1. Image I love…
I saw this image decades ago and instantly loved it. First… it’s amazing. Second… it immediately struck me as symbolic… what we often see is only the “tip of the iceberg.” Because my mind always thinks in terms of wellness, I thought about how the symptoms we have and feel are only a tiny part of how we are actually doing. Yet, doctors usually treat the symptom (i.e. pain, inflammation, muscle spasm), but neglect the underlying cause (the thing actually causing the pain, inflammation, or muscle spasm). I’ve also seen this image used to describe success… the small part above the water being the success people see… the much larger, unseen part, being the sacrifices, dedication, hard work, and failure. Turns out the photo is not real, but photoshopped, but I love it and think it’s very cool (no pun intended!).
2. Book I recommend…
I recently read The Relationship Economy: Building Stronger Customer Connections in the Digital Age, written by a friend of mine, John DiJulius. I was fortunate enough to get a copy from him before its official release, and read it in a few days. John is the authority on world-class customer service, having had big companies like Marriot, Nordstrom, Chick-fil-A, and many more, call on him to help them improve on what matters most… creating a customer experience that sets them apart. This new book, which you can get here, highlights a huge problem… as automation, high-tech, and the digital age advance, we are losing what people want and need most… human connection, interaction, and personal relationships. Great companies make great products, but the best companies in this next decade will combine those great products with deep, meaningful, authentic relationships with, and interest in, the people purchasing those products and services. The cool thing about this book is that it is a customer service book, but the same tools and techniques discussed to help a business stand out and excel in its relationship with its customers can be used by you, as an individual, to make those same improvements in your personal relationships. It’s an easy read, loaded with practical and applicable strategies, entertaining stories, and John’s personal experiences. A stat that I learned and surprised me (and I have been conscious of since reading it)… It takes a minimum of 0.6 seconds to formulate a response to something said. The average gap between people talking is 0.2 seconds. Conclusion… we are not listening fully to others. One of my favorite nuggets… “At the end of the day, ask yourself one simple question: ‘How many people had a better day as a result of coming in contact with me.’”
3. Something to ponder…
As cold and flu season revs up, people tend to think these bugs get stronger. They don’t. We get weaker! That’s right… the reason people tend to get sicker this time of year is because of several factors… lower vitamin D levels because we are outside less, increased sugar consumption as Halloween hits, more food consumption as we get through the holidays, and increased stress with the holiday preparation. These all contribute to a drop in immune system performance, making us more susceptible to those same germs and bugs that are around us all year long. So despite all the hype around getting a flu shot, it is not “the best thing you can do” to prevent the flu. While some may believe it is good for you, the BEST thing you can do is to do the things that boost your immune system… limit sugar intake, do not overeat, get plenty of rest, manage your stress better, take a vitamin D supplement, and exercise. Because so many people ask, I will tell you that I have never gotten a flu shot, nor have my children. There are plenty of reasons why I have not, which I will share within the next couple of weeks in a blog.
