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Category Archives: Standard

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Rear View Mirror Design

Are You Using Your Rear View Mirror?

May 17, 2019
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Effective leadership requires a 360 degree view. Vision and seeing forward is a integral ingredient of effective leadership. Equally as important is seeing what you are leaving in your wake. I call this self awareness. Are we willing to look in the rear view mirror of life and see how we affect others by our words, attitudes and actions?

For some, self awareness is intuitive and for others, not so much.

Now don’t get me wrong, we all have our blind spots. We all occasionally find ourselves dealing with pride, and selfishness. Sometimes we don’t notice the unhealthy things we are doing that may affect ourselves and others. But this does not have to be the norm.

Just like a good car operator we need to stop and check our mirrors when navigating the relationships in our life. Relational wrecks can be as destructive as the ones in our automobile. They can often be avoided though, by slowing down and checking your mirrors once in awhile to see if you have run someone off the road, or worse yet run them over. The only way to know this is to glance back, while still keeping our eyes on the road.

 

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Back in Balance

Getting Back in Balance

May 6, 2019
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Have you ever lost your emotional balance? Recently, I found myself having an unusual number of bad days in a row. There was a noticeable aggravation lingering in my spirit. The problem was I could not identify anything specific that was causing it.

As I reflected on current events in my life I just could not identify anything out of the norm. There were the usual problems, nagging health issues with myself and  people I love, people getting on my nerves, things just not working like I had hoped. None of these were anything new. Nothing drastic had changed that would throw me into this low spot I was experiencing. It was just everyday life. I thought to myself, what am I missing?

It took some uncomfortable time sitting still in silence to realize that my life, particularly my thought life, had lost its balance. It had become predominantly focused on me and less on others.

I know this may sound trite and simplistic, but all it took was a few intentional acts of generosity toward others and I could feel my spirit and attitude righting itself almost immediately.

This Sunday is Mothers Day. Reach out, whether it’s in person, by phone or just resurrecting a memory of your mother. Practice focusing on someone other than yourself and see what happens.

 

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80% Success is Showing Up Design

Showing Up

March 28, 2019
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One of the many great principles that organized sports teaches is the value of “showing up”. You may ask, how is something as simple as showing up a great principle? Isn’t it just an expectation of any participant?. Yes it is, but showing up teaches a valuable lesson. We discover the true potential or value of an individual, or a team, when there is a strong commitment to showing up.

What Coaching Taught Me

As a coach, I enjoyed helping to shape and mold young people through the sport or activity I led. As one of my jobs, I helped them find their sweet spot, that thing they loved to do so much that showing up wasn’t a problem. In fact, if not being able to show up and participate was heartbreaking for them, I knew I had found their sweet spot. Often finding this place took time, courage, risk and vulnerability. I sometimes had to move them around a bit and try them in different places.

From time to time, a player who had been on the team would choose to do something else. I wished they would come out for the team and wondered if I had failed to be a good enough leader. It wasn’t enough that they were already a part of something else. They had to be on my team!

I can now honestly say I have grown past the point of wanting everyone on my team. More importantly I no longer feel like a failure when those I lead make a different choice. What I now find important to me is that everyone is showing up somewhere. If they are adding their God given value where they are, being generous with their talent and their time, encouraging others and showing their love for the game or cause, then I am happy.

A Showing Up Challenge

Finally, the thought for the week is, are you showing up somewhere? And, if so, how do you know if you’re showing up in the right place? I think it is as simple as this – will you be missed if you are not there? It’s not all about your physical talent or ability. Your support, encouragement, work ethic, and leadership are other necessary ingredients of a well functioning team. If you don’t show up, will you be missed?

Today, ask the people you show up with if they would miss you if you were gone.  Their answers and the reasons they would miss you might surprise you.  It’s likely not what you would think.

I believe there is a place, a sweet spot, for every humble soul. Now, find yours and go show up!

 

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Brand Name Design

Your Name

February 15, 2019
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Did you know that the future of your next event could depend on your recognition products and the name they bear?  What you give and how you present it is very important!

There is a reason why many events give every participant a t-shirt. And no, it’s not because you need more T-shirts. You’re given a t-shirt in the hope you will wear it, because by wearing it you are helping to promote the event name for the future. T-shirts are one way, a good way, but not the only way.

Athletic Events

At Apple Awards we provide recognition products for the American Birkebeiner®, the largest ski race in North America and  second in the world. The organizers of this race are professionals who know the value of promoting their name to all 13,000 participants. Each one goes home from this event with multiple items that are personalized with their name. In the past couple of years they have gone through a major branding overhaul to create easily recognizable and trademarked images, colors and logos. They have done a masterful job of placing these images on every medal, pin, plaque, shirt, race bib, or gift that goes home with a participant.  These items are displayed in homes and offices all over the world. They are conversation starters and reminders for the participants. They are key elements of branding and name recognition for future events.   

Other Events

Even non athletic events give tokens. The brass medallion with its raven icon from my altMBA course this fall is a good example.  It’s sitting on my desk as a daily reminder of my participation, and at times a conversation starter with visitors. Conferences, contests and almost any event that has participants can easily brand their event with a personalized product that people will appreciate. 

Here at Apple Awards we’ve had a paradigm shift as we think about why and how we produce  recognition products.  Most importantly, it has expanded our purpose from just being producers of awards, to being marketers, helping to promote future events.

In conclusion, if you run an event, big or small, have you thought about the importance of sending something home with each participant, something that boldly display’s your events name on it? Let us help you work on the future success of that event with our wide variety of personalized recognition products. It’s all about your name.

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How to Find Your Purpose

January 29, 2019
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Purpose

Back in 2002 Rick Warren wrote a book called the Purpose Driven Life. What I believe Rick was trying to show us in this book is that life just goes better when we live it with purpose. Our true  purpose in this life is not always something that is obvious to us. As a result of our own choices or choices made by those in authority around us, we can find ourselves in circumstances or an environment that makes our purpose easy to miss. So, we know we want it but how do we find it?

Early on in my adult life, I remember thinking that “doing” made all the difference in living a life of purpose. To some extent it was true. What I missed was, the “doing” is only part of the formula, the second part.

First, Be Still.

Quickly, I learned that the only way I could feel good about what I was doing was if I first quieted myself enough to reflect and listen to what I needed to do. This was a really hard thing for me to do, and as I write this, I am realizing it still is, to some extent.

I believe there are two primary ways to quiet yourself and work through questions regarding life,  through meditation or prayer. Myself, I choose prayer because to me prayer is a conversation with my creator, the author of life.

Secondly, Act!

So, I guess what I am recommending is, learn to be still and reflect before action, but don’t forget you must also act. Through regular attention to both prayer and action I believe your true purpose in this life will be revealed.

A Caution

When you are still there will be competing voices for your attention, good and evil. One will tell you that you are worthy and one will try to tell you are worthless. The truth is that you are the first and if you don’t see that you may need some help. It’s ok, we all need help!

For more on purpose in life and business see our post on Growth and Purpose.

Being Still, on Purpose

 

 

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Is Your Ship Sinking Design

Growth and Purpose: Is Your Ship Sinking?

January 25, 2019
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I believe the key to any successful life or business is a purpose (service) and a growth mindset. One without the other rarely impresses me.

One of my favorite things to do while on vacation is to admire the creativity of business enterprises, big and small. Everyone from the airline we fly to the restaurants we eat at, the resort we stay at and the shops we visit. The longer we’re engaged with them the more we see their uniqueness and personality or lack thereof, come out. The same holds true for the people we meet. It doesn’t take long to notice if the motivating factor for their life or enterprise is service or self. Soon, it becomes evident if the person or enterprise is growing, coasting or is declining.

Let me define a couple terms:

Purpose

Without a servant heart and attitude there is very little purpose beyond $money$ in what and why we do what we do. When things get hard and money is scarce the dream can easily die.

Growth

The saying goes “if you’re not moving forward, you’re standing still or moving backwards.”

The natural illustrations are everywhere on this. Stop pedaling your bike and coast, eventually you stop and tip, the ride is over. The plane you’re on stops fueling the engines, and it starts to glide.  We all know what happens next.

True to the pattern, the minute I quit investing in my personal or career growth, the decline is soon to follow.  First things will flatten out and I will glide on the momentum I previously had, then the downward trajectory will follow.

Is Your Ship Sinking?

I am convinced that this is a law of nature and no person or business is above it.  Whether it is my business, job, relationships or my spiritual walk, I must take time to think about the why (purpose) and how (growth) regarding what I am doing.

How about you? Take an inventory and ask yourself if you are growing, coasting or falling? If this causes you alarm or concern regarding your life or enterprise, take heart! Awareness and thinking about it is a big, first step. I’m going to be sharing some of my own thoughts on these important issues in the next few posts. Join me as I explore how to right the ship before it goes under and sinks.

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Participation

Participation Matters!

January 22, 2019
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What would it take to change your mind about awarding participation? A compelling argument, or do you need indisputable facts? Let’s look at an issue that’s been debated as long as there have been contests and winners and losers.

I actually believe in giving participation trophies, and not just because I am an awards provider. It actually makes good sense because participation is a big deal.

Some believe that we should only award the best, the competition’s winners.  If we award the participant we are sending the wrong message – that everyone is a winner just for showing up.

But, isn’t this true in much of life? Isn’t it the showing up and participating that counts? No one, not even the youngest of children, when handed a second place or a participation trophy after losing a contest, thinks they won the contest. But they can still feel proud and appreciated by the event’s planners for showing up and making it a contest. Think about it.  If only the best team shows up, there is no contest.

A well thought out awards plan, even one including participation trophies, can serve multiple purposes.

  1. It recognizes great skill and achievement for the champions
  2. All participants are thanked and appreciated for participating and making it a contest.
  3. Everyone goes home with a token or a gift, a reminder that they participated in that event so they remember it and want to come back. (This is how great event planners market their events. They send everyone home with something that has the event’s name on it.)

In February, one of the biggest single events that we provide awards for, the American Birkebeiner®, sends everyone, all 10,000 participants, home with a participation trophy – a medal or year pin signifying that they finished the the Birkie for the first or the 45th time. This is one of the reasons, I believe, that it is one of the greatest events on snow and it sells out every year!

Participation matters!

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Let's Get Personal Design

Personalize It!

December 19, 2018
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Think About It

Have you ever thought about how important it can be to personalize a gift? Design is important and a well designed product or gift can quickly and decisively communicate your message. However, if you are giving a gift, but fail to communicate  your feeling in words, your efforts could be lost.

Sometimes, just the act of giving a gift is enough. But, so much better when you take the time to communicate a feeling along with the gift. It can take an ordinary gift and turn it into extraordinary. In fact, the “what’s it for?” is likely the most important question to ask when trying to show appreciation. All these things can be added when you personalize the gift.

The most meaningful, long lasting gifts, I believe, have a compelling “what’s it for?”

To Personalize Adds Value

What is the difference between a $50 gift  and a $150 gift when both are exactly the same object? The difference in the $150 gift might be that it includes a part of you. You invested the time and mental resources to think of something to say. You took the time and energy to have that object transformed into a unique expression. It is the very same $50 object, yet the extra $100 investment represents a valuable, personal message of appreciation.

Are you able to clearly and quickly identify the purpose of what and why you give, whether in the marketplace, your community or at home? Is it for creativity, faithfulness, leadership, longevity? Have you highlighted personal value and influence? What memory will it reinforce for the recipient?  If not, I believe it is worth taking the time to think and get a clear “what’s it for” in mind. Doing this could lead to enhanced relationships, more purpose and greater creative energy in your life.

Let Us Make It Easy

At Apple Awards, we want to give you many ways in which you can personalize that gift to show appreciation, to reward and to memorialize. Our sports plaques for teams have a feature on the back for player autographs.  Adding etching, engraving, your logo or a special photo to the gift make it unique and specific. Our technical, in house experts can do all these things and more for your project. And for your convenience it’s easy to order and see a product preview on our website. To personalize is our aim. Get in touch with our design team and let us show you how we do it.

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