Going the Extra Mile
When was the last time you really went the extra mile? Our national organization just had an auction and we were invited to donate biddable items as well as bid ourselves at the event; I did both. First, I started by donating two gifts, then I kept my eye on two items I was interested in and ultimately bid on, and won, both. One of the items I won was a retreat hosted by a woman named Marilyn Sherman who went beyond the extra mile for me.
Not only did Marilyn open her home, her mind, and her heart to create a safe space for us, she also created a place for us to listen, learn, share, speak, and trust all while knowing she had our best interests at heart to help me grow my business. With her, we were challenged, pushed, encouraged, and loved. It was an amazing experience. We spent time digging into how to take our business to the next level and spent lots of time laughing. We also shared with each other what we’re working on personally and professionally because we all recognized we have a common goal that requires us to come together to serve our audiences.
After the three-day retreat, we exchanged a few calls and texts right away to celebrate the books read on the way home and the winning journals we started once home. We then set up a check in call via Zoom to see where we were at on our timeline for the goals we set out to accomplish. Then, while I was on the road for a speaking event three weeks after the retreat, in the time between then and our check in call, my husband told me I had a package waiting at home from Marilyn; it was a book.
What I didn’t know then was this book would bring me to tears. It included our welcome, moments shared together, our goals, our vision, and our goodbye to the special retreat time. In this instance, Marilyn chose to go the extra mile. She spent not only her time, but her own money too, ensuring we would never forget all that we did at the retreat, what she taught us, what we shared, and how we learned. She dated it and included thirty four pages of photos and words from early morning workouts to late night TED talks. She captured each moment and sent it with love and encouragement to show us that she believed in us. She truly went the extra mile. I’m not sure she understands the depth of what the book means to me and how incredibly special it makes me feel.
This week, I encourage you to go the extra mile for someone in your life; make them feel invaluable to you and unable to imagine what life would be like without you there. You never know what going the extra mile for someone might do to change their life
What does living your exceptional life look like to you?
When was the last time you went the extra mile for someone?
When was the last time you showed someone how important they are to you?
What could you do professionally or personally this week to go the extra mile for someone?
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