Take Action #19: GWI (Get With It) and Learn Text/IM Language

If you have been texting for a bit or have kids, you are probably familiar with the acronyms ASAP, TMI, LOL, BFF, BRB, B/C or GR8.  But how about BBL (be back later), WE (whatever), GAL (get a life), or HIH (hope it helps)?  If you need some help, as I do, go to this website to figure out how to get a clue with this new texting language.  PAW (parents are watching), PA (parent alert), PAL (parents are listening) are codes that parents might need to clue into. 

I gave a social media workshop a couple of weeks ago to some agents and one older gentleman said that one time he got a text and all that was on there was “K”.  He didn’t know what to do with that.  He also said that he was trained (as many of us over age 40) to use proper grammar when writing.  So the older Gen Y, Boomers and Veterans are spending 10 minutes to write out a text that is grammatically correct, as well as spelled correctly.  If we are going to be in business or communicate with the younger Gen Y, Gen X and Gen Z, I guess we should start learning how to use their language – seems crazy.

However…..I also think that the younger generations need to learn to communicate with “us” – especially if they want jobs J  For example, learning how to write a proper cover letter and send a professional e-mail would be helpful if they would like to be hired. Maybe that will be a future post.

HTH B/C even if U R OTL, OOO, or OTP, U don’t want to B OOT.   Perhaps, UNTCO, GWI and TA.

Translation: Hope this helps because even if you are out to lunch, out of the office, or on the phone, you don’t want to be out of touch.  Perhaps you need to chill out, get with it and Take Action (I added that one – like it?).

CYL,

Angela

Take Action #18: Write an Encouraging Letter Today

In an earlier post I talked about sending hand-written notes and thank-you notes.  I would like to elaborate on that one and ask that your Take Action item be to write a letter of encouragement to someone you care about – you have no idea the long-term impact that it could have.

E-mails and Facebook messages are great, but they are rarely keepers.  A hand-written letter with your personal hand-writing style is unique.  My dad just passed away on Sept. 25^th and 3 days before his death I got to read to him two letters that he wrote to me.  One was to me and my sisters when we were only 7, 4, and 1.  I also scanned the letter and sent it to my sisters so they would have a copy.  It was at a time when he was not with us at Christmas and he wrote about the true meaning of Christmas and what love was all about and wrote it just as if we were grown women – although we were so young.

The other letter was written to me when I was 18 and away at school for the first time.  He told me what made me special to him.  He listed all the qualities that he recognized in me and reassured me that I would be successful, find love and be a leader – not a follower.  One part of the letter that was powerful to me since I am divorced and recently ended another relationship was this: “Because you have esteem for yourself and a healthy love of self, you are not likely to have love forced on you because of lack of security.  You will wait and choose.  You will love everyone, yet reserve that “LOVE” for the right one.  This of course won’t guarantee you a life of bliss, but at least will put the odds in your favor.”  I saved this letter for 25 years.  I read it to my dad on Wednesday September 22^nd and he said he didn’t remember writing it and said “I wrote that? with tears in his eyes.”  I wanted him to know how much he helped to define who I was as a woman.  Sometimes when we write, we release it/share it and it is out of our mind because we have made our peace. 

At my dad’s visitation service, a long-time guy friend of mine came to see me and pulled me aside and said, “Do you remember the letter you wrote to me after my brother died?”  I was a little worried because I didn’t remember writing it and I would have been 9 months pregnant and it was 20 years ago and wasn’t sure if I professed my love or what.  He laughed and said, “No, you just said some things that were powerful, heartfelt and basically said that we will be friends for a long-time and will go through many life events together like births and deaths.”    I was mainly shocked because I don’t remember writing that letter and it was interesting that he brought it up because he knew nothing about my dad’s letter to me. He saved that letter for 20 years because I guess it impacted him just as my dad’s letter did for me.

You have no idea how powerful your message can be to someone during a major life event.  If you have a child going off to college or a friend who needs to be encouraged or told how great they are, get out that pen and spiral notebook and write down your heart-felt message.  Who knows, you may be responsible for shaping the life of another human being AND they may be reading your letter at your funeral.  I read the letter my dad wrote at his service because I wanted those in attendance to know what kind of man he was.

Enjoy writing – don’t worry about spell check or having crappy handwriting – they will love it!

Take A Hike - Take Action #17

What’s the one thing a person without use of their legs wants to do?  Run. 

What’s the one thing a person who is struggling to breathe wants to do?  Walk to the front door. 

What’s the one thing a child who has been hospitalized for weeks wants to do?  Swing at the playground.

Do you have legs?  Can you breathe?   If yes, then step away from the computer and go outside while the weather is beautiful and take a walk.  Make it more fun and take a kid or significant other along.  Been a while since you exercised regularly?  Commit to 3 times a week.  Already work out 3 times a week?  Make it 4.  It’s time to get moving people!  I am watching my father struggle to breathe. If he could walk to the park right now, it would give him such joy.  Yet it seems that some people can, but choose not to.  God gave us the ability to use our bodies far beyond what we think is possible.  It is amazing how much I will push my body when I am working out with my trainer as opposed to when I show up to the gym by myself.    I tell my trainer, “I can’t do it”.  He says “yes you can”.  He is right. 

Here’s a good article on how to incorporate exercising in your life.  Also, instead of obsessing about calories and diet, just start exercising.  Here is an article about how exercise changed one woman’s life.

I know….You are busy.  Really busy.  I get it.  I feel so sorry for you. Here’s’ a link on how busy people find time to exercise.   If you are still stuck on what to do for food and exercise, visit my friend Maureen's website Making it all Fit.

Be thankful you have the heart and the lung capacity, as well as the working limbs to exercise and get out there and do something.  Better yet – tell your kids to get out there.  I see more and more young kids entering high school who are bigger than women who have had multiple child births.   Some weight problems are hereditary, but most are because the kid’s exercise routine includes Facebook, texting, video games and MTV.  Take them to play tennis, throw a Frisbee, or go for a hike.  There are some awesome parks in Missouri if you are from here. 

Other ways to get exercise without thinking about it:

• Push a wheel chair at the park
• Push a stroller at the zoo
• Give a kid a piggy-back ride
• Do leg lifts while your toddler hangs on to your leg
• Do laps around the house or in the house when you are on a call with a chatty Cathy
• Park in the a spot the furthest from the entrance at the restaurant you are going to
• Take the stairs in every building you enter for crying out loud.  Elevators in 3 story buildings were NOT made for people who can walk.  They are for people in wheel chairs and parents with strollers and old/sick people.  If you aren’t any of those things, then take the dang stairs. 
• Walk the escalator stairs at the mall.

Anyway, I hope I’ve encouraged you to TAKE ACTION by getting some exercise.

Angela

Turn Off The Phone - Take Action #14

Somehow, I went straight from Take Action #13 to Take Action #15.  I neglected poor #14 - so here it is.  

Put the Phone Away

OK – I know it’s like I just asked you to cut off your right arm – but really – that little box with all the keys, applications, messages, and pictures sometimes keeps us from our work and our face-to-face relationships.  Last night I took my kids out to dinner to celebrate my oldest daughter’s 20^th birthday.  I asked them to all put their phones away so that we could enjoy each other.  We did great – we made it an hour without looking at that box and we had a great time.  I also made the other 3 say something they loved about their big sister – they told me I was weird.  Whatever.

As I found the other day, not having my phone for 24 hours was a struggle - especially since it is my life line to my kids, parents, and especially my job.  On my way to my 9:00 in Litchfield, IL I got stuck in traffic which set me back 20 minutes and then I was in such a hurry since I had no way to communicate with my client – that I decided that driving faster would be the answer – then I got pulled over – got a ticket. I wonder if I can put it on my expense report....I blame my cell phone.

Anyway, we have become so addicted to our phones, that we literally have panic attacks when we can’t find them.  Here’s an article on cell phone addiction.

As much as we think we are more productive with the little box that we carry around 24/7, it can actually jeopardize relationships and be a huge distraction when working.  I challenge you to try for one day to take two (2) one-hour breaks from your phone.  Turn it off for one hour during your work day to see how much work you get done without stopping to take a call or reply to a text.  Even though most phones have e-mail, it is a heck of a lot faster to type on the computer.  The second hour is reserved for someone you love.  Give them your undivided attention.  There is nothing worse than having a conversation with someone and they keep looking down at their phone while you are spilling your guts.    Makes you feel insignificant. 

Can you do it?  Give me your feedback on how it went.

Take Action – Turn the phone off!

Angela

Give the Guy a Buck - Take Action #16

This week I was driving in the city and passed one of those guys with the sign that says “Hungry, Homeless”.  I must pass these folks at least 3 times a week.  In fact when I was in San Francisco, I saw a person begging every 3 blocks.  AND a couple of the men had a sign “Why Lie, I need a drink” – gotta give them credit….or it was a great marketing ploy.  One lady’s sign said “Need food for my dog” – to appeal to the animal lovers out there.  A young guy had one “Poor college student.”  Anyway, I never usually give to these guys.  But for some reason a couple of days ago, I reached out the window and gave the guy $2 – he was so appreciative.  I’m not sure how I feel about it because you never know if it is a scam to buy a pack of smokes or beer or if they really have 10 kids at home that are hungry.  Either way, every once in a while we need to help someone.  We can’t control what they do with the money, we just hope they use it for good - and really, what's a dollar or two?

If you are not yet financially supporting a non-profit, church, ministry, or organization, today your Take Action to-do is to find an organization you can support.  I strongly believe that in order to receive more in life, we need to give.  Some good organizations run by some awesome people and friends are below.  If you can’t give financially, how about time?  Our time is worth $/hr – so give some time in lieu of money.  These organizations always need money.  AND if you give to a 501c3, it is tax deductable – unlike the couple bucks I gave to the homeless guy at the corner of Grand and 44.

• 
  
  Connections to Success
• 
  
  Blessing Basket
• 
  
  Christian Family Services
• 
  
  Nurses for Newborns
• 
  
  Youth in Need
• 
  
  Bridgeway
• 
  
  St. Louis Crisis Nursery
• 
  
  Operation Food Search

I also got some great feedback from friends on Facebook about Generation Big, which is a book about how Big people are changing the world.

Take Action by Giving Back!

Take Action #15 - Back-up your Phone Contacts

Remember that post I made about backing up your computer?  Well, just for good measure, go ahead and back up your data on your phone too.  Not sure why I have to learn these things the hard way but….maybe it’s so I can share them with you.

I bought a phone for my daughter today and the first thing he had her do was create a Gmail account so that he could transfer all of her existing contacts to the Gmail account.  Then when she activated the new phone, she could download her contacts via e-mail.  He said I should do the same thing just in case anything happens.  We also ordered insurance on her phone since it is one of the nice ones.  He reminded me that I had insurance on my blackberry.

So – I get home from the Sprint store and gather some things to get ready to run out the door again.  I tuck my cell phone in the bra strap (sorry guys but it is a good holder in emergencies).  This allowed me to have both hands free.  Unfortunately one of the hands had a cup of water.  I bent over to get something off the floor and the cell phone fell from my shirt into the cup of water.  OK – I GET IT – BACK UP EVERYTHING – I didn’t even have time to create the dang Gmail account to do the download.  Thankfully, most everything is also on my computer –which yes, is now backed up.  AND thankfully I also have insurance.  I ordered the phone ($100 deductable thank you very much) and it will be here tomorrow – so they say.

For the first time in a decade I am without a phone for more than a couple of hours.  However…..I did discover something quite clever.  Since I no longer have a LAN line, I found myself needing to somehow let my kids know that I didn’t have a phone and my ex know that he needed to pick up my youngest from play practice.  I found a tutorial on how to send texts from your computer.  I was able to go to messaging.sprintpcs.com and send a message from my Sprint account online.  I also found out how to send a text message from e-mail.  AND because my daughter set up a Gmail account today and I was standing there when she did it, I was able to send her an e-mail to her new phone and she worked out transportation for me.   Here’s the link for the how-to text from computer.

So – Take Action item for tonight is to back-up your cell phone contacts and info to a Gmail account or something similar.

Tomorrow’s Take Action will need to be something I already know.  This learning stuff is for the birds.  I am supposed to be teaching, not learning!  Oh well…..here’s to Taking Action every day!

Angela

Take Action #13: Thank someone - in WRITING

Today's action item is simple.  Write a thank you note by hand.  There is nothing more special than a hand-written note that comes in an envelope with a real stamp and real hand writing on the envelope - not a printed envelope or one with a label.  Don't know about you but 80% of my e-mail is spam or newsletters or mass e-mails.  I have to weed through 100's of e-mails a day just to see if there is one that needs my attention.  If you really want to get the attention of someone, send them a note in a colored envelope or odd-sized envelope - not a traditional business envelope.  Of course this action item came to me because I have at least 2 thank you notes to send, one birthday card and a sympathy note.

Some friends that are great at hand-written notes are Karen Hoffman, Laura Schact and Joe High.  Karen will even tear out articles that pertain to something I am working on and mail it with a note.  Laura sends me notes every once in a while just to tell me she likes me.  We even have the same birthday and she will always send a card - I, on the other hand will call and bring by beer......  Joe has a system for networking that includes sending notes, a book, documents needed before your first meeting with him, etc. 

When to write a hand-written note:

• After an interview
• After/before meeting someone for the first time
• When someone goes above and beyond
• When a client places a big order
• When a vendor saved your butt
• When a colleague goes out of their way to help you out
• When you need to say you are sorry
• When you are thinking about someone
• When you love someone
• When someone dies
• When someone is sick
• When someone divorces
• When you are praying for someone
• When someone makes a charitable donation

When do you send hand-written notes?  When was the last time you sent one?  Share your ideas here!

Enjoy Taking Action!

Angela