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The Power of Self-Reinvention

9/27/2017

Reinvention. It sounds like a word we use when there’s a problem and you need to fix it. But when it comes to your personal brand and lifestyle, I believe reinvention is crucial.

TIP: Take new headshots at least once a year.

With the start of the fresh season, it’s the perfect timing to take inventory. Who are you today? And is that image being projected to people at the workplace, in your home and on social media?

We’re never finished learning and growing. I hope who you are today is different than who you were this time last year. You’ve changed – maybe for the better or maybe for the worse. That’s why you need to stop a few times a year and check in with the person you are today. Is this who you want to be? Or do you need to make some tweaks?

I am a BIG fan of this reinvention process. It’s been crucial to advancing my career and life.

When I say reinvention, I don’t mean creating an entire new version of yourself. It’s not disregarding the person you’ve always been. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. It’s reconnecting with the person you truly are – and the dreams, goals and values you hold deep in your heart.

So how do you do this? It starts with a little bit of silent brainstorming. Find some quiet time to yourself to think about who you want to be. Visualize it. Picture yourself in your dream life. Now notice the details. What do you look like? What’s your attitude? Who are your friends and how do you spend your free time?

Then take action.

When I kick off a reinvention cycle, I start in my closet. It’s a concrete way to see results fast. I get rid of any piece of clothing that doesn’t match the person I visualized in my dream life. I don’t just get rid of the clothes I don’t wear. In fact, what needs to go on the donation pile first are usually the clothes I wear all the time. Example: That worn out track jacket that has been through the washer 1,000 times; the dress that’s so comfortable on days when I feel bloated – but looks horrible on air.

TIP: Write down what you visualize for your "ideal life."

Once your closet is free of the “old you,” then you can start to replace those items with quality pieces that match your vision.

Here are more actionable items for self-reinvention:

Clear out items cluttering your house
- Clear out your closet
- Get rid of anything sitting around your house that you don’t use
Clean up social media accounts
- Delete old photos
- Change your profile pictures
- Delete negative influencers you follow
Take a deep look at your finances
- Trim the fat
  - Look for small reoccurring memberships you forgot you subscribed to
- Set financial goals
Network
- Join one or two new community groups
- Sign up for events where you can meet new people

One last key to reinvention: get out of your comfort zone. To become the person you visualize, you have to put yourself in new circumstances. You’re going to be awkward and uncomfortable – but that’s how you will grow the most.

Push yourself like that for several months. Then stop. Go to that quiet place again and take inventory. Who are you now? What does the visualization of your “ideal life” look like now? And then start the reinvention process again and again.

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The Agler Family: Cystic Fibrosis Close to Home

9/12/2017

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For a rare genetic disease, Cystic Fibrosis can certainly hit home. Since I started posting CF events on my social media pages, I've been overwhelmed by the stories about how CF impacts your own life.

Nicole Agler first sent me a message back in May. It took me a minute to realize our connection because I didn't recognize her married name. I know Nicole as a "Homan" from Celina, Ohio and her sister Laura too.

The end of Nicole's message said, "We actually have 2 boys and unfortunately they both have CF so we have our hands full!"

Two children with Cystic Fibrosis? That cannot be easy.

As I've been sharing stories of Washington D.C. families fighting for a cure for CF, I've been looking for a way to connect back to my hometown crowd too. To have Nicole be willing to share her story with you all means a lot.

Last week, she sent me a message to give you a small insight into her family's day-to-day life.

Paxton and Bryant

Both of our sons, Paxton and Bryant were diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis before 3 weeks of age. Paxton is now 4 and just started preschool this year. Bryant is 22 months old and loves playing with his brother.

Cystic Fibrosis has altered our daily lives tremendously.

We start our mornings around 6:30 with both boys completing chest physical therapy using a vest and doing breathing treatments.

The boys eat a high calorie diet every day and take between 18-20 enzymes a day just to absorb what they eat.

At 7:00 every evening, we start their vest and breathing treatments again which take approximately 1 hour.

In 2016, our local walk raised over $24K and had over 200 walkers. This year’s walk is Sunday, September 17 at 2:00pm at Mercelina Park (hot water hole area).

It's ideal timing to be able to share this with you all - since there's an opportunity right in Celina this weekend to go show support for the Agler Family and everyone fighting for a cure to Cystic Fibrosis. Click here for the walk details.

I've also been raising money this summer through D.C. Finest's program as well. Whether you're able to donate online or maybe go out to walk back home on Sunday...

Don't forget that families in your own backyard know the struggle of Cystic Fibrosis. Help them and us find a cure!

Going through daily treatments for Cystic Fibrosis.

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A 25 Cent Smile

9/8/2017

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If you thought this post was about how my teeth got to be straight for 25 cents... I have bad news. My parents will be the first to tell you my Invisalign in high school cost more than 25 cents.

No, I was baking for my co-workers this week (pretty usual) and it got me thinking about my evolution of baking (unusual). For some reason, I felt compelled to write about it. So forgive me. This could be very boring.

I've always loved sweets, but never more than during my first job in Kentucky. I would buy a roll of cookie dough at Kroger, bake it and proceed to eat the entire batch. Sometimes I shared them with my friends on UNO nights... sometimes.

Slowly, I started bringing that roll of cooked dough and a few other "made from a box" baked goods into the office. I eventually learned how to make buckeyes for my meteorologist on Ohio State game days... when he was trapped at work (oh, the glorious weekend night shift).

Bringing my sister her birthday "cake."

In Texas, I changed. I became a baker from scratch. No more pre-made cookie dough rolls for me. I got a Kitchen Aid Mixer and the title "Betty Crocker" from my co-workers.

I could turn out 7 dozen cookies a night. And since no human being can/should eat that much, it all started going to the office.

Here's what I learned at NBC, mixing simple ingredients, just flour, sugar and butter, can really change someone's day. Honestly, bring a cake to your next meeting at work and see if the mood doesn't get a little happier.

It's the same in D.C. The only difference is I rarely eat what I make - just a taste to make sure it's edible.

The real reward now is giving whatever I bake away - especially to my co-workers - and seeing their reactions. Like this message from my assignment editor when I brought in dirt pudding Tuesday:

Did you make that Pyrex dish full of evil sorcery by the break room?"

My executive producer in Texas asked me once why I baked for them so much. I told him it's a way to make someone smile... for less than 25 cents.

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The Power of Self-Reinvention

The Agler Family: Cystic Fibrosis Close to Home

A 25 Cent Smile

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