Keepin’ it 100 with Willy T Earlier this week, I had the chance to lead a professional development session with a group of extremely bright and talented State Student Leaders of NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation. As we approach our Association’s Annual Conference in Boston (this weekend!!!) I was asked to focus the conversation on networking. During this session, we covered why it’s important, best practices, and networking-related quotes from “NIRSA Legends” that I gathered from some of my friends in the field. There’s one segment that I want to share with everyone because of its relevance to daily interpersonal touchpoints. It’s the concept of managing an “emotional bank account” when communicating. I’ll explain: When networking, it’s important to understand that the term itself is predicated upon mutual benefit. Similarly, to benefit a bank account, you’d want to put in deposits. Deposits in this sense can include being polite, positive nonverbal communication, remembering names and details, and sharing information that could benefit the other person. Withdrawals on the other hand, refer to the things that would take away from the positive experience of others such as being rude, interrupting, sharing too much, and pushing a personal agenda. Dr. Stephen Covey originally came up with this analogy, and he states that it is the base of all human relationships. We need to be cognizant of the deposits and withdrawals we’re making to maximize our communication with others and provide others with a positive experience. And as a financial advisor might suggest, it’s usually nice to make deposits before seeking withdrawals! With the NIRSA Annual Conference approaching - I’d be remiss if I didn’t post a throwback set of photos that exemplify one of the greatest experiences of my life. Serving as the NIRSA Student Leader, I had the chance to learn and grow with six student leaders and nine professional Member Network members as we represented the NIRSA member body for advocacy, development, and communication. I want to take the opportunity to thank this group for pushing me to be the networker, leader, and human that I am today. Pictured: (Jordan Bishop, Earl Cabellon, Margie Cole, David Davenport, Heather Foster, Jess Gentry, Vicki Highstreet, Kelsey Jones, Andy Lemons, Tiffany Murphy, Megan Normansell, David Parker, David Peters, Pat Shank, Brian Smith - Photo creds to my friends from StevenMillerPix) Peace, Love, and Networking,
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Keepin’ it 100 with Willy TFor a Super Bowl that set a record-low in points, not all was lost for me on Sunday. As a college graduate from the field of public relations, I grew up analyzing Super Bowl Ads to the highest degree (in class and just for fun). I grew a major fascination for it, and since then I’ve always enjoyed the mystery of the SB commercials just as much as the mystery of the game’s outcome. This year, the ad that stood above and beyond the rest was Microsoft’s “We All Win” commercial that promoted their new Xbox Adaptive Controller. I urge you to take a moment and watch the commercial, which “illustrates Microsoft’s commitment to building accessible technology that levels the playing field and creates opportunity for all of us.” (Microsoft). (If Owen stood out to you, it’s because he starred in Microsoft’s commercial released around Christmas that first promoted the product. I’ll link it at the end of the blog.) You can tell from his introduction alone that Owen is charismatic, witty, and inspirational. At 00:59, he exclimates his excitement that, thanks to this controller, “now everyone can play!” His dad, though, brings it home with his emotional take on his son being included. “One of our biggest fears early on was ‘How will Owen be viewed by the other kids?’ Let’s keep it 100, fam… THIS is what it’s all about. Thank you Microsoft for helping us all play. Thank you Owen, Grover, Sean, Ian, and Taylor for reminding us that when we all play, we all win. Peace, Love, and Inclusion,
Additional Resources:
Microsoft’s 2018 Holiday Ad: Reindeer Games (featuring Owen): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v70Fu2WU8-w More information about Microsoft’s Adaptive Xbox Controller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fcK19CAjWM Keepin' it 100 with willy t.
On my drive to Virginia last weekend, I grabbed my handy-dandy GoPro and timewarped the most beautiful part of Afton Mountain’s ascend toward the skies and descend through I-64 West overlooking one of the most mountainous and gorgeous parts of the state.
It drove me (pun intended) to write a poem and share:
A Haiku for Road Trips
The drive may be long. But, to enjoy life’s journey, Look out the window. Deep, right? Peace, Love, and Enjoying the Journey,
Keepin it 100 with Willy T.  Do you remember how invigorating it felt as a kid to count down from 100 and leap into “detective mode” amidst your neighborhood game of Hide and Seek? How about the excitement of counting down the New Year? Adults even wear diapers in NYC to partake in this bliss... If you haven’t made the connection between these moments and your workout routine, today’s the day. I was introduced to this tactic a few years ago and it’s assisted in successful completion of high-rep workouts ever since. Here are a few quotes for explanation and motivation: “Research published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that starting with the max number (i.e. 15 reps) and counting down shortens the perceived duration of the activity, which may make it feel easier. So, don’t count from 25 sit-ups; count from 25 to 1. And, maybe you’ll hate the task a little less. Happy counting! Resources:
Keepin' it 100 with willy t. Happy New Year, fam! Thanks for patiently waiting a couple weeks for me to hop back on the blog grind. I was globetrottin’ around over the holidays and needed some time for self-care and reflection before taking 2019 by storm. Over break, though, I came across a pretty dope social media post that’s stuck with me since the moment I saw it. The holidays aren’t easy for everyone… Whether it’s the stress of final exams, the loneliness of missing a loved one, or the burdens of finances and travel. Tom’s take on this is absolutely foundational for motivating myself out of stressful situations in the future:  “Life is funny. At times I feel utterly overwhelmed and unable to handle the stress that life throws my way. It's at those low points that I have felt that I am the farthest removed from the things that bring me joy in life. Flash forward to this past weekend watching a sunset in to the Gulf when I had a little bit of an epiphany. The sun rises and sets every single day, but it's at its lowest point is where people stop to appreciate its beauty. I found comfort in this thought that even at your lowest points, there is still an abundance of beauty in this thing called life. Keep it up, Tom - Your words inspired me and I hope they inspire many others!
Tom Giles is currently a Graduate Assistant for Competitive Sports at the University of Florida. Originally from the beautiful state of Michigan, Tom attended Oakland University (which is north of Detroit) for his undergraduate degree in exercise science. Tom’s passion is collegiate recreation which he has been heavily involved in, spanning multiple departments and schools. While working for RecSports at Florida, Tom is pursuing a master’s degree in sport management which he is excited to use as a future professional in the field of collegiate recreation. When he’s not working or studying, he LOVES being active. Once he’s worked up a sweat, Tom’s brain needs a workout too. His nightstand has a large stack of books waiting to be read and he is always appreciative of book recommendations.
Keepin' It 100 with Willy T. As the calendar year comes to a close, I’m focusing my blog on healthy goal-setting for those who are looking to make new commitments to themselves when the ball drops at Times Square in 13 days.  To cap off the series and as we head into the new year, I thought it would be beneficial to share goals from the awesome humans who make up the Globetrotter Wellness Team. 2018 was a wildly successful one for GWS, and lots of things are headed in the right direction for 2019. But first, I wanted to share some goals from the humans behind the organization. Steven Trotter: Principal One of my main goals for 2019 is to increase the brand awareness and reach for Globetrotter Wellness Solutions. I’ll take a strategic approach to this and make sure the goals and objectives align with our core mission, vision, and values. Let's breakdown the large goal: 1. Increase brand awareness and reach for Globetrotter Wellness Solutions in 2019. 1.1. Develop consistent, relevant, and accurate content to share with audiences. 1.1a. Create quarterly blog calendars with guest bloggers. 1.1b. Launch the Trotwell30 Podcast 1.1c. Create and deliver online courses 1.1d. Present at conferences around the globe. 1.2. Strengthen authentic relationships with clients, partners, and colleagues. 1.2a. Partner and sponsor events when appropriate 1.2b. Create monthly and quarterly newsletters to be delivered to clients and contacts. 1.2c. Feature clients in a spotlight on successes and achievements whether it be for personal or for work. 1.3. Grow and develop the Globetrotter Wellness Solutions team. 1.3a. Maintain constant communication with potential colleagues. 1.3b. Recruit guest bloggers to write for GWS. 1.3c. Place people in contract positions that align with their strengths. Alicia Lunsford 1. Incorporating regular self care weekly.
2. Find the joy in all my jobs.
Will Trent Goal: By the midpoint of the calendar year, I will have registered and completed a Spartan Race Sprint.
Goal: At the conclusion of the year, I will have a journal that completed with logged acts of kindness and entries of life’s appreciations.
--- Aaaaand that’s a wrap for Keepin’ it 100 with Willy T in 2018! Hopefully this series (and this blog in general) has encouraged you to think, to dream, to create, or to just have fun. Hopefully, we’ll all make 2019 the best year yet. One last quote as we ride off into the sunset: “We only have one life and one body to care of, and we better do it right. You never know what tomorrow may bring and so we better live this life the best we can and be grateful for everything we have.”
Keepin' It 100 with Willy T. I know the last few weeks have been more of a travel blog, but the trip has safely come to an end! However, still lots worth updating because I saved my favorite conference for last. The Collegiate Marketing Institute is designed to bring together marketers of collegiate recreation and student unions as a way to immerse a smaller group to focus on a niche subject matter. The ~175 attendees gathered in New Orleans to work through topics like social media management, analytics, marketing strategy, and so much more. I had the fortunate opportunity to present with Lauren Adams on “Putting the ‘Team’ Back in Marketing,” where we shared the ways we’ve empowered our respective teams to strengthen the internal brand community as a way to positively affect performance and help meet departmental goals. If you are interested in this topic, please hit me up - I’d love to share our presentation with you! Most importantly, this conference allowed me to reconnect with mentors and build relationships with students looking to become professionals in the marketing field. We did our fair share of New Orleans exploration, which by this point I felt like an expert in the area (haha). As I come back to reality and settle back into normalcy, there are a few things I appreciate a little extra this week:
Keepin' It 100 with Willy T. Coming to you LIVE from the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel in Sweet Home Alabama!  Over the next couple weeks, I have a really awesome opportunity to attend three conferences in multiple cities that I’ve yet to visit. I’ll do my best to keep you posted on my social media, and I’ll find a way to make my updates entertaining :) This week: I attended the NIRSA Region II Conference in Birmingham. Here are some highlights (photos below for some more context) -
 Steph Goetz (far right) and I completed grad school together at JMU. When we were students, we’d get taken to lunch at conferences by professionals, and we promised each other that we would return the favor when we “made it.” This has now become an annual tradition, and Dylan/JP are two incredible NIRSA students. Eugene’s Hot Chicken was the perfect setting with some great eats! Upcoming Travel:
This much travel is a good bit out of my comfort zone, so say a prayer and send me any travel tips you may have! Peace, Love, and Conferencing,
Keepin' It 100 with Willy T.  This one is powerful. Like, superpowerful (pun obviously intended). Marc and I originally met by working in the field of collegiate recreation, and he’s been an awesome source of support throughout my career. Hear from the King in the North himself on why he reads superhero comics to keep him going: "My typical day is never the same. Being a creature of habit, it is sometimes difficult to navigate hectic days of meetings, projects, meetings, emails, meetings, connecting with staff, oh, and meetings! Marc is currently the Executive Director for the Genesis Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a community hub whose mission is to connect people in shared celebration, service, learning, and play! Previously, he worked for over 20 years in Student Affairs at 3 different institutions with the International Students Office, Residence Services, and 15 years with Campus Rec. Along with his Master of Leadership, he has extensive experience in developing leaders of the future and is committed to ensuring a respectful, collaborative, and engaging work environment which values inclusion, continuous development, and fun! In no particular order, he has defined himself as: Devout Partner | Lego Dad | Baller | Raps Fan | Comic Geek | Changemaker | Human | Lifelong Learner
Keepin' It 100 with Willy T Last week’s blog metaphorically focused on my “Snickers,” or what I go to when I’m not feeling very “me” (here’s the blog if you need to catch up!). I encouraged friends to share with me what keeps them going and I received some awesome responses. So with this sweet treat in mind, I thought I’d share responses as we approach Halloween (or Hallowellness as Alicia coined it). Up first is Rachel Nicely, who keeps it 100 on why she exercises to ensure she’s giving her best self to those around her.  “With all the different roles that life demands, it is sometimes easy to get caught up in it all. Giving 100% of myself to those around me is on my every-day agenda, so I know that my cup needs to be completely full in order to serve those around me. When I’m not feeling my best, my go-to “Snickers” is without a doubt getting a solid lift or run in with my workout partner. Working out forces me to get out of my mindset no matter what kind of day I am having. It grounds me in a way that nothing else can! It reminds me how blessed I am to move my body is such an astounding way, while also allowing me to show gratitude for the opportunity to even have weights to lift or an environment to run in. Physical exercise refreshes my mindset and gives me a euphoric reminder of how lucky I am to live the life I do.” Rachel is a junior at Radford University currently studying Allied Health Science. In addition to studying at Radford, she’s a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. She loves inspiring others to be confident in themselves while also crushing goals not only inside the gym, but outside as well! She is employed at the Radford University Student Recreation and Wellness center working as the social media manager and as a personal trainer.
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Who we areJust a team of round pegs in a square hole changing the world one interaction at a time. Look back at it
March 2020
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