Welcome to another edition of Kickin' it with Kristen — your midweek motivation every Wednesday!
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💡Aha! Moment
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗨𝗩 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
Two words on the side of a vehicle stopped me cold last week:
𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆.
I was driving to my niece's cheer competition. Music playing, windows down, one of those drives where you can breathe a little deeper. I've always loved wondering where other cars are headed—what stories are unfolding in the vehicles passing by.
Then that white SUV passed me on the highway.
And everything shifted.
In that single moment, I realized two families were experiencing opposite extremes of the human experience. One had just lost someone they loved. Another had just gotten the call they'd been praying for.
𝗝𝗼𝘆. 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸.
All in motion—at the exact same time.
I couldn't stop thinking about that SUV the entire drive. Haven't stopped since, honestly.
It hit me that we're all—always—sharing the road with people we don't fully see. People carrying heartache, hope, fear, love. Often all at once.
While we can't know what others are carrying, we can choose how we show up:
With presence. With empathy. With grace.
And that's when it clicked for me...
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
Because the best leaders aren't just steering toward a destination. They're paying attention to the people traveling alongside them.
They're asking not just "where are we going?" but "𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆?"
💬 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽?
One Thing to Know
🏨 Event Essentials - Recently, I've worked on several events that the organizers describe as the “Un-Conference". In a world full of packed agendas and PowerPoint marathons, more organizations are embracing the un-conference — an event without the typical rules. No rigid schedules. No pre-set speakers. No rows of chairs facing one direction.
Instead, the focus is on collaboration, connection, and conversation. Attendees help shape the agenda in real time, choosing topics that matter most to them. Think whiteboards full of ideas, small group discussions, peer-to-peer learning, and space for organic moments of insight.
Why it works: it flips the script from presenting information to sharing experience. People walk away more engaged, more connected, and more likely to apply what they’ve learned — because they helped create it.
For your next event: 💬 “Where could we loosen the structure just enough to let the best ideas rise from the group?”
Sometimes the most impactful sessions aren’t the ones we plan — they’re the ones we make room for.
🏰 a_far_off_place by Katy Lampe - It's the ultimate time to plan a Disneyland Resort adventure! With the 70th anniversary festivities in full swing and a sprinkle of holiday enchantment, it's like stepping into a fairy tale! Dive into this blog post for the latest deals, and holler for a free, no-strings-attached quote!
🏫 Learned - A cluttered inbox = a cluttered mind. Email can spiral out of control so fast. One minute you’re on top of things, and the next it feels like your inbox is running your life. I’ve found that when I’m feeling overwhelmed, a surprisingly effective reset button is just spending time cleaning up and organizing my email. It’s not glamorous, but it gives me a quick win, clears some mental space, and helps me get back to being intentional with my day.
✔️ Accomplished - A canceled cruise turned into a networking win. We had to cancel an upcoming cruise to help out family, which was disappointing—but life happens. The silver lining? I reached out to my network and found someone who wanted to buy the cruise. A reminder that networking isn’t just about career moves or business—it can help in everyday life, too. Never underestimate the power of your community.
🤔 Insight for the Week
You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view… until you climb inside of their skin and walk around in it. ~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Real leadership means taking the time to pause and wonder: what might this person be carrying that I can’t see? Curiosity leads to connection. And connection leads to trust.
❓A Question Worth Asking
Every week, I’ll leave you with one question—something I’m asking myself or my clients. Take it into your next team meeting, journaling session, or just a quiet moment.
🟡 This week’s question: What would change if you assumed everyone was doing the best they could with what they have?
💬 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 and Katy on Facebook/Instagram.
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