Happy Thanksgiving!
I just wanted to take a minute to thank YOU for being a part of The Inner Circle and The Founder & The Force Multiplier community. Whether you’ve been here since the first blog post in 2016 or you just found us yesterday – I am so glad you are here!
“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.”
– Amy Collette
The holidays are a great time to stop and think about what we’re grateful for. But don’t stop when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve! Consider implementing a gratitude practice into your daily routine. Here are a few ideas:
- Set a gratitude alarm on your phone. An easy way is to use your birthday. My birthday is April 5, so my time would be 4:05. And, yes, I’m going with PM, not AM! Every day at 4:05pm, I pause and say aloud at least 3 things I’m thankful for.
- Practice gratitude at red lights. When you’re sitting at a red light, instead of reaching for your phone (don’t do that!) or letting your mind water, instead just start listing all the things you’re grateful for until the light turns green. Get your passengers involved too!
- Keep a gratitude journal. Whether it’s part of your regular journaling practice or a separate exercise, take time each day to write down what you are thankful for. It’s powerful!
- Text, email or call 3 people (today!) and thank them. And when you do, be specific. Acknowledge how hard they worked, the sacrifices they’ve made, or what they do for others, while thanking them for the specific impact they’ve had on your life.
- Start a gratitude jar. Decorate a jar and fill it with notes of things you’re grateful for. Try to add at least one note a week. Encourage whoever you live with (or you can do this at work!) to add to the jar. At the end of the year, get everyone together and read through the notes. What an incredible way to ring in a new year – full of gratitude!
Do you have gratitude practice? Hit reply and let me know what you do to practice gratitude.
Thank you!
– Hallie
WEEKLY TOP 5
1.
Founder + CEO of Wild.AI, Helene Guillaume Pabis, says you can and should say no to your boss in order to protect your well-being and long-term success. But it often feels like an “easier said than done” situation. Check out Helene’s 11 smart ways to say “no”. What would you add? And do you think there are exceptions or nuances to these tips when you’re in a Force Multiplier role?
2.
I’ve shared Storyworth before, and I’ll probably share it again! I purchased a subscription for my parents a couple of years ago and then gifted the completed books to my siblings for Christmas. And, I just renewed their subscription for another year. I still have so many questions about their lives and they still have so many stories to share! It’s an incredible way to preserve memories and stay connected to loved ones. Click on the link for $10 off!
3.
Staying up to date on retirement saving rules and regs is just good business for you personally! There is a new higher “catch-up” contribution option for those aged 60-63. For all savers, the maximum contribution amount in 2025 is $23,500. For what you need to know, check out this article in USA Today. Bottom line, talk to an accountant or financial advisor about your options, and make sure your employer is making adjustments based on these new rules.
4.
During your next 1:1 with your team member or with your Principal, ask this question. Feedback is a two-way street. If you’re asking your Executive, you’re likely to get some really good intel about your communication style, project prioritization, or workflow. Leaders, ask your employee this question too! Any insights into the perception of your leadership ability or communication skills are valuable. What you do with the answers is up to you, but this is where growth happens for leaders and their team!
5.
Fans and followers of The Female Quotient, have I got news for you! They just launched The FQ Newsletter! The weekly newsletter is the embodiment of their community – bringing you insights from remarkable women who aren’t only climbing the ladder – they’re building their own and bringing others along. Get ready to be inspired! Click on the link to subscribe.
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Are you a taker, matcher, or giver?
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant is a groundbreaking look at why our interactions with others hold the key to success.
For generations, we have focused on the individual drivers of success: passion, hard work, talent, and luck. But today, success is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others. It turns out that at work, most people operate as either takers, matchers, or givers. Whereas takers strive to get as much as possible from others and matchers aim to trade evenly, givers are the rare breed of people who contribute to others without expecting anything in return.
Using his own pioneering research as Wharton’s top-rated professor, Adam Grant shows that these styles have a surprising impact on success. Although some givers get exploited and burn out, the rest achieve extraordinary results across a wide range of industries. Combining cutting-edge evidence with captivating stories, Grant shows how one of America’s best networkers developed his connections, why the creative genius behind one of the most popular shows in television history toiled for years in anonymity, how a basketball executive responsible for multiple draft busts transformed his franchise into a winner, and how we could have anticipated Enron’s demise four years before the company collapsed–without ever looking at a single number
WHY FORCE MULTIPLIERS SHOULD READ THIS BOOK: A large part of a Force Multiplier’s role is building consensus and working through others to achieve a desired result. Grant offers insights on how we can interact more effectively with others to increase productivity, work smarter, build stronger relationships, and ultimately achieve long-term success.
