This question was a prompt to create blogs from. I had a really hard time with this prompt. Self-promotion has not been a strength of mine. I want my body of work to speak for itself. However, if you don't know me and haven't been in one of my programs, how can you trust my body of work? I wrestle with this same conundrum when promoting my business, Rein's Life in Balance, LLC.
Back to the question, I have always felt that I was blessed with good DNA and a positive, supporting, loving environment growing up. I work hard to be credible, help others see how valuable they are, and stay true to who I am. This has helped me bring people together and build solid relationships with them. The 40 years of marriage to my wife is the one relationship I am most proud of. My parents, siblings, and children didn't have other options. My wife chose to marry me.
I did not always have solid relationships outside of my family because I lacked integrity as a youth. I often stretched the truth to fit my reality, not being a person others could consistently count on.
Things started to change when I went to work in restaurant kitchens. I could see how my choices were impacting my co-workers. It was easy to motivate others when I was open about my mistakes, served the needs of others, and had their backs when they slipped. Cooking was the key to my turnaround with regards to building solid relationships.
Building relationships to bring people together is about mutual respect. Stealing a kitchen appliance for my acronym, I will use the word OVEN. I think of it in these 4 actions: be Open (or transparent), Vulnerable, Empathetic, and Nice (kind).
If you really care about someone, you may need to first earn their trust through your actions, supporting your verbal commitments to the union. Then they can meet you in the middle someplace
Over the last year, during this pandemic, I have been connecting with a lot of people by setting up Video Reunions. It has been fulfilling to see the positive responses of the participants, seeing their joy when recognizing someone's face on the screen, as they remember their past connections. It has been the best way I could think of to bring people together with others they care about outside their pod.
I am seriously going to keep this practice going after restrictions are lifted, because of the warmth I and others have experienced during those calls. Calling people more regularly is one way to spread the love, hearing their expression when you do, is priceless.
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