Think back to the first time you did something, anything for the first time. The first time you rode a bike, first time you spoke in public, first time you kissed your true love, first time you went swimming, first time you heard your baby’s heartbeat, first day in Team National, the first time you did something new. Now think about the excitement and energy you felt. It was probably higher in the beginning. Your excitement probably shined through you. Think about what a candle looks like when you light it, when is the light the brightest? It’s brightest when you first light it. It will then flicker and eventually the flame dies out. The excitement and the flame die out of a lot of things after they are no longer new. But, it doesn’t have to!

So, the question is, how do you let your light shine through?

1st, Share your excitement. When you are truly doing something new allow others to see your joy, your happiness, your light. For example, if you are new to cooking but wanting to learn more about it, the first time you successfully cook a good meal, you’ll want to share it with everyone and tell everyone. Apply that to everything you do, share & tell! If you are an Independent Marketing Director with Team National, being new is exciting so stop wishing you were Presidential or Bronze or Platinum already. Capitalize on being new and share your excitement with everyone you meet and you will achieve levels of success. Your light will naturally shine through you and people will want to know more and catch your excitement.

2nd, Be happy doing something new and stop allowing fear to pull you back to the same old, same old. What if you allowed the fear of falling off your bike to stop you from learning to ride a bike and you never had that exciting feeling of riding a bike for the first time. I know it’s not life threatening, but it’s sad. New things are fun! My 7-year-old daughter is still struggling to learn to ride her bike without training wheels because she fell off of it several months ago. Yet, my husband and I are working with her on the weekends to overcome her fear because the joy of riding will be worth it. This past weekend we let go of her bike several times and she was so proud that she was riding alone even just for a few seconds. Try new things, meet new people and have fun learning something new.

3rd, Find newness in the everyday and the ordinary. Ok, so you aren’t new to riding a bike, or Team National, or to cooking, you’ve been married 10 years, same church, same friends, and your aren’t learning anything new. In your mind it’s all old news and ordinary. Now is the time to throw that attitude out the window and find the newness again! Excitement, passion and joy are inside of you. Find the excitement of riding a bike, going to church, baking a pie, sharing Team National and everything else you do! Newness is exciting when it’s truly new, but you can find the excitement in everyday life and feel as if something is new. I find newness and excitement in the ordinary by being grateful I have one more day on this earth. Often people who experience a life or death situation look at everything as new because they are grateful to be alive. It is an attitude. You too, can see everything as new and exciting and allow that light to shine through you. My daughter helps me see the ordinary as extraordinary all the time. This weekend we studied a caterpillar on the sidewalk and listened to a birds sing as if it was the first time. It was truly beautiful. How many times have you stopped to listen to the birds lately? Find the joy in life and allow your light to shine through in all that you do. People will be drawn to you. They will want to know what church you go to, where you shop, what business you own, and where your kids go to school. They will want to be a part of whatever you are a part of because of your excitement and energy. Even though, a candle’s light is brightest at the beginning, there isn’t any reason why you can’t light a spark over and over in yourself and share that excitement with everyone you meet.

Let your light shine so brightly people want to know why.

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 Angela talks about the book When God Winks at You by Squire Rushnell

My father and mentor, Dick Loehr, taught me early in life that happiness is a decision. My dad battled cancer for 10 years and he smiled through it. He inspires me all the time to smile. Some moments are harder than others. Yet, you can choose happiness. Recently, my family went to Walt Disney World. It was easy to choose happiness while enjoying sunshine and magical moments at the Magic Kingdom. Yet, on our second day there it rained, it was cold and our luau at Polynesian resort was cancelled. We stayed happy, we wore rain ponchos, we laughed, and we shopped. We watched shows and enjoyed lunch. Our third day was colder than all others, it was snowing in northern Florida and there was a wind chill advisory. Plus, my mom got really sick the evening before, with a stomach virus. We didn't want to leave her and it was probably too cold to go to the park anyhow. So, we decided to go home. Honestly, as we left I was having a hard time choosing joy. My mom is sick, my vacation was cut short, my daughter is sad and I was sad too!

On our drive home I decided the best way to shake my sadness and choose happiness was to think of all my blessings. As I thought of all I am grateful for I felt better and the list is long; my family, my health, my beautiful house, my friends, Team National, my church, my dogs, my car, 2 great days at Disney, money to drive home, money to come back, TN staff, TN success, healthy daughter and husband, money for lunch, nice neighbors...the list goes on and on. I choose every morning to be happy and grateful. I also remind my 6 year old daughter every day it is going to be great day. An attitude of gratitude helps me choose joy. And, I also think of my dad and his decision to smile through his cancer.

Abraham Lincoln said it best "People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Recently, I went out of town for the Success from Home photo shoot. Team National will be featured in the magazine in March. And, prior to leaving I was busy as most people are before a business or vacation trip. My flight was leaving early on a Thursday morning. It was the Monday before and I thought to myself “I should get a haircut before the photo shoot, they are considering putting me on the cover of the Magazine, I should look my best.” Well Monday came and went and it was now Tuesday around 5:30 when I thought again “I should get my haircut” I called my local salon Design 4000 confidant my gal, Gina would be able to squeeze me in that evening or Wednesday, I had plenty of time before my Thursday am flight. I was surprised to find out Gina was gone for the day and off on Wednesday. Panic now sank in I have gone to Gina for 5 years. She is super. The receptionist, whom I also know and is super, calmly said “Well, what about someone else just this once?”

Here is where true character shined. I got an appointment with Jimmy, which was a blessing and a gift. Jimmy sits next to Gina and is one of the busiest hairstylists there. He books out 4 weeks in advance. When I called he just got a cancellation at a time that was perfect for me…although I was going to make anything work. Until that day, I never thought about why Jimmy is so busy. Naturally you would assume he is good at what he does, and he is, or that he has cut hair a long time, and he has. Yet, I am confidant that is only part of why he is busy. It’s also because he has character that has clients plan well in advance and sometimes wait 4 weeks for a cut. When I arrived at the salon, Jimmy said “Are you with me tonight? Why?” I explained what happened and my panic of not getting my haircut and he said “Ok I understand, I was going to call Gina when I saw you were my next client.” He proceeded to give me a terrific cut, he followed the cut Gina had given me prior, and so I didn’t have a new look just a fresh haircut. And, we had a nice time talking about a variety of topics, how he started cutting hair, why, how long, and normal chit chat. Yet, I realized later not once did he try and convince me to see him and not Gina, instead at different times he would comment politely about Gina and how he enjoyed working next to her. When the cut was over he followed me to the counter and said “How much does Gina charge you?” I told him and he said “Great, that’s how much it will be tonight. Have a super trip.” I said “Jimmy you can charge me whatever you charge that’s only fair, you did me a favor and it was on your time.” He said “No you are Gina’s client, she would do the same for my clients.”

Jimmy’s true character showed. He had an opportunity to convince me I should see him and instead he showed me an example of a true friend with great character. He had Gina’s back the minute I walked in the door. It was refreshing. It says a lot about him and her. Too many people would have seen this situation as an opportunity to win a new client. I think those that do think that way, would have short term thinking. Plus, for me it wouldn’t past the golden rule test of do unto others and you would want done to you. I challenge all to be like Jimmy and practice the golden rule in life and business.

I got a great haircut, I felt good for the photo shoot, but most importantly Jimmy was a cut above and showed great character. Thanks Jimmy!

-Angela