When life gives you lemons, bite ‘em!

When life gives you lemons, bite ‘em and enjoy the sour taste as it drains down your throat. Next time, you’ll be better equipped to deal with it, even though it’ll still be hardcore painful.

Sometimes, the toughest situations that make you grind your teeth and make you want to cry in frustration are typically the ones that shape who you become in life. If you easily stride through life without obstacles, then you aren’t putting yourself out there and you aren’t really living. I’ve found myself in countless situations where there was a solid fork in the road...AND for some reason, I always choose the Amazon jungle. Luckily, I know how to use a machete to get through the toughest of terrain.

From Nebraska to Arizona to Grad School

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Yelp.com Account Managers!

Well, my friends, it’s been awhile and what a crazy adventure it has been. I moved from Nebraska to Peoria/Scottsdale/Tempe, Arizona, I started a new job at Yelp.com as an Account Manager, and started grad school at Arizona State University. I’ve taught a session of Junior Achievement to an 11th grade classroom, became president/student rep for the Student Advisory Board for my grad class, was in my twin’s (Brittany Mahugh/Lyman) wedding, became a happy aunt to a beautiful boy, Cody Harper, and moved three times. I was stung by a handful of Africanized Honey Bees on Camelback Mountain, been in training for a half marathon, and signed up for the Tougher Mudder in San Diego. I spent two weeks in San Francisco with my beautiful Buhl family, one in Napa Valley with my parents (wine country) and the second working at our home office. I was selected to spend a month in Germany in May for an international trip for class, retained a 4.0 in my first trimester of grad school, and about to get on the college racquetball club.

Offsite Party - Yelp definitely knows how to throw a party!

And that’s only the a small fraction of it all! I’m so happy to be out of Nebraska. I truly miss my students tremendously and wish I could have brought them all with me, but Britni is back in her own skin. Back doing the crazy things she loves to do and spreading herself FAR too thin for her own good.

In Oregon for July 4th with my family

I’ve met some of the most amazing people at both work and school. It’s been great having so many different kinds of friends who love adventure, theatre, outdoors, racquetball, football, coffee, shopping, studying, sun bathing, pets, climbing Camelback, opera, movies, drinking, socializing, and whatever else we could think of at the time. I’ve missed friends so much.

So my adventure continues. With arms, eyes, and mind wide open. I can’t wait to see what the next few months/years have in store!

Continuing to Boldly Challenge Status Quo, no matter where I am :)

On top of Camelback Mountain 

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50 Lists to Write to Lift Your Spirits OR to Simply Just Think About

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I love lists. I'd forget my head half the time if it wasn't attached!  If I don't write things down, I forget (thanks Dad). And then I feel extremely empowered when I finish a task and blissfully scratch it off my list. Then there are times when I write as a form of thinking, brainstorming, processing, reflecting. Sometimes getting everything out on paper puts me at ease when my mind is racing.

So when you have those times, or if you just feel like reflecting, come back to this list. You never know how your answers will change over time, and which ones don't. Have fun!

List as many as you can:

1. People who have influenced or inspired you
2. Things you are grateful for
3. Places you have been
4. Places you want to go
5. Books you’ve read

Strength in a Weakness

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I used to hate writing. English was my least favorite subject and I dreaded writing multiple page papers. My love during grade school was dissecting the unknown of science, but most of all living a life to better the lives of those around me. The same still exists. Every day is an adventure waiting for me to take hold and discover its meaning. Each presents opportunities to influence lives and cherish the memories created.

I may not articulate my thoughts perfectly or use the most intelligent words, but I’m not trying to impress you with my words. I’m trying to spark something inside you. Maybe one of my blogs will take ahold of you, or awaken some part of you that’s been dead. Maybe they’ll influence you to pay good things forward instead of hold a grudge about someone who’s done you wrong. Maybe you won’t agree with me, or maybe you will. I don’t mind either way. These are my thoughts. I don’t want to think for you. I don’t want to puppet your life. But I do want you to challenge yourself to be the best you can be. Not to give yourself excuses. Those are worthless. Life will have many obstacles and it’s how you overcome them that makes you who you are or who you want to become.

The surprising truth about what motivates us

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This may be 10 minutes long, but I promise you'll enjoy this! What a great way to scrunch in A LOT of awesome information!

Live boldly challenging status quo!

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Helping Others By Telling Your Story

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I think the most humble and selfless act in life is to tell your story to help others. Whether that's to express the pain you went through to hopefully save others or enable those who've been through the same thing to feel like they aren't alone, that is true character.

A friend of mine, Matt Pipkin, was sexually assaulted when he was 5 years old. Just a child. A young boy. Many of you could never imagine such pain and suffering to hold something like that in for years and years. I can't even imagine it myself. However, he was finally able to open up about it two years ago and is doing really well!

The reason I'm writing about this is that he's flying for AT LEAST 65 days WITHOUT landing (world record) and somehow conned his dad to fly with him. Bathrooms and showers? Well, even I have no idea how that will work. The cool and most important part about this is the national platform he's flying for: childhood sexual abuse. 1 in 3 young girls and 1 in 6 young boys have been sexually assaulted prior to the age of 18. It's a serious problem and Matt has taken it upon himself to raise awareness to show others that if it happened to them, it's not their fault.

But he needs your help!! Share his story on facebook, twitter, to your family and friends. Watch him on the Today Show, follow his story as it unfolds. It's such an inspiring story and I want you all to get engaged!

The easiest thing for you to do is spread the word! If you feel so inclined to help financially, that would be amazing as well! He has 53 days left and needs to raise $50K. Every dollar counts!

Of course, I can't give justice to his story. Watch this short presentation to hear his story in his own words!

So get excited and help stop this national tragedy!

Visit http://commit365.org/ for more information.

Matt Pipkin

Twitter: @commit65 and @themattpipkin

Facebook: search “Commit 65”

Matt's email: purduepipkin@gmail.com

Matt is Boldly Challenging Status Quo. How about you?

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How are You Dealing with Change?

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Pandora current song: Praying for Daylight, The Fray

How are you dealing with change?

On Wednesday, Sept 22 I took the NCTA student senate leadership to a conference in Lincoln, NE. Why, you ask? Well, even if you don’t care, let me tell you.

Back at WSU, I was a part of the Services and Activities (S and A) Fees committee where we allocated over $7M to organizations on campus to broaden their reach or event success for an overall better student experience. The money came from fees charged within the student’s tuition. When I came to NCTA, there was no help from the college for organizations and no way for new ones to start.

I was appointed at the Student Union manager with over $60K in funds available to it for student activities, maintenance, and salaries. I decided this would be a great opportunity to utilize the funds to bring fun entertainment as well as allocate funds back to the students. Why not?

I took everything I knew and created the same kind of committee on this campus with three staff members and seven student members. The committee has to be heavily student weighed because the students need to decide what they feel is important for the entire student body. Old farts like us as staff don’t necessarily “know” what they want.

Anyway, all student organizations who wanted money had to send student representatives to present what and why they wanted the funds. Student senate requested funds to attend a leadership conference for their leadership. So long story short, that’s why we ended up in Lincoln.

The keynote speaker was Gary Bradt, who is an endorsed business speaker who has spent 20 years consulting the nation’s senior business leaders, advising them on how to thrive in the constant change that takes place in today’s business world.

Read on because I promise you’ll be inspired.

Don't assume

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Pandora current song: Amber, by 311

“The challenge of leadership is coming to a common purpose from the vast differences that individuals bring to a situation. Finding the purpose, vision, and common commitments that create a ‘we’ from a group of individuals is the challenge of a community” (Exploring Leadership 139). Life throws challenges at us every move or decision we make. No one ever said it would be easy; it’s just how you deal with what life sets forth in front of you.

Gender is a black and white topic of how people are viewed. Or is it? For instance, when I first walked into our leadership class, people judged me for being 1. Being a Tri Delta and sorority girl 2. Somewhat attractive 3. Blonde and 4. Confident. A classmate of mine said exactly those words. He thought I was going to be a cocky piece of work who he wouldn’t be able to get along with because I was "one who thought she knew everything because things are always handed to me on a golden platter." Little did he know I was far from a snotty, stereotypical, sorority girl.

With winning in mind

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Pandora current song: It's The Only One You've Got, by 3 Doors Down

With Winning in Mind, by Lanny Bassham, takes readers through a mental management journey. Most people don’t realize that mentally managing the game of life will make them more successful as well as those around them.

It doesn’t matter if you win or lose – until you lose!

Some people say that they never win at anything and that everyone else is more privileged because they are good at everything. For those people, they just haven’t found what they are good at yet. Maybe that person is always trying to be good at what everyone else thinks people should be good at. For example, football and baseball are two major spots that guys love to play and be good at. There are also guys who try so hard to be good at the sport but are never successful. To develop self-confidence, one needs to find something that they are confident in; something that boosts their confidence like art, a different sport, etc.

People lose due to poor mental management. It takes years of training or constant practice to learn how to cope with mental stress. After a person achieves this, he is confident and in control, have a different mentality and better self-image, and better attitudes and habits. People who a experts at mental management develop a system to control mental aspects of performance and, as a result, winning becomes a habit.

My way or the highway, or sure used to be!

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Pandora current song: Downtown Song, by Anberlin

David Hoopes’ model about cultural competency illustrates the development of cultural competency in everyone of us. I can also use it to examine my own development as a leader as it’s a great model to ‘step inside’ yourself.  Truthfully, I was once in the ethnocentrism stage for a large amount of my growing up. Ethnocentricity is a state of relying on your own and only your own, paradigms. It was my way or the highway. It was when I had a few wake up calls where I realized there are other ways besides my own. We all develop into the people we become through our different experiences and hopefully we learn to become progressive, positive responders to situations than we used to be in our younger years.  I believe that I am at the end stages now, but it sure wasn't always the case.

One wakeup call was none other than cheerleading. To begin with, I used to be the quiet girl in the classroom that was only “known” to my best friend and a few acquaintances. Other than that, I had no outside school social life. Now I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but like I said in earlier posts, I didn't know who I really wanted to be.  In 9th grade, I was ready for a change. I wanted to be a part of something in school so I was not just another girl at school. I decided to try out for the cheer team. I can promise you that I looked like the biggest hooligan with no prior dancing experience, but I had wanted it so badly.

In tenth grade, I was back on the bottom of the totem pole. I went to the state’s biggest school, South Kitsap High School, so of course I was intimidated. However, I had promised myself that I would be involved. I was in ASB, 4-H, Key Club, FFA, Tennis, and cheer, among other things. Like junior high cheer, I was not very good to start with, but my drive and dedication would not let me give up. I ended up making the team after three tryouts. I ended up on varsity cheer my senior year and was so dedicated to it, that I missed out on a German exchange opportunity to go back to Germany for the summer. I was distraught, but I couldn’t leave my team. I can always go to Germany, but I can never relive my senior year in high school.

Higher education empowers effective leadership

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Pandora current song: Kryptonite, by 3 Doors Down

Higher education is the major developer of leaders in today’s society. Legacies are what people strive for acting as change-agents of his/her college campus as well as later in life. Social change will not happen without people striving to make a difference. One person can shock the status quo, but a group can blast through barriers while cultivating a quality environment and encouraging each other. Leadership is rooted in virtually any individual. It may take encouragement or opportunity, but I promise the “leader” bud is waiting to bloom if you let it. Leadership holds the key to transforming any project, student, campus, and community, and ultimately the world.

Effective leadership is an essential ingredient of positive social change. But what is the extent of effective leadership? Effective leadership can be defined as leadership that effects change. Duh, right? Some changes are for the better and some are not. People could argue that Hitler was a great leader as he rose to the top and got Germany to rally with him and his beliefs and they followed. After he knew he had control, he used it for destruction and we all know where that led. He caused change in thought and actions. An effective leader is one who people trust, hopefully for the betterment of the whole, who set goals and utilizes the group to achieve them.

Leadership: Who’s got it? Who’s willing to step up to the plate? You all can. Even in just little ways.

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Pandora current song: Dare You to Move, by Switchfoot

What is leadership? This question is widely talked about, yet widely confusing. Not one style is effective for every situation life throws at us. Some people believe leaders are born and others think leaders are made. There is a love-hate relationship between leaders and followers. Some people think leaders are elitists, manipulative, or bigheaded. People want self-confident leaders, but leaders who have at least a little self-doubt. But, how do leaders actually lead? Better yet, how do we assess how well they lead? People also want leaders who are good listeners and who represent their constituents. A person may be an outstanding leader here, but fail there. People expect their leaders to be “perfect,” so when they mess up, or fail, people feel let down.

Leaders possess many things including traits, behaviors, and their histories. At first, researchers thought those who became leaders were different from those who remained followers. However, there was no such pattern. Different people can handle different situations better than others. Personal and situational characteristics should be considered when examining a person’s leadership and capabilities. “Training provides the leader with knowledge, procedures, and techniques which increase his or her sense of control over the group’s task activities” (Wren 87). Personal histories teach new and better ways of approaching situations in the future. It just depends on how open people are to making those changes.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a very different leader in many ways. He didn’t want people remembering him for his accomplishments, but for his purpose in life. “He was a profound and provocative speaker” who was full of self-doubts, and keenly aware of his own limitations and human weaknesses (Wren 320). He willingly risked his popularity among blacks through his steadfast advocacy of nonviolent strategies to achieve radical social change. He didn’t care what people thought of him, as long as in the long run, his efforts where worth his cause. The way he is portrayed in most history books is that he was self-confident and full of leadership and the power to make change. Further research shows how human he really was and not as God-like as people try to describe him. “King’s success as a leader was based on his intellectual and moral cogency and his skill as a conciliator among movement activists who refused to be simply King’s ‘followers’ (Wren 322). His wide range of skills and attributes prepared him for what was to come at him. Persuasive speaking wasn’t a bad quality either. His encouragement and struggles gave people someone who was just like themselves to count on. He offered optimistic belief that ordinary people can collectively improve their own lives.

Personally, I would love to be more like MLK. I try to show how capable I am when really I should be just doing my job and doing the best I can without caring what other people think. A lot of times I think my way is the best way, but some people are great at one thing and worse at others. Good leadership improves outcomes when people work together for a common cause and use each others’ strengths to get the job done efficiently and effectively.

Stick Up for What YOU Believe In

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Pandora current song: Butterflies and Hurricanes, by Muse

This is a long one, but it’s my favorite so far. When you get time, read on!

I love movies. I love them so much that I have 3 DVD binders full of them and counting. Ever since I moved into my own apartment after sorority life, I haven't had cable TV. I was never home during school and that's still the case for work. Online TV has been a savior for sure. I do miss news in the morning and night, but that's what Twitter and homepage widgets are for.

What can you learn from a movie?

I actually did a study in college about movies and leadership, but I didn't continue as much as I should have. (Sorry Connan!) But I did do a few speeches to student leadership groups about Remember the Titans. Remember the Titans (RTT) is by far my favorite movie out there. It’s a great model of leadership, teamwork and victory, and I’ve seen it more times than any other movie combined.

For a little refresher course, RTT is based on a true story about the coming of society and the integration of two high schools – one black, one white. Tensions arise when players of the different racial high schools are forced to play together. Many of the frustrations are put at ease during training camp, but when they return home, turmoil boils up again.

So let me share with you a few things I spoke about...

One of the Greatest Men I’ve Ever Known, Besides my Dad

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Pandora current song: Wherever You Will Go, by The Calling

George F. Garlick is a man of principle and moral values. He grew up having just barely enough money. At an early age, he became the sole provider for the family. An incredibly talented and brilliant man, George received his bachelor’s degree at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, master’s degree from the University of Southern California in 1960, and doctorate from Iowa State University in 1962. George is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Holosonic, Inc., founded in 1969. He is also the President and Founder/Partner of Garlick Enterprises, Inc., Holographic Engineering LLC, Stevens Center Business Park and Advanced Imaging Technology, which was selected as the best new radiology company by the 80,000 member Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in 2002.