Plus, minus, equal

The Laras Thanksgiving Day


Are you like me?  When I read non-fiction library books, I take notes.  I then type up my notes (which is normally not more than two typed pages max) and refer back to them from time-to-time.

I was just re-reading my book notes from Ryan Holiday's, The Ego is the Enemy over Thanksgiving weekend.  I love the plus, minus, equal concept he shares.

Ryan* suggests to have a plus in your life - someone who is better than you are so you can learn from them.  A minus - someone who is currently lesser than you are (in skills, experience, etc.) whom you can teach.  And someone equal, so that you can challenge yourself against (or challenge yourself with) that person.

What hit me was my equal person.  Jackie, my friend, colleague and business partner in Hello, Strategies is soooo my equal person.  She challenges me in the best ways possible in my teaching, in our business, and just being a thoughtful human being.  I have some ideas who are my plus people and my minus people, too.

Who are your plus, minus and equal people?

Speaking of people, today is the last day to buy any of your people our Hello, Strategies products - our ebook, Question cards, wooden nickels, etc. - at a 25% off discount.  Just use the code:  CYBERSALE2016 at checkout.

hello strategies cybersale2016 discount code



Off I go to read more of my book notes; I'm excited about taking notes on this book next....

Jen

*I believe, by the way, the original idea for plus, minus and equal came from Frank Shamrock (a martial arts pioneer) who Ryan writes about in the book.







Cybersale!

Jackie and I are psyched to offer a site-wide sale at Hello, Strategies!  Do you have a favorite educator, coach, or leader you want to surprise with a super affordable, fun, and meaningful gift?

Here's what you need to know...


Go to www.hellostrategies.com

Shop your heart out!  For teachers, consider our ebook, Question Cards, and wooden nickels.  For coaches, how about our Coaching Cards and a bundle of nickels?  For leaders, our Leadership Cards make a swell gift and you guessed it, a pack of nickels.  Why the nickels so much?  Because each nickel says YOU ARE AWESOME and when gift-giving, everyone likes to hear they are awesome.

Once your cart is full, use the code CYBERSALE2016 for 25% off your entire order.  Sale ends on November 29th, so get to it, what are you waiting for?  Go, now :)

All the best, you superstar gift-giver -

Cheers,

Jen


Levity + Chat Takeover

I've been absent a bit from blogging.  Mostly because I'm focusing more and more on being present in my life and sometimes blogging feels like an interruption of that.  Couple that with last week's election in the US and all the dismay swirling; a girl could use some levity.

Tonight, I found it.  Here's the skinny.

I recently ordered these pants from Patagonia and these pants - both of which I love.  I also ordered these pants that I didn't love as much.  I started an online chat with a rep from Patagonia to figure out how to return the pants I didn't want.  You can see our chat screenshots below, but I'll type in the conversation next.




Me:  Yes, I would like to keep the Happy Hiker pants and the small/short Serenity tights.  I'd like to return the rest.

Will (rep from Patagonia): Okay, cool.  Could you please just confirm your shipping address and email.

Mr. UpCyclist does a chat takeover:  Please do the macarena to proceed!

Me:  ...that was my husband on the "chat takeover." Evidently, engineers do like to have fun :)

Will:  Haha!  Macarena done! Now do the boogie woogie.

Me watching Mr. UpCyclist dance:  Ha!  He (Mr. UpCyclist) needs to work on that, but I am laughing hard here in Maryland.

(Then, Will helps me by generating a shipping label for my return.)

Me:  Fantastic, Will.  Shall we close this very short exchange with a dance move?  I am inspired.

Will: Haha, the wave was just sent your way!

Me:  Back at you.  Very creative choice, Will!  Have a lovely evening!

Will:  You as well Jen!  Thanks for the fun and laughter!!!


That, my friends, is just what was needed.  Ease in returning products from one of my favorite companies on the planet, Patagonia.  A husband who went against the norm and turned up the silliness.  And a stranger - Will - who took the playfulness and ran with it.

Thanks, Will, I'm still smiling that you didn't miss a beat and embraced the macarena-infused chat while GSDing (getting stuff done).  I am grateful.  Thanks, Mr. UpCyclist - you never cease to amaze me.  Just when I have you figured out, you surprise me.  Thanks, Patagonia for hiring a culture of awesome, openminded rockstars like Will.  And thanks, Universe.  Levity is exactly what I needed.

Peace, my dear friends -

Jen