Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest’s Post

Coming off the heels of #adweek where most of our industry spends time and incalculable sums of money convincing brands and agencies how great we are and how we’ve solved problems, I just watched a scene in a (horror) movie that went from a man asking for a divorce to an ad for a dating app in a hard (aka split second transition) ad break. An ad experience either: a) can materially elevate the resonance a viewer feel towards the brand. b) negatively impact/obliterate forever how a viewer feels towards a brand. So, why did this happen? Money. Money we get from the people who we use events like adweek to say how great we are. We can do better. Our clients deserve better. Let’s get our shit straight. Seriously. #integrity above all.

TLDR; insightful post on teamwork My 6 month old kitten, loves to do backflips while playing with her fishy wand toy. It's the coolest thing! When aimed just right, she can flip around about 3 feet in the air. But see, I didn't have to learn how to do a backflip to produce something amazing. I'd probably break a bone trying to accomplish this! Or at best it would take months of training. On the other hand, she won't do backflips on her own. She'll just look at her toy hoping it will come to life. It takes both of us to produce this feat (admittedly with minimal effort on my part). All I did was provide the opportunity for her to shine. Instead of increasing our own talents and seeking to be more impressive ourselves (ie, learning how to do backflips), it seems that if we ask "What talents and passions do the people around me possess?" we can vastly increase the amount of great things we create.

Summer is for everyone - not just kids! You might be a working adult, but you deserve some summer fun. Check out our blog for guidance on how to re-balance your life and take back your summer! https://loom.ly/sanTDNk #summertime #summerfun #summervibes

I'm thrilled to announce that I've taken a new role as a social media manager of HDLife Community⚡ HDLife Community⚡ is one that helps you become a superhuman; to showcase your full potentials and God's given talents. We leverage on four major categories: - Personal development - Career mentorship - Financial freedom - Building your own community Join us today and be a channel of impact to others. Check the comment for the link 👇 #HappySaturday #SelfImprovement #SocialSaturday

Ever wondered if everyone else has it figured out? Newsflash: they haven’t. You look out into the world (or on social media, which BTW is NOT real) but it looks like everyone has their shit together. 5am wake-ups Work outs before work Preparing the most curated kids lunch boxes Date nights with their partners And all the rest. Reminder; Compare yourself only to the person you were yesterday and not what you see on social media. The latter will ALWAYS have you quitting. This week, let's navigate the journey from doubt to empowerment. 🚀 #InThisTogether

I am just going to assume that most of us have just finished watching Usher perform for the half-time show. I think the nostalgia that it provided (especially to us older millennials) is the perfect form of "Self-Care Sunday" that we all need. Remember, success is not just about what we achieve in our careers, but also about the happiness and fulfillment we find in our personal lives. So let's work hard, but also take time to play hard. I'm rooting for all of you and can't wait to see what successes this week brings! And as always, if you need any support or guidance, don't hesitate to reach out. Let's do this! Also--- what is your favorite Usher song? #Usher #MyWay #Yeah! #OMG #MyBoo #UGotItBad #Burn #Confessions #selfcare #selfcaresunday #mondayscaries #careeradvancement #careercoach #careercoaching #professionaldevelopment #professionalgrowth #motivation #ambition #levelupyourcareer #careervision #careershift

I don’t believe #Kindness is a strategy. I think it’s a trait, a behaviour, one that encompasses treating people with respect, empathy, and fairness. It reflects a genuine belief in the value and worth of each individual. When leaders, and educators, prioritise kindness, they create an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels respected, listened to, and appreciated. And by creating a safe space for open communication, leaders can empower their team members to express their thoughts and ideas freely. Being kind means treating everyone with impartiality, and fairness, regardless of their background, position, or personal differences, where decisions are made based on merit and objective criteria, rather than favoritism or bias. And ultimately, it sets a positive example and creates an environment where everyone can thrive, collaborate, and reach their full potential. Awards like these are important, but not because being kind is a competition, but because promoting kindness in education and leadership can truly change teams, generations, it can really change lives. 👏 #kindfest

We often think good ideas just come to us. Like the cartoonish lightbulb moment. 💡 Or that we can get a 'perfect' product or experience on the first try. That wasn't my experience designing the NOcourse. The idea came to me two years ago, during the summer. Except I didn't know what it was. 😅 The idea wasn't an idea at all. It was a feeling. A vibe. I opened a blank Note on my phone and started adding all the bits and pieces that were to reach me randomly, often scarcely, as quotes, thoughts, feelings, questions, and bullet points. It was so messy, so slow, sometimes frustrating, and oh so exciting! 🤩 It unfolded for two years before I started to see a somewhat clear picture in Spring this year. It surely didn't feel like a lightbulb moment. 😅 I called it "Building community from within NOcourse". 💁♀️ I defined it as a companion experience to someone building communities internally, for their colleagues, and was looking for a learning experience that was tailored to their needs, and their challenges. I knew it was good. I am proud to have found the courage to launch it before I felt it was 'perfect'. 7 amazing L&D professionals went through the first cohort, and what I learned with and from them, helped me go back to the drawing board and elevate the experience for the second one! 🔥 Here's what the experience will look like this time: 🚀 Kick-off session to connect with each other and with our vision 🔥 Workshops on community strategy, community engagement, and measuring impact 🔍 Community Audit to assess your community status against a framework and set priorities 🧠 Braintrust Sessions to bring a challenge and get the support of a small group 🙌 Case studies to learn how communities are built in other companies 🌱 Integration week to stop, recharge, and reflect on our learnings 🥳 Celebration to honor the growth and learning we've done together. Learn more about the NOcourse here: https://lnkd.in/e6fuGw6F Spots are limited to a maximum of 20, and the groups will be curated from the list of applicants. ⭐️ I hope you'll join me and the others on this journey! 💛 #buildingcommunityfromwithin #nocourse #learninganddevelopment

Say hello to JHT’s next Employee Spotlight, Tristan Smith! Read more to learn about Tristan with the Q&A below: How long have you been at JHT? I have had the pleasure to work at JHT for a collective 8 years. What do you do here at JHT? I am a software developer at JHT, primarily focused on creating simulations in 3D game-like environments. What was your first job? My first job ever was working as a photo developer at Walgreens. What is your favorite food? I love trying all sorts of new and interesting cuisines, but if I had to pick one it would be New York strip. What is your favorite movie/song/author? Music means so much to me that it is challenging to pick just one song. If I had to pick, I’d say that my favorite artist of all time is Stevie Wonder. What do you like to do outside of work? Outside of work, I enjoy playing video games, making music, traveling, and going out with friends. Fun Fact? I have never owned a pre-built desktop computer. My first ever PC was built by my uncle and every machine I have owned since I have pieced together myself! #JHT #employeespotlight #employeeappreciation #honor #team #teamwork

Everyone likes an origin story, so let’s start there. Chapter 1 - Grumpy, with a Side of Sassafras Once upon a time, there was a dad (me) who felt like he wasn’t “good enough”. Like many parents, he also spent most of his day working, using screens. One day, he noticed his kids acting out. They were irritable; easily frustrated (generally), short-tempered (with each other), and probably tired. And hungry. Predictably, bickering ensued. This dad was close to snapping at them when he noticed something: he felt the same way. The only difference between his behavior and theirs was he hadn’t acted on his impulses (though if he was honest with himself, he was pretty close).   He also noticed something else: they’d been on screens for much of the day due to foul weather. He’d been on screens all day for work. (Author’s Note: “Noticing” is a theme we’ll be diving into. A LOT.) Since he was out of Snickers (for the hunger), this dad decided to run an experiment: he’d spend part of the coming Saturday outdoors, one on one, with one of his kids. At the end of the day, he’d reflect on what he’d observed and record the kids’ behavior (and his own). Then he’d repeat the process his other child, until he figured out what the heck was up. What he learned: his kids were more patient, kind, and relaxed after time spent in nature.  In short, they were themselves. And, so was he. That story was the genesis of this idea we’re calling Little and Curious (L&C for short). The name is a play on the initials of our favorite explorers, Lewis and Clark. So…what is L&C, you ask? For that answer, Dear Reader, you’ll need to join us tomorrow for Chapter 2.  #GetOutside #OutdoorAdventures #NatureKids #OutdoorFun #PlayOutside #OutdoorFamily #WildChild #NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorPlay #NatureExperiences