Tag Archives: relationships

The Best Advice I Have Ever Received

25 Thursday Sep 2014

Posted by in Friendship, Inspirational, LIFE Founders, LIFE Leadership, Relationships

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A few years ago I was having a conversation with a man who had sparkling silver hair and ‘stress’ marks (aka wrinkles) from the thousands of people he’s served throughout his life. His profession was Teacher and Coach but his expertise was in sharing the truth (in love). There are certain people you meet who cross the boundaries of co-worker or acquaintance and start to influence you in ways that only great friends and mentors do. While I only knew him for a short time via employment, he gave me some of the best advice I have ever received.

At the time I had been dating a person who I really enjoyed spending time with, however, this person was missing some of the qualities that were really important to me in a relationship – it must have just been a physical attraction because I couldn’t put my finger on what was missing. My wiser and older friend Mike (who, at the time, had been married over 40 years) frequently tended to ask me personal questions – so he knew me quite well; I believe he found satisfaction in counseling younger people who were naïve and inexperienced in life. I was 24 years old at the time, so I qualified. In any normal circumstance I would hesitate to elaborate on anything personal unless there was a foundation of trust in the relationship. But, Mike was different. He had earned my trust.

I had expressed to him the challenges I was experiencing in connection with the man I was hoping to pursue a relationship with. In my communication with Mike he asked me three very specific questions (as if this wasn’t his first conversation counseling someone on relationships):

1) Does this person challenge you in a way that makes you want to be better?

2) Is he passionate about something important?

3) Does he love God?

He said (paraphrased), “Imagine I am standing on top of this desk looking down on you who are standing on the floor. I want you to get to ‘my level’ but I can’t physically make you unless you have a desire to stand on the desk with me. It is nearly impossible to raise someone up to your level (i.e. change them, force them to grow or be where YOU want them to be). You can influence them by your actions but you can’t force them to change. In fact, what usually happens is the person standing on the floor, by default, will often lower you down to their level, causing you to go backward instead of forward. Negative influence is just as powerful as positive influence. People can always rise to a new level, if they choose to, but you can’t make them rise. If these qualities are important to you and these are the exact qualities missing in his life, then you may find yourself fighting a battle that you will never win.”

This made so much sense to me because the key missing ingredients that created a disconnect in any potential future with this person were the very things that Mike was explaining. Understanding that the things that are important to me (personally) are a good indicator of the qualities that attract me to others. I have always known that association matters, but this visual changed everything. In fact, since that conversation I have not only been able to define what I am looking for in a future spouse but in every relationship I have with people; realizing that Mike offered me some of the best advice I have ever received.

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This example is very true of all our association – not just in searching for a spouse. Of course none of us are perfect. I am not searching for the perfect man, just a man who makes me want to be better by his example, has a passion for similar interests of importance and loves the Lord. But the point being that it is critical to surround yourself with people who also display all the qualities that are important to you. For me, it is people who have a hunger to grow with a passion and a purpose. LIFE Founder Orrin Woodward is often heard quoting, “You become who you associate with.” Whether that is a potential spouse, a friend, a family member, a co-worker, a business partner, etc. The worst thing that can happen is that you ‘get off the desk’ and stop growing and developing in the important things because of your association with a negative influence. That is why I love my association with LIFE Leadership. I am challenged to grow daily, I am surrounded by winners who are humble and hungry and I am mentored by men and women who love the Lord and are passionate about things that matter. I make it a priority to surround myself with people who have these qualities or are seeking to have these qualities because my priorities all fall under the umbrella of these three exact questions. I pray that you have a clear idea of the qualities that are important to you and that you never settle for less in your relationships than what you expect of yourself.

God Bless,

Kristen

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Look Up!

03 Saturday May 2014

Posted by in Community and Leadership, Friendship, Inspirational, LIFE Leadership, Love, Relationships

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While technology, in essence, has shrunk the world and brought us closer together, it’s also threatened to push us further apart. Being intentional in controlling the use of our handheld and lap devices is essential in leading a more meaningful life. It is true, I have read many articles pertaining to the use of technology and relationships mostly because I need a staunch reminder myself to Look Up. Recently I stumbled across this video that stopped me in my tracks as I had my ear buds in sitting at a coffee shop looking at You Tube videos on my Smartphone. Ha – God has a good sense of humor. But, I pray that upon watching this video you will be encouraged to put down the Smartphone and Look Up at the people and world around you. We miss out on so much when we let technology rule our lives. 

Enjoy!

Love, 

Kristen

Related articles:

Electronics Addiction: Another Leading Cause of Busyness – Terri Brady

Leadership Soft-Skill: Building Relationships – Orrin Woodward

Leaders as Heroes – George Guzzardo

Relationships – Chris Brady

Encouragement for Singles

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Community and Leadership, Friendship, Inspirational, Love, Relationships

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I had been sitting at the airport restaurant waiting for my flight to depart when the waitress approached and asked if anyone would be joining me. To which I responded, “nope, just me.”

single 2For the majority of my life that phrase has been a normal part of my vocabulary. In fact, thinking back, the longest relationship I ever had in high school lasted three months and I can hardly call it a relationship because I was barely 16 years old. In fact just a couple of months after I broke up with him he started dating a really good friend of mine and they have been together ever since. Today he and my friend are married and have a child together. What a blessing that it didn’t work out because they are the perfect couple. God had it planned.

College wasn’t any better. For four and a half years I devoted my life to education, basketball, business and work. The last thing I cared about prioritizing into that schedule was a man. Once I graduated I realized how lonely life had been due to the poor relationships I had with people and many years of isolation; that loneliness led to a period of desperation where I just wanted to meet someone. A good friend of mine from college was in a similar boat so we willingly agreed to try online dating together. Both of us were too prideful to admit to our friends and family we were doing it and our lack of success in the process proved to be accurate as we both failed miserably… but, formed a library of funny stories in the process.

About a year after that experiment I took it upon myself to give it another try. This time though I had been starting my spiritual journey and I could see more clearly the type of man I was looking for. Another friend had referred me to a Christian dating website that she had found success in and it had led me to my first official adult relationship at the age of 24 (nearly 8 years later). The person I met had every quality I had been looking for but I realized 9 months into it that we had no chemistry so… we broke up. Six months later he met the woman of his dreams and he too is now married with two children. God had that one planned too.

SingleEver since then I have been single. In fact when people say they have been single their entire life, I hesitate to believe them unless they have a track record as slim as mine (less than 12 months of relationship experience in 28 years). I am still not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed of that. For as long as I can remember I have questioned what was wrong with me as I patiently sit on the side lines lovingly watching my friends walk down the aisle and bring children into this world with tears of joy streaming down my face but tears of sadness filling my heart as I question whether it will ever happen for me. I jokingly embrace my single-ness to other people but deep down I long to meet that special someone. I confidently express my patience to the public as I wait on God’s timing but deep down I continue to question if God really does have someone for me.

Psalms 145:16 says, “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”

I read this verse as if it says, if you desire to be married, if in your deepest of hearts you desire a mate, then God will satisfy that desire. It wasn’t until I started to grow closer in my relationship with God that my patience grew stronger. Granted, it is easy to lose that grip when the temptation and pressure to be in a committed relationship gains weight and you start to lose your patience. But, my single friends, you are worth more than a casual non-committed relationship. Don’t lose your grip. You are valuable, you are precious. You deserve commitment and stability and God promises that. It’s funny because I often tell my friends that when I find ‘the one’ he better be ready. I don’t have time to waste in the normal two years of dating and another two year engagement. Ha, but then I am reminded of how naive that statement is. It isn’t my timing, it’s God’s timing. (Oh, and I suppose he has to know to).

What I have learned is that when we pursue a relationship for the wrong reasons we ultimately fall into relationships that are drenched in drama. God does not want us to ‘settle’ for something less. It is finding that place of peaceful existence with the person God has prepared for us. I want to be in a relationship that doesn’t compete with my relationship with God. I know it exists. We can have both. We don’t have to choose one or the other. We just have to have peace in knowing that it’s out there for us.

The purpose of this article is to encourage other single men and women to be patient and find peace in being single. I promise that the plan God has for you is worth waiting for.

Love, Kristen

In the meantime, God promises this:

Tearing Down Walls & Removing Our Mask

09 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by in Faith, Friendship, Inspirational, Love, Relationships

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A mask of plastic happiness often covers her sadness
Her beliefs hidden from most
Afraid of, but willing to face the unknown
Wondering where her place is in this life
She has come close to sharing herself
Never completely revealing anything to anyone
Feelings of invisible chains corner her
When she dreams, reality shatters before her very eyes
Accomplishments she strives for just at hands grasp
She feels lost sometimes, not yet finding her notch in this world
At times the glimmer in her calm eyes slowly disappears
But within her heart a silent flame burns her inside and out
She roams day by day, playing roles
Strength unknowingly resides in her
History repeats itself once again
The translucent veil she so proudly wears
Little by little answers will come, pushing it aside
One day there will be no more mask for her to wear
One day her beliefs will be known
One day she’ll know her place in this life
One day she will share herself
One day this mask will be no more.

Author: Unknownhappy 1

For as long as I can remember I have been accused of not showing enough emotion. My natural tendency is to build a wall up around me that is so rock solid that even the strongest storms of life can’t tear it down. In fact, for many years I was proud of my proverbial toughness. I thought unemotional people were more stable, independent and strong. So anytime I was put in a situation where I was asked to express myself, the walls would only thicken. The less people knew about me, the stronger I felt. I could wear this mask that I believe rendered a woman of strength, confidence and happiness. What I didn’t recognize was the expression on the face of the mask. It only displayed one emotion – emptiness.

Connecting to our emotions can be scary. Most of us have been brought up to hide, suppress or even completely deny how we are feeling. We often believe we will be overwhelmed if we feel too much, so we take the very unhealthy option of shutting down or escaping by numbing and hiding our emotions. We often times forget what it feels like to be happy, excited, surprised, afraid, angry, sad or embarrassed. Instead we become very expressionless.

wallsI always believed (regarding myself) that it was no one’s business what goes on inside the walls of my life. Those ‘behind the scenes’ moments were between me and God. My emotions were less revealing as my walls grew thicker and thicker. The years of guarding my heart and hiding inside my emotionless state of being left me standing inside those walls lost and alone. I would have friends share very personal struggles with me as I empathized with them trying to put myself in their situation and I welcomed those conversations with open arms. But when it came to removing my mask and tearing down my walls, I just turned my cheek. This not only changed the dynamic of our conversation but also the relationship I had with that person.

What I have recognized is that if we are not open to feeling, it makes it harder to actually give and receive. We can’t truly connect or engage with others. Our body is our barometer of truth. It never lies. It was very evident to me yesterday morning at church. We stood up in worship, one of my favorite parts of the service, and I could just feel the tension in my body. I was stiff and emotionless. My songs of praise felt more like songs of practice as I didn’t appreciate the message or meaning of the lyrics I was singing. In most instances my heart is filled with joy and gratitude but this particular morning I could feel the walls starting to build around the most important relationship I have. In this case my lack of openness and emotion affected my relationship with God but on a larger scale it affects every aspect of every relationship we cherish. God forgives but sometimes people don’t. God knows how to break down our walls but sometimes people don’t. If we want to truly connect with people, we have to be willing to remove our mask and tear down our walls. It is the only way we can genuinely empathize with other people, celebrate with other people and love other people.

Just as the word itself suggests – emotion is e-motion. It simply means energy moving through us. It needs to be expressed! If you’re excited – hoot and holler! If you’re happy, smile 🙂

I would be deceiving myself if I didn’t admit that I still struggle with this daily. But having an incredible organization like LIFE leadership that encourages the development of deep relationships with others and mentoring with men and women like George and Jill Guzzardo and Orrin and Laurie Woodward who model what it means to be transparent, makes the growing process so fulfilling. I pray that God inspires others to tear down their walls and remove their masks in order to reveal the beautiful masterpiece that has been created – YOU.

Thought this video was very fitting for this post. I hope it blesses your day:

 

Love, Kristen

How I Fixed my Friendships, in Five Lines

19 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in Community and Leadership, Friendship, LIFE Leadership, Relationships

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me and Craig six years old(Well, maybe a few more than five lines…)

When I was younger I had a hard time making and keeping friends. In grade school and middle school I was extremely shy so I knew that in order to have friends I had to find ways to fit in so that people would like me. Up until the 4th grade my mom would dress my brother and I in matching boy/girl twin outfits. We would get made fun of all the time and as cute as my mom thought it was, she was really cramping our style. While my brother remained kind of nerdy I was on a mission to ‘fit in.’ So I got involved with sports, after school clubs etc to become more sociable. In middle school I started to develop a bad attitude, expected my mom to buy me name brand clothes, skipped meals so I could be skinny, allowed classmates to cheat off my homework and exams and did anything I could to emulate what the ‘cool’ kids were doing in order to be popular. Little did I know that my ‘fake’ image only brought about fake friendships.

Entering high school and realizing how difficult it was to make and keep friends I started to give up and isolate myself. Almost none of the people I ‘hung out’ with from ages 8-15 remained friends with me in high school; my friendships were about as deep as a puddle of water at the top of a hill. I didn’t like who I was and I eventually realized that if I would have any friends at all they would have to accept me for me. In those years I only had three people I could call friends of which only one is still a friend today. Needless to say, I was not good at making or keeping friends.

I share this history because I think a lot of people can relate. If I were to comprise a list of friendship qualities, many of us would fall short and be pretty disappointed in ourselves and others. In the years since I have read multiple books on relationships. Please don’t misinterpret this, I am no expert on friendships or relationships – I fail every day! But I have been able to identify my weaknesses in order to get better and have learned a lot since those days. I pray that with my new awareness I can develop lifelong bonds and friendships with many people.

In learning through my mistakes, reading a lot of books in the LIFE leadership system and listening to audios from people who have had great success in relationships, I have been able to narrow down some specific and intentional practices that have worked to develop many of the great friendships I have today (in no particular order):

  1. Listening
  2. Communication
  3. Finding Purpose
  4. Taking responsibility
  5. Forgiveness

1) Listening

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 11:15

  • We are ALL guilty of failing here! There are so many distractions that make this simple task so difficult. People just want to be heard. I still fail at this a lot but there is one thing that’s made listening a whole lot easier: scheduling it – it’s a lot easier to listen and be prepared for conversations when it’s planned – especially with the heavy stuff. I like to meet over coffee or while going for a walk. Whether it’s scheduled, just a conversation in passing or I am talking on the phone I try to keep any and all distractions out of sight (i.e. phone, computer, etc), I make eye contact with that person, acknowledge and empathize with their concerns, celebrate when they are excited and unless they are looking for advice or solutions, I try to speak very little. There is a saying, “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Meaning we should listen twice as much as we speak.

2) Communication

“Pleasant words are a honey comb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:42

  • I admit, this is the most challenging one for me! I am naturally a very isolated person so I have to be very intentional with my communication. I have learned that multiple forms of communication are better than none at all. I struggle with talking on the phone so usually my phone conversations end with setting up a time to meet in person. The 3rd line of communication I like to use is text or e mail. While we know it is the most ineffective way to build a relationship, it does serve an important role in staying connected. I am not afraid to send a friend I haven’t talked to in a while a text message that says, ‘I miss you,’ or, ‘how are you doing?’ Many times this sparks a re-connection which leads to a phone conversation or coffee date. But for the friends, business partners, etc I am most associated with, I make sure to communicate with them in some form at least once a week (on the phone or in person if possible) and it helps to put a reminder in my calender to ‘check in’ with them.

3) Finding Purpose

“Many plans are in man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand. ” Proverbs 19:21

  • There is nothing more appealing and attractive to others than someone who knows who they are and whose they are. I believe that in order to find yourself it requires a discovery of ones purpose. And many people don’t know who they are because they don’t know why they are… Without this piece, how could I ever expect to have lasting friendships or relationships. It was hard to create depth with another human being if I didn’t have eternal depth with myself and God. Many people go their entire life without ever figuring this out and sadly end up very lonely at the end. Find your purpose and you will find that your friendships and relationships will be stronger than ever.

4) Taking Responsibility

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

  • A lot of my friendship train wrecks resulted in blame. I would justify or make excuses for myself and then blame others for the break up. It wasn’t until I finally owned up to the fact that relationships are a two way street and that I was just as much at fault as the other person – that things started to change. In fact, many of the great friendships I used to have that are no longer present today I have now taken full responsibility for. When I finally took responsibility it made it much easier to forgive them (see #5). This has really been the primary motivator for me to change and get better.

5) Forgiveness

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:!4-15

  • I have been hurt by many people – not just friends, but family as well. When we are hurt, it is natural to be resentful or hold grudges. The worst physical pain someone can feel doesn’t even measure up to deep emotional pain inflicted from another person. But what I have learned about resentment and grudges is that the only person it is really hurting is you! I have chosen to forgive anyone and everyone who has caused me physical or emotional pain and can peacefully say that I hold no grudges towards anyone. Everyone makes mistakes – we are all sinners saved by grace and if God can forgive us for our sins, we should certainly be able to forgive one another.

Just like anything worth having, friendships take work. It requires identifying weaknesses, learning from mistakes, humbling oneself and putting in the effort that is required. Try this, write down the five people you consider true friends. Now, ask yourself, “would those five people put me on their friend’s list?” If you think they would, you are on the right track but if you have any doubts then it might be wise to seek resources to grow in this key area of life.

LIFE Leadership offers world class information about relationships and friendships. Maybe it’s picking up a People Skills Pack with incredible information produced by best selling authors Orrin Woodward and LIFE founder George Guzzardo. Or studying a classic like How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The resources are endless, all that’s required is a hunger to master these skills. As the great Anthony Robbins says, “the quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.”

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“Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:10

God Bless,

Kristen

The Story of Ian and Larissa

21 Monday May 2012

Posted by in Faith, Inspirational

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Marriage is not necessarily a topic I can talk or write about. But it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t learn about it. Over the last few years I have studied a few foundational principles on the sacrament of marriage through the-life-business informational packs, audios and books. I have also been blessed to watch LIFE founders George and Jill Guzzardo, Orrin and Laurie Woodward, Chris and Terri Brady, Claude and Lana Hamilton, Dan and Lisa Hawkins and Bill and Jackie Lewis be true examples of what a relationship looks like when bonded through marriage.

I recently stumbled across this video and I knew God was telling me to share it. The story of Ian and Larissa absolutely gives the perfect example of unconditional love and commitment when it comes to marriage.

“Ian and I had planned to get married as soon as we graduated from college in December of 2006. But instead, everything was halted with his brain injury, which he received on September 30 of that year in a car accident. And so instead of getting married when we were young and healthy and naive, we waited four years and got married when he was sick and disabled and we were still grieving…” Please watch the 8 minute video to hear their story and be inspired – The Story of Ian and Larissa

“Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will cling to his wife: and they will be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

I pray that God gives me the grace to love someone like Larissa loves Ian. Let Him be the author and the sustainer of our lives.

Blessings, Kristen

Love at Last Sight

05 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in Faith, Friendship, Inspirational, Legacy, Love, Relationships

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“To love is to see a glimpse of heaven.” Karen Sunde

We have all heard the phrase, “Love at first sight.” Some believe, some don’t, so what. At church today my pastor, Ben Davis, shared a biblical message that struck a cord with me as he preached on this not so common phrase, “Love at last sight.”

While I am not about to re-explain and preach his entire message, I will share a video that was played for us to give a deeper understanding of this concept of ‘Love at Last Sight.’ Please watch as George and Loretta Frederickson share their story (you may want to grab the Kleenex box):

In all that I have learned and will continue to learn, relationships require constant attention and commitment. Pastor Davis calls this, ‘being ALL there.” When we are with a person that we care about, are we ALL there? Or do we allow distractions to take over our ability to be ALL there? With our ever increasing technology it is becoming more and more difficult to give the attention that is deserved to the relationship that is being built.

There was an example of a man who had cancer and only a short time left to live. This man decided that because he knew he didn’t have much time that any time he was with his kids and his wife in the car, he would turn his cell phone off so as not to lose those moments with his family due to distractions. Later, this man found out his cancer wasn’t terminal and decided that he would continue with his actions from before because it taught him to embrace those short moments he had with them. Another example was a mother who had a special basket she left on the dinner table. Every night before the family sat down for dinner she would pass the basket around and collect any devices that would cause a distraction during dinner time (cell phone, ipod, etc). She wanted to make sure her family knew that dinner time was a valuable time to build the family bond.

All this talk about relationships challenged me to think about the relationships I have in my life. Do I allow distractions to divide the love I have for people? Do I allow my thoughts and actions to separate me from the love I have for Christ? Am I ‘ALL there’ when it comes to my relationships with friends, family, teammates and my God?

This concept of, ‘Love at Last Sight’ refers to changing, improving, repairing, building and sustaining lasting relationships so that at the end of your life you can reflect on every meaningful relationship and say you had a ‘love at last sight.’

My hunger to learn from other people runs deep. What proactive approaches have you taken or will you take to be ‘ALL there’ with the relationships you feel are ‘love at last sight’ relationships? Please feel free to comment!

Blessings,

Kristen

Relationships: The Glue That Bonds Communities

06 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Community and Leadership, Friendship, LIFE Leadership, Relationships

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As I am sitting in the airport about to fly back to Wisconsin from a wonderful trip to Port St. Lucie, Florida where I was blessed to spend time with the-life-business founders Orrin and Laurie Woodward and George and Jill Guzzardo, I can’t help but reflect on a truly unforgettable weekend.

The topic that comes to mind is that of relationships. Relationships would fall into the category of family and friends when studying the 8 F’s of LIFE. Before I started learning from the leadership of LIFE, I had little relationship skills. I didn’t appreciate the meaning of friendship and my family relationships were distant. I won’t even go into the category of dating relationships, those were non existent. While I am still far from where I want to be, I feel more confident in my ability to build relationships with people because of the LIFE and TEAM educational system.

What this weekend did was allow me to expand my thinking about relationships. I was able to watch, listen and learn from men and women who carry the best example I believe this country offers at building relationships. George Guzzardo is a true example of a man who understands this topic. George is building massive communities and changing lives all over the country and all over the world; and he knows how to bond his communities through relationships. I believe his secret is hidden in his servant heart. Just this past week George was in Canada, then flew into Florida, went back home for a day to Arizona where he will fly out to Michigan then to Wisconsin and on to Minnesota (and this is only what I heard based on his two week schedule). George doesn’t take these trips just to ‘get away’ or because he enjoys being busy and traveling. In fact all his trips are planned to spend time and serve his teams, build relationships and mentor. The question I often hear is, “why does George do all this, isn’t he ‘retired?'” And the best answer I can give is because he is fulfilling his purpose in life. George understands the value of relationships in order to build massive communities. His mission and legacy in life is more important than his earthly desires of rest and relaxation (as I am sure he enjoys some of that as well). But with his mission in life comes strong relationships that will stand the test of time.

George Guzzardo recently wrote an article titled Learn Relationships for LIFE. Please take a moment to read more as George is a master at building relationships:

“One of the most enlightening experiences you’ll have working with Orrin Woodward and the LIFE business is a deeper knowledge about relationships. We would all agree that improved relationships would make the world a better place…”

Anyone who has the opportunity to learn from or spend time with George Guzzardo should study how he builds relationships with people. It has been a blessing for me to learn from him and Orrin Woodward through a system of information in the-LIFE-business that is pure and duplicatible. Below I have listed a few key principles to remember when strengthening relationships, all of which were taught through the LIFE’s educational system:

  • Face time – eye contact and presence is vital for trustworthiness and loyalty.
  • Listening – God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen twice as much as you talk.
  • Honesty – be transparent, hidden agendas are obvious to spot – if you don’t know the answer, don’t spin it as if you do.
  • Compassion – genuinely caring about a person is the simplest way to act accordingly above. As God’s children, we are called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ; so find something you can love about them, it makes building relationships significant and fulfilling.
  • Service – Ask “what can I do to help you?” Go out of your way to serve people and there will be no end to your sphere of influence.

These are just a few ideas that may assist in the journey of building relationships. In studying how George Guzzardo and Orrin Woodward interacted with people this weekend, I quickly identified how relationships truly are the glue that bonds communities together. These men, and all the founders, have mastered the art of relationships. While I know they would say they have a lot to learn, I have even more to learn from them as my community is diminutive in comparison to what they have accomplished. With that being said, we all have a lot to learn in the category of building relationships if we wish to fulfill our mission in the-LIFE-business and go to 1,000,000 people. Follow the leadership of Orrin Woodward and soon you will be talked about as the man or woman with a massive community who changed thousands of lives because you mastered the art of relationships.

Blessings, Kristen