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
You know what I’m learning (and re-learning) lately?
Growth doesn’t always mean adding more.
Sometimes it means carrying less.
I don’t know about you, but it’s so easy to get caught up thinking we have to be doing more, achieving more, moving faster.
More goals.
More projects.
More meetings.
More "shoulds."
But the truth is — the biggest seasons of growth in my life weren’t the ones where I packed my calendar.
They were the ones where I made space.
For clarity.
For creativity.
For what’s next.
If your plate is feeling a little too full right now, maybe the answer isn’t finding a bigger plate.
Maybe it’s setting a few things down.
You don’t have to carry it all to move forward.
Sometimes growing means learning to let go.
So I’m practicing what I preach: I’m setting down the redesign of my website and letting go of a few trips to Chicago. (Not forever — but for right now.)
It’s important. It’s exciting.
And it’ll happen — when the timing is right.
But forcing it into an already full season isn’t what growth looks like for me right now.
Growth, for me, looks like choosing intentional focus over constant motion.
💬 Reflection question for you:What’s one thing you could set down this month to make more room for the good stuff?
One Thing to Know
🏨 Event Essentials - Simplifying Meeting Planning with IHG’s Pivotal Meetings Hotels
When you're planning a small to medium-sized meeting or event, having the right hotel partner can make all the difference. That’s why I’m loving what IHG has created with their Pivotal Meetings program.
When you see the IHG Pivotal Meetings seal at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels, you can feel confident that each property has been vetted and meets elevated standards — helping you plan with peace of mind.
Here’s what you can expect:
- High guest & planner satisfaction — achieved for six consecutive months
- Elevated, flexible meeting spaces — newly renovated or modernized
- Catering expertise — teams trained to deliver exceptional food and beverage
- Expanded technology options — to keep your events running smoothly
These hotels' expanded F&B options and advanced technology are just the beginning. They also offer guaranteed fast RFP response times and elevated service designed to take the stress out of planning so you can focus on creating an amazing experience for your guests.
Bottom line: when you see the IHG Pivotal Meetings seal, you know you’re working with a team ready to make your event a success.
Interested in learning more or finding the right location for your next meeting? Let’s talk — book time with me here! 🗓️
🏰 a_far_off_place by Katy Lampe - Magic is blooming at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival!
Spring has officially sprung at Walt Disney World Resort—and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a visit to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, happening now through June 2nd!
Imagine EPCOT transformed into a breathtaking celebration, bursting with colorful topiaries, lush gardens, fresh flavors, and toe-tapping tunes. Whether you're a seasoned Disney fan or looking for a brand-new adventure, this festival is your ticket to enchantment, inspiration, and a little bit of pixie dust!
- Stunning Disney Topiaries: Marvel at larger-than-life creations of your favorite characters—from Mickey and Minnie to Encanto’s Mirabel—crafted entirely from living plants!
- Global Garden Kitchens: Taste your way around the world with fresh, seasonal flavors and garden-grown goodness at outdoor kitchens.
- Live Garden Rocks Concerts: Jam out under the stars with live music from world-class bands and nostalgic favorites.
- Family-Friendly Fun: Kids (and kids-at-heart) will love the interactive play areas, butterfly gardens, and scavenger hunts throughout the park.
We will be heading to this gorgeous festival this week! Follow along for pics! Katy Lampe with Magical Moments Vacations
🏫 Learned - Still learning....
This year has taught me lessons I didn’t expect to need—and honestly, ones I’m still working through.
Helping my husband and father-in-law navigate the journey of caring for his mom as she lives with Alzheimer’s has been humbling in ways I can’t fully put into words yet.
The emotions of the disease.
The heartbreak of letting go of a home filled with over 50 years of memories.
The patience required on the days you feel like you have none left.
What I’m learning (and re-learning) is this: There are some things you can’t fix. You can’t make them better. You can only be there. You can only love through it.
I’m also learning what grace looks like — by watching my husband handle the hardest days with a patience and tenderness that leaves me in awe. It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s not something you “complete” like a checklist.
But even in the hard, there’s beauty.
And even when you’re tired, there’s a kind of strength that shows up because you refuse to give up on the people you love.
Still learning. Still growing. Still showing up.
✔️ Accomplished - This year marked the 7th year of one of my favorite personal traditions: The Family Kentucky Derby Pick.
Every year, I let each of my nieces and nephews pick a horse and I place a small bet for them. Some years, we all come up empty. Other years, we celebrate big wins — like the year one of them picked Rich Strike (an 80-1 longshot!) or when we somehow hit a trifecta in 2021.
It’s become one of those little traditions that means more than it looks on the surface. For about two minutes — the length of the Derby — no matter where we are scattered across the country, we’re all watching the same race, texting in real-time, and cheering each other on.
The money’s small, but the memories are huge. Keeping this tradition alive reminds me that sometimes, the best accomplishments aren't the ones that come with awards or titles — they’re the ones that keep us connected, year after year.
This year, the girl who picked Rich Strike in 2019, also picked Journalism to show and won again!
🤔Insight for the Week
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’— Mary Anne Radmacher
❓Ask Kristen or Katy
Q: Kristen, when you're coaching leaders, what's one habit you often encourage them to stop doing?
A: One of the first habits I encourage leaders to break? Stop scheduling meetings back-to-back.
Always leave yourself at least 10–15 minutes between meetings. Use that time to reset, grab a drink, take a quick walk, or just breathe before you jump into the next conversation. Trust me — your energy (and your mindset) will thank you.
And here’s another small change that makes a big difference: Look at your calendar and start reducing meeting times by 15 minutes. If you usually book an hour, try 45 minutes. If you normally schedule 30 minutes, try 15.
I promise you’ll still accomplish everything you need to and get a little bit of your day back. A few extra minutes between meetings isn’t wasted—it fuels better conversations, decisions, and leadership.
One small shift can change everything. Here’s to leading with intention — and a little more breathing room
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 and Katy on Facebook/Instagram.
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