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,
1 Comment
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  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 19 days. To follow along with the series, here’s Part 1. Last week, I surveyed my followers on Instagram to get a pulse on their goal-setting habits. Here’s what I found: Q1: “Do you write out your goals?”  Q2: What is a goal of yours as you head into the new year? A: I’ll list below some of the most common answers:
What’s Next? If any of these goals sparked your creative juices or you have some personal goals in mind, it’s important to frame them in a way that they’re achievable and accountable. Here are a couple quick-read resources to help you turn those wishes into goals:
I’ll focus on putting these tactics into action and share some examples from inspirational friends and colleagues. Peace, Love, and Wellness,
‘Tis the season! The closer we get to the holidays, the more we see about “wish lists.” I have plenty of wishes of my own, many of which these days are less product-driven and more internally-focused. I wish that I could run a little faster, that I would spend more time focusing on others, that I would read more books, etc… One of my coworkers keeps a quote in his email signature that’s always peaked my interest: “A goal that is not in writing is only a wish.”  This series will not be a blog that encourages you to force upon yourself New Year’s Resolutions. In fact, I want to do the opposite. Over the course of my next couple blogs, I want to focus on healthy goal setting and transparently share with you my successes and learning opportunities. If you feel empowered to join me in setting goals for yourself, I’d love to hear about them along the way! Now is a better season than ever to spend some time in thought and begin writing down wishes so they become achievable goals. Hopefully, it’ll help you go the extra mile at work, push you to be personally accountable, and reach successes you’ve always hoped to achieve. So, my step one: Think. Put some serious time into thinking about your goals like you would a Christmas list. Step away from social media, grab a pen, and just write what comes to mind. Maybe it’s about goals, maybe it’s about thoughts, maybe it’s even a doodle for my creatives out there. Let some rough drafts drive you in the direction of beginning to think about writing down accountable goals you move forward. Peace, Love, and Holidays,
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 t4 Cities. 3 Conferences. Too many memories to condense to 100 words. 1 fulfilled self. The day this drops will be day 10 of my mega-conference road trip. Since my last blog, I’ve visited University of Alabama and LSU, as well as conquered (or attempted to conquer) the city of New Orleans throughout the Athletic Business Show. I’ve learned a lot about myself over the last week, and I’ll highlight my fun by showing a picture (or two) of each day:  Wednesday, November 7th Traveled from Birmingham to New Orleans with Steven and stopped along the way at The University of Alabama (rec center pictured). Our rental car got struck by lightning, and it was surprisingly underwhelming. We took it as a sign of good luck, and it’s proved to serve that purpose thus far! Thursday, November 8th We kicked off the Athletic Business Show by representing Fitness Asset Manager at the Expo… and rocking it! We ended the night at AB’s Social, which included a front-row seat to a cultural experience I will never forget (cue the music)!
Friday, November 9th Back at the Athletic Business Expo! This was a unique side of “conferencing” I had yet to experience and I appreciated the opportunity to represent Globetrotter Wellness Solutions and Fitness Asset Manager. I rounded out the evening by enjoying Steven’s session on “Building Rockstar Teams.” Would you believe that we “stayed in” in NOLA on a Friday Night? We were poised for a big Saturday in the Big Easy..
Saturday, November 10th We capped off the final day of Athletic Business as Steven presented (again!) on facility management. With half of our Saturday left for NOLA exploration, we found all of the beauty! The music, the markets, the Cafe Du Monde beignets, and the Bourbon Street Madness. It. Was. Epic.  Sunday, November 11th Took a victory lap around the French Quarter before heading to Baton Rouge for a couple days. Got dinner with two long time NIRSA friends and special humans, Kelly and Tori. Would you believe that I forgot to snag a picture? Monday, November 12th GEAUX TIGERS! Toured LSU’s Award-Winning UREC and completed an intense workout. This place is incredible - If you’re anywhere nearby you need to see it for yourself! I have so much love and appreciation for my good friend Kelsey (and Kelly) for the hospitality. Got an athletic facility tour at LSU’s Tiger Stadium, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and all of the athletic goodness between. Even met Mike the Tiger, the (actual) Tiger that lives on campus! Very special thanks to my new friend Paige for the exclusive tour. Tuesday, November 13th I have to write these a day or two in advance, so I’m planning to grab a morning UREC workout and meet with some of the staff to learn about the great things they do. From here, I’ll drive back to New Orleans to cap off my mega-conference trip at the Collegiate Marketing Institute with NIRSA and ACUI colleagues Wednesday through Friday. Again, I have endless appreciation for everyone who’s been able to make this trip happen. Peace, Love, and Keepin’ it 100,
|
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
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed