The Importance Of Transparency

According to Dictionary.com the definition of transparent is.. "allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen." I think that being transparent in business is so important in order to build trust and meaningful relationships with both customers and coworkers. Here are the five reasons that I think transparency is a necessity in business. 

Builds Trust

Trust is everything when trying to gain new clients or trying to understand your coworkers. Without trust a business cannot be sustainable. To excel in business you need to trust the people you are working for and with and they need to trust you. Trust is the backbone for success. Check out this great article that gives ways to build trust inside your business. 

Creates Better Relationships

This one is similar to building trust. Transparency allows for trust to be built, which in turn allows you to create better more meaningful relationships. Better relationships help you so much in business. Creating solid relationships allows you to gain loyalty, better word-of-mouth and a better image for yourself. Still not convinced that you need to build relationships in the workplace? View this article about why workplace relationships matter. 

Gains More Engagement

In the 2013 Harvard Business Review employee engagement survey it was found that 70 percent of those surveyed said they’re most engaged when senior leadership continually updates and communicates company strategy. It is so important to be open so that customers and employees know what is going on and feel like they matter because you take the time to update them. 

Gives High Quality Solutions

By being open and honest you can solve problems faster and with high quality solutions. You know the saying two heads are better than one? This is the concept behind this point about why transparency is import. When you are trying to solve something or do not know what to do try being transparent and asking for advice. The outcome will always be better! 

Allows For Better Alignment

Transparency allows for better alignment because when you are transparant your goals, vision and mission are known and every aspect of your business can align correctly. If you want to reach your goals faster and in a much smoother method be transparent and everyone will be on the same page. 

Enjoy! 

Habits Of The Successful

Everyone wants to be successful at whatever it is they are doing. Success is not always guaranteed and we are all going to fail at some time, but here are some of my top favorite habits I have learned that have helped me to be successful.

Keep A Journal

Did you know that historical figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte kept a journal? Journaling is great to write down thoughts, emotions and ideas. There have even been studies done that show journaling helps us deal with stressful events.

Read

I am a total bookworm. Above is a recent post that I did that showed my top reasons to read more. Reading is essential for building knowledge. Bill Gates is an avid reader and we all know how successful he is. Elon Musk claims that he learned to build rockets by reading books. 

Stick To Morning Routines

If you do not have a morning routine that gives your day structed and energy than you need to create one right away. My morning routine is everything and helps me to be successful all day. I start my day by drinking 24 ounces of water, reading for 20 minutes and drinking my coffee. Check out these morning routines of the most successful people.

Be Conscientious

According to Dictionary.com conscientious can be defined as "wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly". Based off this definition you can see that we all need to be conscientious in order to be successful. Research has found that conscientiousness is the only major personality trait that consistently predicts success.

Practice Gratitude

I feel that a lot of us sometimes forget how far a little bit of gratitude can go. Not only does gratitude help you to make others feel good, it will also make you feel good about yourself. Check out these 29 unique ways to show gratitude. 

Exercise Regularly

To be successful we need to make sure our bodies are in shape and can function the way they are suppose to. Exercise and eating well are the top ways to do this. When I do not exercise I am less motivated, less inspired and less creative. Need a little more convincing as to why you should exercise? Here is a list of 19 reasons to workout that are beyond having the perfect body. 

Know When To Say 'No'

We can't do everything and it is important to know when to say no to things that are not going to add value or get us to our goals. A good way to figure out when to say "no" to is to define your main objective and always think about that objective when deciding if you should accept or decline.

Listen To Others

Deependra Dobriyal says, "Listen more, talk less. Be attentive in every meeting. Hear everyone out, no matter how useless you think their ideas are." Having the ability to listen to people is key to winning them over in every aspect of life. Learning to listen more is a great asset to have when on the road to success.

Enjoy! 

Healthy Kid Approved Snacks For School

Did you know that nutritional deficiencies can affect brain growth and performance in students? We all know the feeling of being hungry and unmotivated, increase feelings of alertness and motivation to learn with these easy and healthy snacks. My mom and I are going to bring you three of our favorite healthy snacks for school that will help keep your kids learning and focused!

Brianna’s Three Favorite Snacks For School

My first favorite snack for school that helps keep me learning and focused are Chocolate Almond Butter Energy Balls. Not only is this snack delicious, it is also packed with protein to help keep your kids fuller for longer. You wouldn’t know it by tasting them, but there is also a healthy hidden ingredient in them...BLACK BEANS! Coming from someone who hates black beans your kids will have no idea and will think they are eating a yummy chocolate treat.

My second favorite treat for school is Peanut Butter Dip. This snack is super versatile and delicious. It also has greek yogurt to give your kids extra protein, while also giving them good fats and carbs. My favorite way to eat this is with apples, but you can also enjoy it with celery or any other fruit or veggie.

I saved the best for last! My final treat that I am going to share with you is Protein Almond Butter Energy Bites! I eat these every single afternoon to keep me full between lunch and dinner. They have lots of protein and healthy fats that really give you a boost. These are always my go to if I am feeling hungry and in need of a healthy snack.

My mom, Shannon loves to bake too. She always had yummy snacks for us after school and brought great ones to school for our birthdays and special (or everyday) events too. Here are three of her favorites that she loves making for my brothers and I….

My first treat to share is one of Hagan’s new favorites and it is super easy. I cut up a banana and drizzle almond infused honey over the pieces in a bowl. Sometimes I even add a little scoop of Sweet Freedom ice cream which has half the calories of regular ice cream but so good!

My second treat to share and one that I love making for my kids is banana bread. I use a recipe from my hometown church cookbook but make a few changes. One of the biggest changes is that I add applesauce instead of a ½ cup of butter. Hagan, Brady and Brianna have all loved making this with me. It is definitely a family favorite!

The third treat to share is Brianna’s favorite and it is called Hot Buttered O’s. My mom made these too when I was little. You just melt a little coconut oil in a pan and make sure it is hot. Then add a few cups of Cheerios and stir them constantly to toast them in the hot oil. Once they are toasted, you can season them with salt or whatever seasoning you would like. They are more nutritious than popcorn and oh so good!

Enjoy!

Tips To Staying Healthy At Work

For those of who do not know, I love personal health and wellness! I believe that even when at work it is essential to take care of yourself. Staying healthy at work will lead to fewer missed workdays, greater productivity and less stress. Below are five tips to staying healthy at work. 

1. Move Around

One of the most important things you can do during your day to stay healthy is to exercise. This could be as simple as walking around during your lunch. Getting up and moving around helps to not only burn calories, but also helps to de-stress and refresh your body for the rest of your day. I like to get up and move around at least every hour and then I do a workout in the afternoon. Allowing myself this time helps me to stay focused and not get overwhelmed. 

2. Drink Enough Water

Drinking enough water is a must! You should be drinking at least eight to ten glasses of water everyday. This will help you stay hydrated, which will help to beat the afternoon lull that many people feel. It is also good to eat foods that have a good source of water, such as oranges, grapes, and apples. An easy way to make sure you are getting enough water is to bring a 16 ounce water bottle to work and try to finish it by lunch, then finish two more in the afternoon. Also, setting reminders is a good way to make sure you are staying hydrated. 

3. Eat A Healthy Lunch

Eating a healthy lunch at work is an important part of a balanced diet. Packing a lunch beforehand and insuring you are practicing portion control is a great way to make sure you are not eating too many calories and then sitting all afternoon. Meal prepping on Sunday is how I make sure I have healthy lunches on hand that are the correct portions. 

4. Limit Caffeine Intake

Morning coffee is a must for me, but remember, everything needs to be in moderation. I have my morning coffee and then I do not have any more caffeine for the day. I like to drink decaffeinated tea in the afternoon, then I do not have an afternoon caffeine crash. If you are needing an afternoon boost try green tea or matcha, both will give you some energy without the crash. 

5. Be Self-Aware

Being self-aware is my #1 tip. In order to really stay healthy you need to be self-aware and know yourself and your limits. Knowing when to take breaks and when to take a vacation is very important. It is also important to get in a mindset that recognizes that exercise is a must. Exercise will help you both physically and mentally in all facets of your life. 

Go Get Healthy! 

Book Club Questions For 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster & Starting You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

I can't believe we are already onto the next book for Books Without Borders! The first book that we read was 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster. Honestly, I could not finish this book. I got 30% of the way through, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. The writing in this book was amazing and for you out there that like this style of book, I am sure you loved it!

Based on what I read, I have a couple questions for you who are participating. I would love to hear your responses either in the comments or on social media! 

1. Of the three (longer) lives of Archibald Ferguson—a journalist, a memoirist, a novelist—which do you prefer? Which engaged you more, which has a preferable outcome in your estimation?

2. To what degree, in terms of an irreducible identity, are the Archies similar? Are they sometimes too similar, making it hard to distinguish one life from another? Or do you find each Archid distinct from the other?

3. Archie's "sole ambition" is to "become the hero of his own life." Does he achieve this goal in any of his incarnations? What does that ambition say about someone?

The second book we are going to be reading is You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. We will be starting You Are A Badass on March 1st and ending on April 1st.

Synopsis From Goodreads: "Bestselling author, speaker, and success coach Jen Sincero cuts through the din of the self-help genre with her own verbal meat cleaver. Full of blunt humor, sage advice, and the occasional swear word, You are a Badass offers its readers new opportunities for growth through 35 chapters of exercises, suggestions, and hilariously inspiring stories.

From "Fear is for Suckers" to "Your Brain is Your Bitch" these chapters provide enlightening lessons: How to stop doubting your greatness, how to love what you don't love about yourself, and how to tap into source energy to live a bigger life than you've ever imagined."

A reminder that this is a very relaxed book club. You can read a book than skip a book then come back and read another book with the club. Whatever you want to do. We are super excited to get started and hope you all will join us. :) To learn more visit the 2017 Books Without Borders Tackk!

Let's Get Reading!