leadership convention in ohio.

 

I spent this past weekend in ohio at a leadership conference for my sorority and i was amazed at how these 48 hours really inspired me. We had many different speakers about how to improve our club on campus but most of the things they were telling me were great life lessons that I am going to be able to use forever. One speaker inparticular talked about achieving Social Excellence. she spoke about the importance of communication and NO not communication through technology but old fashioned one on one communication.

 here is just a little glimpse of what she spoke on:

Social Excellence: a state of perpetual authenticity, generosity, curiousity, and positivity.

she explained how we have 5 seconds to make a first impression and only 30 seconds to change it.  isn't that true? its definitely something to think about.

Authenticity: there is no better person to be but yourself, be the best version of you when you are meeting someone. Don't try and mold to someone else because you are the only person like you so SELL that. 

Generosity: Give someone your time, give every single person the benefit of the doubt. If you are showing positive generosity the person is going to be more interested in talking to you.

Curiousity: learn stuff because you are curious. be curious. expand past your boundaries to learn a LITTLE more. she told us a story about how every time she is on a plane she sparks up conversation with the person next to her, not because she is bored but because she is interested. maybe you wont have anything in common with the person but why not enjoy the time you are spending together instead of sitting in silence or never really knowing. she challenged us to spend 60-80% of the time listening because in all reality a persons favorite subject is themselves...sad right? but true. so feed their ego.  Every single person we encounter has something they can teach us.

"Listen to everyone as though they are wise"
on my way home from ohio i challenged my boundaries..and spent 3 hours talking to the man next to me... we had NOTHING in common except maybe we both liked to ski. but it sure made the flight go by faster. 

and lastly,

Positivity: Be positive, why not? make a positive impact on everyone. show them who you are. 

"Make every single person you can spark up a conversation feel even a LITTLE bit better"

 Ask open ended questions. Let them answer and learn from what they are saying.

this poem may seem a little girly but it really sums up what i am trying to say. to be a little more positive or just a little more open to things we arent used to doing...so sorry boys... you can still read it if you want :) 

If I had my life to live over again,

I would try to make more mistakes next time.

I would relax. I would limber up.

I would be sillier than I have been this time.

I would be less hygienic. I would take more chances.

I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers,

And watch more sunsets.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would have more actual troubles and less imaginary ones.

But I have had my moments.

And if I had them to do again, I would have more of them.

Fast moments, one after another.

Instead of living so many years…

So many years ahead of each day.

If I had it to do over again,

Next time I would start barefooted earlier in the spring.

And stay that way later in the fall.

I would play hookie much more.

I wouldn’t make such good grades, except by accident.

I would have more headaches,

And drink more tomato juice.

I would go to more dances.

I would ride more merry-go-rounds.

And I would pick more daisies.

-Chloee Drews-