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Motivation

Book Launch Party with FREE Download

Yay for Book Launch parties… virtual ones, too!

What an adventure it is to write and publish a book. I’ve learned a ton in this process, but most of all, (and best of all), going through this process has changed me.Kind of like when I knew so much about marriage — before I got married.

And when I planned out all my perfect parenting strategies — before I became a parent.

I think I know so much — until I actually step out of my comfort zone.

It’s easy to wax eloquent about showing up for our lives and chasing our dreams. It’s a whole different story to step out in faith and take action. Anyone?

We don’t know what we don’t know. How grateful I am that we can be leading learners!

Someone asked me the other day what prompted me to write a book espanolfarmacia.net. Great question.

I wasn’t sure how to answer at first and then after some thought, I said, “You know, when we do the thing we’re made for, it inspires people around us to show up for their lives, too. I’ve learned from and been inspired by so many people, it’s time I stepped up and contributed.”

Living Your Legacy is my contribution to inspiring, motivating, and helping leaders recognize their impact and intentionally build cultures of honor. At work. At home. In life.

CLICK HERE to download your FREE copy of Living Your Legacy.

Make sure you download the free Kindle version as soon as possible. It’s only free until midnight tonight.

*Be generous and share this LINK with your tribe. 🙂

**And if you read anything inspiring or helpful, will you do a favor for me? Will you click on this link HERE and leave an honest one or two sentence review? It will help the book stay at the top of the rankings. That way, others can easily find the book, too.

And, one more thing… click Reply to this post and tell me what dream you have brewing inside you that might require you to step out of your comfort zone and be a leading learner.

This post was originally posted over at www.eieiolsonfamily.blogspot.com.

“You Are The Average Of…”

You know the saying. You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with.

Last night, we spent the evening with an extraordinary family. Before they arrived, we were mere acquaintances. Yet, from the moment their coats were hung and the salad and side dish they brought were set on the table, the conversation volleyed creativity and ideas and possibilities.

Although dinner time was early in the evening, our conversation went late. These people cultivate a no excuses culture in their marriage and in their home. (Yes, please. Surround me with more of that.)

Encounters like these are oxygen for when the journey is long and our creative brain starts to get a little foggy. Here’s a bit of motivation . . . at one point in the conversation, the husband said, “My work doesn’t bring its’ own reward, so I need to find ways to bring the intensity.”

Bring the intensity. I smiled. I told him I hadn’t heard that term used in at least three weeks, ever since Isaiah moved back to the States.

People who look for ways to bring the intensity are typically people who also take extreme ownership for their lives. They’re always upping the ante, for themselves and whoever has the privilege of sharing their space. It’s refreshing.

Later in the evening, we got on the topic of our personal websites. I told them about the website I’ve had for three years — which only four or five people know about. His response was classic.

“Wait. You have a website no one visits? You don’t share it?”

I cringed. Without an ounce of shaming, his question challenged me to face my pride and ego and move forward.

So, here it is. My website: www.sharonannolson.com

One of the ongoing projects in my life.

And thanks to our new friends, (they’re brave, daring, audacious folks who foster undaunted faith and passionate mindsets), I’m rolling out the red carpet and inviting you in.

Please excuse the dust, the mess, and the noise. Hardhat recommended. We’re in the process of figuring out what it means to bring the intensity.

How about you?

Do you have any projects right now which might be challenging you to take a daring step of faith?

To bring the intensity espanalibido.com?

Who are the people in your life who energize and infuse intensity into your dreams? (Have you told them thank you?)

Reading Not So Obvious Books To Be A Better Parent

It wasn’t long before I realized that reading parenting books only put limits on gaining invaluable parenting skills.

Today Israel and I were talking about all the books I read. (Again. Yes, this is an ongoing subject in our house. Though, slowly, I’m converting these five people in my world into readers. And I press on toward the high calling…) Somehow we got on the topic of what genre fills most of our shelves.

Interesting, while parenting books fill twice the number of shelves in our home, I’ve read mostly other genres over the past 20 years. Business and leadership. Self-help. Ministry. Military strategy. Books written by surgeons and doctors regarding the health industry. Philosophy. Autobiographies and biographies.

Of course, there’s a plethora of fiction (delicious brain candy) sprinkled throughout — though I have a long-standing policy that the fiction I read has to either 1) be on the reading list of the Book Club I’m in or 2) be recommended by a trusted source. smile.

Here’s the thing, I’ve obsessed — yes, I’m intentionally using that word — over my mission of motherhood. This platform of parenthood in which I take the whole business of training and shaping the character of another human being — yeah, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

So, one of my dreams is to take the books I’ve read over the last 20 years and put them in condensed form.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re an engineer, a doctor, a teacher, a receptionist, a real estate mogul, a pastor, the basic principles of leadership, performance, and success apply across the board.

Lest I leave you with the notion that we’ve figured this parenting thing out, let me assure you that we’re very much in the trenches… we’re simply inviting you to join us? As of this afternoon, we are working through several issues… yeah, I promise you, it’s messy over here. But I have this burning passion for whole relationships, authentic connections, soul-deep intimacy. In marriages. In families. In friendships. In corporate settings.

In order to make this project as relevant and helpful as possible, I need your help.

  • What specific areas of (your job) parenting are your greatest challenges right now, (i.e. communication, culture, boundaries, honor, trust, etc)?
  • If we could spend the afternoon together, what would you want to talk about? (I ask that one a lot, don’t I? humble smile. I really, really want to spend the afternoon with you!)
  • What are the most critical initiatives for your family over the next six months?
  • When your children complain, what do they say?
  • What do you expect of yourself this year?
  • What does your family expect of you this year?
Oh! To spend the afternoon with you! (The thought of it lights me up!) To discuss and brainstorm ideas, draw blueprints for implementation…

Stop Pouting. Start Preaching.

You know those days when you wake up wired? When you’re brimming over with excitement and anticipation? When everything just seems to line up and your world cooperates with you?

And you know those other moments… the deep, dark valleys in which you find yourself barely able to put one foot in front of the other? The seasons in which hope is elusive and you’d rather just pull the covers up over your head until it all passes over?
 
Been there. In both seasons.
 
And here’s something I’ve learned over the years: I’ve learned to preach. To my soul. Not the consoling, gentle, patient kind of preaching, but the why are you so downcast, O my soul?! Put your hope in God! kind of preaching.
 
You know what kind of preaching your soul needs. Regardless of the style… Preach! And don’t let up until your soul emerges from the valley.
 
Sometimes, life sucks. Sometimes, it all just really disappoints. But don’t get stuck there. And, whatever you do, don’t let bitterness get a foothold! Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, “If you’re walking through hell, keep walking.”
 
Not too long ago, I preached long across the pages of my journal. Feeling stuck in a few areas of my life, I pleaded for God to come rescue me from a pit. Psalm 18:1-18 is scrawled in desperate strokes.
 
Redemption and rescue are His specialties. In fact, He’s relentless in His pursuit. He’ll move mountains to come get you. I know from experience. (Really, I’m telling you, Psalm 18:1-18… preach that to your soul.)
 
Where are you right now? Are you wired? Excited? Or do you need to preach a soul-stirring sermon to yourself?
 

“But you will not need to fight! Take your places; stand quietly and see the incredible rescue operation God will perform for you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem! Don’t be afraid or discouraged! Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

~ 2 Chronicles 20:17 (TLB)

Let’s Throw Fuel On That Fire!

The breakout workshop ended and the 60 or so women gathered their notebooks and bags and slowly shuffled toward the back door. A woman had occupied every seat, leaving a handful standing in the back for the duration of the session. Now I watched as the speaker removed her microphone and the wires connected to the small receiver attached to her belt and I waited for a path to the front of the room.
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How to Get a Backstage Pass *It’s Easier than You Think

…Invite them over. Yes, to your house. Yes, it works. No, I’m not joking.

(Taking them up on their invitation to their house works, too.)

My phone tweets to notify me of an incoming text. “Would you like to come over for coffee or a cocktail?” I can’t help but smile. I was hoping I’d get to meet J’s dad and stepmom. This friend who I met only a few months ago, she tells me her parents are coming from the States to visit and well, I tell her I’d love to meet them. Continue Reading

From Book Club to Mastermind

It might be time to start something. To take a concept you heard about across town or across the nations and birth a dream in your space.

Over 18 years ago, we linked up with a handful of families that had formed a village of sorts. They dubbed the little community Parent’s Night Out. On Sunday we met to pray and brainstorm and work through a book study. And every second and fourth Friday my husband and I went on a date. Of course the way the community worked is that about once in every 9 weeks or so, we took our turn to love on littles for an evening while the other parents went out. A win-win all around.
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