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NOVEMBER 2023
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ARE YOU GOING THE EXTRA MILE?
THE KEY TO GREATER INFLUENCE AND FULFILLMENT
I’m a firm believer in “going the extra mile,” and that in any aspect of life, you should
shared interests. People follow these leaders not because they have to, but because
extra efforts so much that they gave me a ticket to Hawaii to see my family as a token of their gratitude. The gesture was unbelievably kind, and I felt so moved to receive such a gift because I didn’t put in that effort because I wanted something from them. I just wanted to show up, do my best, and leave knowing that I did everything in my power to exceed their expectations. They noticed and wanted to impact me in a positive way in return. And it’s not that people who don’t go the extra mile don’t want to help others or are “bad.” Going that extra mile and being of service to someone is hard . It takes time, patience, and deliberate effort. But, in the end, that’s kind of the point. It’s because choosing the right thing is hard that it yields the highest influence and reward, whether emotional, spiritual, or something tangible like that plane ticket or a sale. So this month, I’d like you to take a moment and ask yourself, “Are you going the extra mile? Do you strive to leave both people and things better off than how you found them?” Thinking about these questions may help you find the key to the success,
Going that extra mile and being of service to someone is hard . It takes time, patience, and deliberate effort. But, in the end, that’s kind of the point.
they want to. And often, these leaders establish this influence by going the extra mile without ever being asked.
always do more than you were
asked. This quality isn’t something you can teach in school or tell someone to adopt; it’s natural intuition. In previous
Of course, the most profound leader with informal influence was Jesus. He spread his
newsletters, I’ve talked about how this intuition is one of the foundational principles that has allowed
message through love and didn’t have a position of high status that forced
people to follow him. He connected with people’s thoughts and feelings and treated everyone with the same compassion and kindness. In all ways, he was the epitome of informal influence and going the extra mile. While the understanding that Jesus connected with people so profoundly isn’t a new revelation to me, this presentation reminded all of us that day of the power of spreading his love through our actions and that we should strive to do greatness in all things. We should always choose to go the extra mile. People often notice these efforts without you ever saying anything about them because, in truth, most people today don’t operate with this mindset. In fact, I once had a client who appreciated my
me to succeed in business. But it’s also important to remember that going the extra mile shouldn’t only apply to a job. A few weekends ago, our church had a guest speaker who talked to us about leadership. He mentioned that leaders generally fall into two categories: those that use formal influence and those that use informal influence to obtain power. Formal influence is when a leader uses their status to exert power, like, for example, the CEO of a company. People listen to them and do what they say because they’re the boss, and if they don’t, they’ll be in trouble. Informal influence involves less authority but is far more effective. It is power based on things like trust, love, friendliness, and
greatness, and fulfillment you’ve been searching for.
Robert Burns
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ROBERT’S BUSINESS BOOK SPOTLIGHT
As 2023 winds to a close, I decided it would be a great time to re- read one of my favorite books, “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown. Since reading it for the first time a few years back, I’ve realized that there’s really something to be said about getting back to simplicity in our lives. It’s easy to get sucked into life’s endless complexities, problems, and dramatic turns of events. In our toughest moments, we find ourselves wondering what’s most important. With “Essentialism,” McKeown guides readers toward a discipline where, no matter what kind of day it is, you never forget the most essential things you value or are working toward. Many people struggle with finding themselves busy but not productive or feeling both overworked and underutilized. Especially in our times, when Americans are quitting more than
ever, you might be tempted to get back to the basics. But we could frame our doubts and questions in another light: What are the two or three most essential things you could be doing right now?
‘Essentialism’ by Greg McKeown
“Essentialism” suggests that, after making a daily to-do list, picking out the single or few most important tasks is, well, essential to your success in the things that
POOL ADVENTURES MAKE A SPLASH! JUMPIN’ JULIET
Hello everyone! This is Juliet, and I’m here to tell you that I’m part fish! Well, not really, but that’s what my dad says because I’ve been spending so much time in the pool. During the summer, I took a class to help me with my swimming skills since I hadn’t been in the pool for a while. I only had to take the class for a week or two, but once I got in the pool again, I remembered how much I loved swimming! The best part is that I don’t even have to use floats anymore, so I can dive in the deep end, do cool tricks, or even splash my brother and sister with a cannonball if I want to. And since Florida is still warm, I can keep swimming even though it’s November — it’s awesome! Sometimes, I swim with Ella and Gavin, and other times, just my mom and I will be in the pool. When I swim with my brother and sister, Teddy, our dog, usually runs around the edge of
the pool because he wants to be part of the fun, too! Eventually, though, he races around the pool so fast that he falls in. But Teddy likes to swim too, so we all secretly think he’s trying to fall in to play with us.
Lately, Gavin has been bringing home a lot of pipes from the farm, so we actually
started using them in our pool adventures! Sometimes, we go underwater and walk on the pipes like a tightrope or pretend to
ride them like a surfboard. Other times, we put them straight up to the sky and act like we’re skiing. My favorite thing, though, is when we use the pool floats, and Gavin shoots me around on them like
I’m on a roller coaster. It’s really fun!
If you have a pool, I hope you can swim in it while this warm weather lasts, just like I am. I’ll keep swimming until it gets too cold, and then, I’ll be on to my next adventure!
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make you happiest and most fulfilled. And I can definitely relate to that. As a business owner, I hardly ever run out of work to do. There’s always another thing, and it can get overwhelming and easy to lose track of time at the office, overworking myself. Instead of putting the world on my shoulders, McKeown’s “discipline of ‘less’” suggests that it’s better to focus on less, not more. There’s no need to always be a “yes” guy. There’s a healthy time and place to say “no” as well, but you’ll only know where and when to say “no” if you have your focus narrowed down. I believe everyone should give “Essentialism” a try. I wish I’d read it when I was young, although I did somehow end up taking on a similar tactic to my daily to-do list as a business owner. There are so many great points in it that you’ll love, especially when you need them most on days when you feel overwhelmed and exhausted from work. And, like me, you may find that you love it enough to read it twice!
Outstanding from consult, design, installation, and follow up! From professional
design product delivery to timely installation, all work was done with expertise, care, and attention to detail. Highest recommendation for Robert and his team.” – Stephen K.
Robert Burns
HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS? “But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.” NEHEMIAH 9:31 “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” ISAIAH 55:7 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 PETER 5:10
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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
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Choose Greatness: Going the Extra Mile Sets You Apart Lessons From ‘Essentialism’ by Greg McKeown Jumpin’ Juliet: Juliet’s Pool Adventures Make a Splash!
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The Good News Hear From Our Clients Take a Break!
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Pack These 4 Items for the Best In-Flight Experience
UNCONVENTIONAL ITEMS TO PACK ON YOUR NEXT FLIGHT ELEVATE YOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
When preparing for your flight, it’s essential to pack the basics, such as clothing, medications, toiletries, and your travel documents. However, there are some surprising and often overlooked items that can greatly enhance your flying experience. These unexpected additions in your carry-on can make your air travel experience more comfortable, enjoyable, and stress-free. Electrolytes Flying is dehydrating! Because airplane cabins are kept at a lower humidity level, your body dehydrates quicker than normal. To help keep your body hydrated without a dozen trips to the bathroom over the course of your flight, pack some electrolyte packets to mix into your water. Speaking of water, pack an empty water bottle with you, and after passing through security, you can fill it up at a water fountain! Noise-Canceling Headphones Flights can be noisy. You can never predict crying babies, loud talkers, or hyper kids
traveling alongside you. Noise-canceling headphones can provide a peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the airplane. They block out ambient noise and allow you to relax, listen to music, or enjoy in-flight entertainment without any distractions. Compression Socks Wearing compression socks on an airplane is crucial for maintaining healthy circulation during long flights. Prolonged periods of sitting can lead to blood pooling in your legs, causing swelling, poor circulation, and even deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Compression socks apply gentle pressure to your legs, reducing discomfort and circulation complications. Portable Charger While you may have remembered to pack your plug-in phone charger, bringing along a portable charger and power bank is a lifesaver! Sometimes, finding an available charging station in a crowded airport can be tricky. But having a backup power
source on the plane makes it possible to keep your devices charged throughout your journey! When packing for your next flight, don’t forget to include these trip-saving items in your carry- on for a more pleasant travel experience — you’ll be glad you did!
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