Welcome to another edition of Kickin' it with Kristen — your midweek motivation every Wednesday!
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💡Aha! Moment
My niece and I live 1,000 miles apart.
But we’re connected by three minutes and thirty-three seconds of music.
For me, that song is “I Can Only Imagine.” It was written by Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe, after his father’s death — a way to process years of pain, forgiveness, and faith.
The first time I heard it was a live performance by Wynonna Judd. From the opening note, something inside me shifted. Even now, I can’t explain why it hit me so hard — it just did.
Years later, I was in the car with my then-twenty-something niece, running errands, when the song came on the radio. Before I could say a word, she shouted, “My song! Turn it up!”
So we did. Windows down. Voices up. Full-volume karaoke.
When it ended, we just looked at each other — both smiling and a little stunned.
Wait… that’s your song too?
The surprising thing? Neither of us are regular church-goers. We're more spiritual than religious. But this song found us anyway—or maybe we found it.
Now she’s in Houston and I’m in Illinois. But whenever either of us hears that song, one of three things happens: A text. A call.
Or best of all — a Snap of one of us belting it out with ridiculous passion.
Because connection shows up in the most surprising places and unexpected ways.
Sometimes it’s not a conversation that connects us — it’s a chorus.
💡Here’s the Aha:
Distance measures miles, not connection.
The Leadership Truth: The strongest teams aren’t built through trust falls or ropes courses. They’re built when someone shares what moves them — and someone else says, “Me too.” That's when real trust begins.
Try this: At your next meeting, ask everyone to share one thing — a song, a quote, or a moment — that unexpectedly shaped them. Watch what happens when people discover their hidden connections.
💬Your Challenge: Next time your song comes on, send it to someone who gets it. No explanation needed.
One Thing to Know
🏨 Event Essentials - Plan for Travel Disruptions—Just in Case! With the recent government shutdown, many event organizers felt the ripple effects—especially around air travel. Delays, reduced TSA staffing, and general uncertainty had people wondering if they’d make it to their events on time… or at all.
It was a reminder that even when it’s outside your control, how you plan for disruptions is 100% within your power.
Here’s what to consider:
- Have a travel disruption plan in place: flexible registration windows, virtual backup options for key sessions, and real-time attendee communication.
- Build in contract clauses that protect your investment if a significant percentage of attendees (say 40–50%) are unable to travel. This can give you leverage to renegotiate space, shift dates, or activate a hybrid contingency.
Why it works: When attendees and vendors see that you’ve thought through the what-ifs, you build confidence—and avoid last-minute chaos.
If travel interruptions kept 35% of your guests from showing up, would your contract (and your plan) have your back?
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📚 Learned - Sometimes offering to help is the best you can do. This one hit home recently: You can be ready to help, show up, offer support—but at the end of the day, the other person has to be ready to receive it. And that’s not something you can force. It’s a hard truth, especially for those of us who default to problem-solving. But I’m learning to hold space, offer what I can, and accept that sometimes, offering has to be enough.
✔️ Accomplished - A few weeks ago, I was flooded with new event leads—great energy, but nothing locked in. This week, four of those events moved to contract! It feels good to see momentum turn into results. Progress sometimes takes time, but it’s always worth celebrating when the pieces start falling into place.
🤔 Insight for the Week
Where words fail, music speaks. ~ Hans Christian Andersen
❓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 song instantly brings you back to someone or something you love?
💬 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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