I don’t hang with losers.

It’s all one paragraph.

• A blob.
• Not easy to skim.
• But easy to delete.

Finally, the call to action needs CPR.

• He has one - and it’s terribly weak.
• If I’m interested, call.
• I wasn’t, so I didn’t.

No more apologies please!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…do you need to apologize for the emails you send to your members?

Yesterday we grabbed lunch with a friend.

• Decided to try a new restaurant.
• Just opened.
• No reviews yet.

The place was pretty empty.

• We were greeted by the manager.
• He offered a booth up front.
• Told him we wanted a table.

He took us to the table in front of the kitchen window.

• It wasn’t one of those fun, watch-the-kitchen kind of places.
• It was the cook’s window.
• And server stand.

I was shocked.

• What was he thinking?
• Especially with lots of nice tables beyond the window.
• We felt un-special.

He lost points for his restaurant before we took our first bite.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…do you take a moment to view your actions through your members’ eyes?

• Came in a day early.
• As a snow precaution.
• And to check out the park - my first time.

Disneyland is a pretty neat place.

• A wealth of history.
• Fascinating service.
• And fun rides.

Also a ton of lines.

• Long lines.
• That may take more than an hour.
• For an ride that may take less than five minutes.

And yet the treatment of lines was fascinating.

• They wound back and forth in various patterns.
• In and out of rooms.
• With amusements along the way.

We didn’t just stand in lines - we experienced them.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you make the mundane an experience for your members?

Yesterday I flew from Detroit to LA.

• Five hours cooped up.
• With two big talkers in front of me.
• They talked nonstop.

Usually I can ignore those folks.

• However forgot my ear plugs.
• So was forced to listen.
• And listen and listen.

I learned many things…

• Their boss is an idiot.
• John is stealing from the company.
• Their call center needs to desperately be redone.
• She is doing 53 Broadway shows on company tickets.
• He is a major gossip.
• There is little right in their company.
• And they are noble sufferers.

Unfortunately I could go on and on with what I learned.

• If I was a competitor I’d be in pig heaven.
• A stockholder - ticked off.
• A potential employer - relieved to know I don’t want them on my team!

I wonder what they were thinking talking like that?

Makes me think of chapter leaders…what would your members say about your chapter if they were the talkers?

   We did it our way.

Commercial pressure says Valentine’s Day needs to be special.

• Roses.
• Jewelry.
• Good wine and more.

James and I are not big into doing what we are supposed to do.

• Instead we planned dinner and a movie.
• Then shifted to lunch and a movie.
• Then ran out of time.

Buzzed by Taco Bell for a quick bite before the movie.

• It was 2 PM.
• They were empty.
• We ordered.

The music playing was contagious.

• Fun party songs from the 70s and 80s.
• Staff singing - often at the top of their lungs.
• James and I not too far behind.

We decided to ditch the movie - and stick around.

• We could see the move any time.
• We were living in the moment.
• And having a blast!

We created a Valentine’s Day memory which will make me smile for quite a while!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you make your members stick around?

   What do you think?

I’m still not sure how to be…

• Ticked off?
• Laughing my head off?
• Sick to my stomach?

On Tuesday afternoon, I got the munchies.

• We have a “Cynthia space” in our cupboard.
• I keep healthy snacks there.
• That won’t give me a sugar crash.

I noticed some new cookies.

• James had gone shopping while I was gone.
• They looked good.
• And were in my special space.

So I ate two cookies - they were pretty small.

• They didn’t taste the greatest.
• But did the job.
• They killed the hunger - and I didn’t crash.

On Wednesday, I did the same.

• Grabbed two cookies.
• Noticed they were from Trader Joe’s.
• Went back to work.

Yesterday after dinner, I wanted a little something.

• But I couldn’t find my cookies.
• I asked James where he put them.
• He got a really funny look on his face.

What was I talking about?

• I described the cookies.
• He found the cookies. 
• And started laughing.

I was confused…

• James laughed even harder.
• Seems they were cookies for Raindrop.
• DOG cookies!

I didn’t know whether to scream, cry - or throw up.

• And James kept laughing.
• He showed me the cookies bag
• Trader Joe’s Peanute Butter Doggy Joe-Joes.

I felt like the robot from Lost in Space “This does not compute!”

• Of all the things!
• I’m still sputtering this morning.
• And James is still laughing.

Sometimes a cookie is not just a cookie.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…Are you doing things the way you’ve always done - and missing the real picture of what’s in your hand?

   1 + 1 = 3?

It’s been a snowy kind of week.

• DC is getting blasted with a second major storm.
• Government has shut down again.
• Folks still digging out from round one.

Ann Arbor got about 8 inches of snow last night.

• Schools all closed.
• By 7:30 AM the snow plows were on our streets.
• We just have the driveway to deal with.

Two storms, very different results.

• Sure, DC got a lot more snow than we did.
• But, we handled the snow much more efficiently.
• We’ve got the toys and tools needed for snow removal.

Not all snow storms are created equally - nor is the ability to respond.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…does your chapter work for individual members?

I spent an extra night in Westchester, NY thanks to the blizzard.

• In a nice area.
• Next to big shopping.
• An okay place to be stuck.

Surrounded by chain restaurants.

• Morton’s
• Outback
• Cheesecake Factory and more!

I could have been in any major city.

• Fine.
• But not as fun.
• As finding the local flavor.

I asked the bellhop for help.

• At first he tried to send me to the nice chains.
• I held strong.
• He shared a secret.

Two blocks away was a local Italian restaurant.

• When I walked in, I breathed garlic.
• A little Italian princess was wrapping up her birthday party.
• They were dressed to the nines - and adorable.

I relaxed at a table in the bar area.

• White cloth and fresh bread.
• The owner getting his pools ready for the Super Bowl.
• The regulars trickling in.

My meal… ahhhh how to describe it.

• Mama made it it from scratch.
• Rolled chicken, prosciutto, amazing sauce and tasty greens.
• I wanted it to never end!

I walked back to my hotel smiling.

• Tummy full.
• Feeling content.
• Happy to be in Westchester.

A little research and extra effort gave me a meal to remember.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…are you willing to go beyond the normal to explore new flavors for your chapter?

   Mine!

I’m a little bit of an over-achiever.

• (Anyone surprised?)
• I like to do things well.
• And manage my variables.

Today I have to fly to White Plains, NY.

• In a prop plane.
• With a layover in Philadelphia.
• Arriving in NY around 2:30 PM.

Yesterday the impending East coast blizzard started stressing me out.

• Would I beat it to Philly?
• What if I can’t get out?
• Should I take a different flight?

Adding to my stress - I’m not flying Delta.

• I’m an elite flyer with them.
• They make sure I get places.
• To save my client money, I’m flying as a nobody today.

Last night I worked on Plan B.

• Facebook friends gave suggestions.
• Sarah helped me find options.
• And then I gave up - and went to bed.

This morning my stomach was spinning with nerves.

• I turned the computer on with a sense of dread.
• The weather site predicts only a 10% chance of snow in Philly during my expected layover!
• Storm to arrive a few hours later.

We all know how accurate weathermen are - however I’m walking with some hope in my shoes this morning.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you avoid stressing out when you can’t control what’s going on?