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
𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 𝗦𝗶𝘅𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 Six 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.
It's the smallest habit that created the biggest shift.
I'll never forget one Thursday morning in 2021. 8:15 AM. My phone rang with test results, two suspicious spots, one needing immediate biopsy, the other requiring surgery. The night before, I'd learned my mom needed surgery too. I hated my job. Didn't know who to trust anymore at work.
And in 15 minutes, I had to walk into another "pointless" leadership meeting and pretend to support the corporate direction.
I sat there thinking: Maybe I'll skip my gratitude practice today. What could I possibly be thankful for?
Instead, I took a deep breath and wrote:
- I have access to doctors
- My Diet Coke from McDonald's had the perfect ice-to-syrup ratio (if you know, you know)
- This meeting would be over in an hour
Not exactly Hallmark material. But something shifted.
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗵𝗮:
Gratitude doesn't erase challenges—it reframes them.
Even on the hardest days, taking 60 seconds to list three things I’m thankful for changes how I show up. It shifts my mindset from negative to grounded, from overwhelmed to capable. It stops the pity-party train before it leaves the station.
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵:
Leaders who practice gratitude don't just change their own perspective—they change the energy of every room they walk into. They see possibilities where others see problems. They find wins in the losses. They help their teams remember what's working when everything feels broken.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲:
Before you dive into turkey prep (or your inbox), pause for 60 seconds.
Write down three things you’re grateful for. Keep them where you’ll see them: on a Post-it, in your Notes app, even on your coffee cup.
And when it’s time to sit down for your delicious Thanksgiving meal, take a minute to go around the table and have everyone share what they’re thankful for.
I promise it will make you smile, laugh, and maybe even tear up.
But most of all, it will create a memory (and a feeling) you’ll never forget.
✨ Tip: Start with the youngest at the table. Their answers will remind you what gratitude really looks like.
Because gratitude isn’t just a feeling.
It’s a practice that turns overwhelm into perspective, frustration into fuel, and ordinary Thursdays into small victories.
#Gratitude #Leadership #TheHotelWhisperer #ThanksgivingWeek #MindsetShift
One Thing to Know
🏨Event Essentials - Don’t Skip the Construction Clause! You’ve picked the perfect venue. The dates are locked in. Everything’s moving forward—until suddenly, the lobby’s under renovation or a surprise project pops up next door... jackhammers included.
Enter: the construction clause.
This simple addition to your event contract protects you in the event of major renovations or construction that could impact your guest experience. It gives you leverage to negotiate alternate spaces, reduced fees, or even relocation if needed.
Why it works: It’s a small line in a contract—but a big win for peace of mind. Because your attendees won’t remember the catering if they couldn’t hear the keynote.
Does your venue contract protect the guest experience—or just the floorplan?
📖 a_far_off_place by Katy Lampe - Black Friday isn't just about snagging the latest tech toys—it's a ticket to travel deals galore! Sail over to our specials page for exciting travel offers! New offers will be added and updated as more are released so check back frequently! Spot something that piques your interest? Give us a shout for a hassle-free, no-strings-attached quote!
📚 Learned - Timeblocking is a game-changer you need to try. When everything feels urgent, it’s tempting to bounce between tasks, emails, calls—and suddenly nothing is getting your full attention. Lately, I’ve been leaning into timeblocking: from 9–9:30 I’m heads-down on task X, and from 9:30 until it’s done, it’s all about task Y. No email. No phone. No distractions. Just focused work. It’s not always easy, but when I stick to it, I notice I’m more productive and less frazzled.
✔️ Accomplished - The Hotel Crawl tradition lives on, thank youChoose Chicago! Every year in Chicago, we do a Hotel Crawl—think pub crawl, but with hotels. We explored 8 hotels, stopped at several restaurants, and yes, there were a few beverages involved. It’s fun, but also a chance to connect, explore, and find inspiration in unexpected places. (And let’s be honest—it’s also just a really good time.)
🤔 Insight for the Week
Gratitude turns what we have into enough. ~ Melody Beattie
❓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’s one small thing, often overlooked, that you’re especially grateful for this year?
💬 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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