Welcome to another edition of Kickin' it with Kristen — your midweek motivation every Wednesday!
Don't put off your potential — try coaching and book a complimentary Coaching Session today! #leadership #personaldevelopment #learning
💡Aha! Moment
I was waiting in line at a restaurant in Las Vegas for dinner when my phone buzzed: "Call me back. I need help."
It was my 15-year-old nephew. My first thought? He probably needed a ride somewhere. Maybe it was homework? Math? Nope.
"Aunt Kristen? I need help writing a resume."
I nearly fell over. A resume?! Wasn’t it just five minutes ago that he needed help building Lego cars? When did he become... this almost-adult?
That moment hit me harder than any Vegas jackpot ever could: Time flies. Growth sneaks up on you. And sometimes, you only notice it in the little moments—like a text about a resume.
Once I was seated at the table, I called him to hear all about the job he was applying for. I gave him some pointers, suggested ChatGPT for some extra polish (welcome to the future, kiddo!), and let him know his parents would have some good advice, too. And just like that, he had a resume.
And not just any resume:
- He’s umpired girls softball.
- Started his own business.
- Done volunteer work.
- Been a three-sport athlete and a straight-A student.
- Even dabbled in a little social influencer work.
Honestly? I thought back to my 15-year-old self, and my "resume" looked a lot like:
- Babysitter.
- Can microwave pizza rolls without burning them. (Highly transferable skill.)
That day reminded me:
➡️ Growth often feels like grief. You're celebrating who they're becoming while quietly mourning who they used to be.
➡️ And showing up for someone, even from Vegas, is sometimes the most powerful way to say: "I believe in you."
Here's to cheering each other on as we grow—quietly, steadily, and sometimes all at once.
P.S. Is anyone else slightly in denial that their "little" relatives are old enough for jobs? 😅
One Thing to Know
🏨 Event Essentials - If you’re a coach, planner, or just someone dreaming up your next gathering, I have a spot you need to know about: Traverse City, Michigan.
A few weeks ago, I had the chance to spend some time learning more about what Traverse City has to offer — and honestly? I was blown away.
Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, Traverse City is known as the Cherry Capital of the World (yes, there’s even a cherry festival 🍒), but that’s just the beginning. Fun fact: Traverse City sits on the same latitude as Bordeaux, France — so you better believe the wine scene here is seriously impressive! 🍷
What I loved most is how many options there are depending on the vibe you're going for:
- Rustic barns and vineyards for cozy, memorable retreats
- Boutique hotels and creative spaces for smaller gatherings
- Modern convention centers for bigger groups
- And plenty of outdoor spots where you could host an event and catch a Lake Michigan sunset (highly recommend)
Beyond the venues, the whole community just feels welcoming. The locals are passionate about their city, and that energy shows up everywhere — from the vendors you work with to the restaurants and shops your guests will fall in love with.
It’s the kind of place that makes you think: "Why haven’t I been here before?"
(And also: "How do I get back here again?!")
So if you’re starting to brainstorm your next event, add Traverse City to your list. You might just find it’s exactly the vibe you’re looking for — beauty, hospitality, and a little adventure all rolled into one.
🏰 a_far_off_place by Katy Lampe - Choosing the perfect resort for your getaway can sometimes resemble a puzzle missing pieces! My goal? To investigate every resort like a vacation detective, capturing stunning photos and collecting insider information, so we can discover the ideal destination for your family's next adventure!
To assist you in making your choice, check out my Instagram page highlights—each one features a resort from Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Universal Studios Orlando that I have personally experienced!
My next new resort will be Universal Helios Grand Hotel this summer!! Stay tuned for those photos because it’s a STUNNING resort!
🏫 Learned - On a recent call, I heard from Tess Millhollon an inspiring founder, author, and mom who’s building something truly special: HerHouse.
HerHouse is designed for solo women travelers, connecting them with background-checked female hosts around the world. Whether you're a recent college grad with dreams of seeing the world or a retiree ready for new adventures, HerHouse gives you (or your daughter, mother, or sister) the local connections you need to travel safely and affordably.
The heart of HerHouse is simple but powerful: We bring women travelers together, so we can host each other and live lives full of adventure.
And right now, Tess is offering something exceptional for early supporters through her Kickstarter campaign:
A Lifetime Founding Membership through HerHouse’s Kickstarter campaign! For $300, you can become a Founding Member and have access to:
🚀 Early access to the app and community
🥇 A "Founding Member" badge on their profile
🌎 Lifetime free homestays, house sitting, and home swapping around the globe.
Her campaign is now live on Kickstarter! Support her here!
If you’re passionate about safe solo travel (or know someone who is), it’s worth checking out! If you're looking for a cool college graduation, birthday, or retirement gift, you can also gift a membership to those solo female travelers in your life!
💬 I'd love to hear — where would you go if you had six free weeks to travel?
✔️ Accomplished - When I say I’m committed to finding the best for my clients, I mean it. Recently, I wrapped up 32 one-on-one meetings with hotels, CVBs, AV companies, and convention centers — diving deep into what’s new, what’s next, and how we can create even better events together.
Every single conversation gave me fresh insights, new ideas, and stronger partnerships to lean on.
From cutting-edge AV tech to incredible boutique lodging options, my network is now even better equipped to help bring your event vision to life.
This kind of hands-on research is all about staying ahead — so my clients don’t have to guess what’s out there. They get tailored, up-to-date recommendations that make planning simpler, smarter, and a whole lot more exciting.
Here’s to staying curious, building relationships, and raising the bar for every event we touch. 🚀
🤔Insight for the Week
Opportunities don’t happen. You create them. — Chris Grosser
❓Ask Kristen or Katy
Q: I’m juggling multiple projects right now and feeling overwhelmed. How do you manage to keep everything on track and still have time for the things you love?
A: Love this question — and trust me, you’re not alone!
First things first: take a deep breath. 🧘♀️ Life gets busy, and staying on top of it all really is an art (and sometimes a bit of a circus act, let’s be real).
Here’s what’s helped me keep my sanity (and my calendar) in check:
✨ Prioritize Your Top 3: Every morning, I pick three main things that must get done. It keeps me from drowning in a to-do list a mile long. I’m a big fan of simple tools like Trello or Asana to keep everything organized and visible.
✨ Batch, Batch, Batch: Emails? Meetings? Brainstorming? I group similar tasks into blocks during the day so I’m not constantly switching gears. It saves so much energy.
✨ Let Technology Work for You: Scheduling tools like Calendly and quick communication apps like Slack are lifesavers. And if something can be automated? It gets automated.
✨ Lean into Delegation: You don't have to (and shouldn’t!) do it all yourself. Play to your team’s strengths. Trusting others with pieces of the puzzle frees you up to focus where you’re needed most.
✨ Protect Your You-Time: Busy seasons make skipping the little things that recharge you easy. I literally schedule in things like walks, time with my nieces and nephews, or even spontaneous dance parties (highly recommend).
And if you ever need a hand, whether you’re planning a big event, working through career growth, or just trying to juggle it all with a little more ease, that’s what communities (and coaches!) are for.
You’ve got this. And on the days you feel like you don’t? Well, you’ve still got people like me cheering you on. 💛
Do you have a question about leadership, events, or travel? Reply and ask—we’d love to feature your question in a future edition!
💬 Let’s Connect! Whether you’re planning an event, looking for leadership coaching, or dreaming up your next adventure, let’s chat. Hit reply, or find Kristen on LinkedIn/Facebook and Katy on Facebook/Instagram.
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