Getting dramatically better at life and work
By Michael Kline

We all know people who seem to get ahead quickly and easily in life. Everything they touch turns to gold, they’re always happy and everyone likes them. There is no such person of course, yet we wonder why we can’t be
more them. What?! First, let’s get envy out of the way, then, we’ll talk about getting you happier. Never be envious of anyone, for anything; you never know another person’s whole story, the burdens they bear or the future they hold.
Your own life is a gift with its own treasures, even if those treasures are sometimes well hidden. That said, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be better at relationships, be happier with your work, make more money, remove
stress in your life, have more friends, etc. Let’s get you the resources you need to achieve whatever you want in
life.

Having resources, such as money, education, time, family support, wit, charm, good looks, etc. seem to give a person an advantage in every aspect of life. This is a myth spread by people making excuses. Resourcefulness is so
much more powerful than resources. Plenty of people, including many celebrities in the news, have clearly been given too many resources. Countless wealthy (and poor) children have been spoiled with resources and have no idea how to take responsibility for anything. Don’t make yourself one of them. Even though I came from very humble roots and strict rearing, sometimes I wonder if I spoiled myself when I feel whiny and unhappy with an outcome. I remember as a child, being told as to “suck it up” and get to work. Sometimes I find it valuable to say that to myself again.

Resources that really matter, almost anyone can find on their own  – a positive attitude costs nothing, yet can inspire someone to invest in your ideas. Education is free or nearly free. I’m not talking about brand-name degrees that even very successful people can’t pay off, but the education from life experience, books and mentors. Even if you already have the formal education, where do you get the advanced education to really move ahead? Or, does the education you need involve people skills they don’t teach in school?

I am far from the most successful business person, and I’m far from the best looking, most fit, most loved, most educated, well-read, etc. So I can’t help you be any of those things. I am, however, really good at making a
life I love. I have achieved the goals I’ve worked toward, and I will achieve the goals I work toward in the future. If you want a piece of that action, here’s my secret: O.P.R. - Other People’s Resources.  Remember the cliché investment advice called“Other People’s Money”?  This is the same idea. Don’t accept  what you have because you lack resources. You need to accept full responsibility and learn to be resourceful. The resources are all around you. The best and most available of those resources is information – in the form of free advice. Be careful you don’t take it from negative people who want to keep you down with them. Ask for, and take advice from positive people who are good at something you want help with. Knowledgeable, positive people are happy to help. If they aren’t, you’re asking the wrong person. Your mentor does not need to be in the same department, company or even industry – it depends on the skills you seek.

Kindness is good for the economy
By Michael Kline

Hopefully by now, you’ve heard all about the kindness aspects of the Be Kind Fest coming up in just nine days. Now, I would like to share the economics and goals of the festival.

First, we have to understand that festivals in general are good for the local economy, but community celebrations are not about the economy. They are about the residents and families, the sharing, the fellowship, the celebration of community and important occasions like holidays, harvests and patriotism. Festivals and community celebrations improve quality of life in many aspects.  Even a family with little or no money can occasionally find time to enjoy the humblest of events, with free parades, fireworks, concerts and fairs. I remember as a very young child, one of very few family outings we could afford, was going to the annual Fourth of July parade in tiny-town Ohio, where my Dad’s tow truck was always prominently featured. Following right behind the fire trucks, as if we could get more excited after covering our ears from the sirens and having candy thrown at us, we would see Dad commanding his impressive (impressive to me anyway) wrecker, as we called it. He’d honk the horn and we waved excitedly, and  rightly so, for the big deal it was. Indeed, community celebrations make us and our community whole, and are well-worth supporting on their own merit without any need to prove economic benefit.

This all started in 2011 as Kindness Weekend as a much smaller affair, but with impressive impact. The goal was to put traffic in the village to support local businesses, while delivering the kindness message, and to add to the image of the community as a supremely desirable place to visit. At the end of the event, we decided that to grow to its full potential and to be sustainable, it would require more volunteers, professional staff and a broader sense of purpose.

A year later, while working on marketing projects and contemplating the need for fundraising for Visiting Nurse, Home Care & Hospice, it took about two seconds to see the obvious fit. It took about two more seconds to recognize that partnering with Evergreen Institute for Wellness, another non-profit with similar values and mission made even more sense. Several goals and guiding principles were soon laid out for the Be Kind Fest.  

1.    Deliver the kindness message, involve as many schools and as much of the community as possible, and cause lasting ripple effects of  kindness.

2.     Raise money ($20,000 is our first year goal) to share between the two non-profits.

3.     Create marketing value out of the event for both agencies, expanding their marketing budget.

4.     Create another reason for visitors to come before Memorial Day, especially for Canadian markets for their Victoria Day Weekend. Local hotels are promoting kindness packages, and we’re getting publicity out of state and in
Canada. Turning 10 weekends of summer into 11 weekends of summer is a 10% increase for the season. Multiply that times all the shops, restaurants and hotels that employ and support so much of our community and you see the value of carefully choosing our dates and promotions. This was only accomplished with the support of the MWV Chamber of Commerce, N. Conway Village Association and Settler’s Green.

5.     Provide a tremendous value. As a charitable cause, we sometimes just ask for money. Working entrepreneurially, we offer something more valuable than money in exchange for the funds we seek. This is an entrepreneurial event. Thanks to the Mount Washington Radio group, we have a major outdoor concert that
is totally free. Thanks to Cranmore Mountain, we have an adventure day in their park, totally free on Sunday the 19th, a week earlier than they normally open. Thanks to the MW Observatory and The Local Grocer, we have two additional free educational programs. Thanks to dedicated teachers and schools, we have hundreds
  of children adding kindness to their curriculum and sharing their gifts of kindness through art, music and essays. Thanks to Settler’s Green, Old Navy and Kiwanis, we had Michael Chase motivate Kennett students about a better life involving kindness. Thanks to dozens of wellness practitioners, we will introduce wellness practices to a large number of people for free. The list goes on and on!
6.     Find ways to bring out-of-state money into the community. We need to stop relying solely on the same small businesses to support all our events, as we keep passing around the same money and gift certificates to each other. So, we created a donation card system for tourism based shops to raise money starting February vacation week, to invite mostly visitors to contribute. With only a few stores participating in our first year, we raised over $5,000 by
collecting $1 at a time, while allowing donors to feel a little better for contributing. We are also working toward larger sponsors from out of state, to bring in support for next year’s event.
 
So, for personal and economic reasons, be kind. I hope you will participate in and support the Be Kind Fest as well, as it is many things on top of being a fundraiser for two important local non-profits, doing the work of angels. Be sure to thank and patronize the sponsors who give so much to our local community – that’s just good business.

Michael Kline is a local retailer, success coach and trainer. He may be reached through his website, www.klineseminars.com, or e-mail, mike@klineseminars.com.