Tag: kids

Transforming Experiences with a Little Extra Effort (7-26-23)

Last week was about creating spaces where people can be real.  This week is about transforming experiences with a little extra effort.

We stayed home during the week of July 4th.  We did a few small things like rode our bikes, played miniature golf, shot water guns, and did some crafts.  It wasn’t anything too cool, but if you talk to my kids they light up and get excited like it was the best week ever.  Here’s why.  We all love the most recent Legend of Zelda video game, so I thought I could make things a little more special if I put in a little effort to make July 4th a Zelda inspired week.  Instead of just doing activities, I connected those activities to events that happen in the game.  For example, we had to explore the land to find Zora’s Domain (bike riding).  We had to save a town from pirates (miniature golf at a pirate themed place).  We tried the Goron minecart shooting game (water gun fights).  We built signs to show President Hudson we support him (structures made of spaghetti, pipe cleaners, and marshmallows).  I hid bananas on our front porch and said they were left from the Yiga clan.  Now, some of those things may not have meant much to you, which is totally okay.  My kids got all the references and enjoyed how they tied the activities we did to a game we all love. 

What does this have to do with anything?  Every single day we create experiences for people around us.  We might create experiences for customers who use the products we support.  We might create experiences for teammates and co-workers.  How would you describe the experiences you create for others?  Are they positive?  Are they neutral?  Are they negative?  Are they meaningful?  In the grand scheme of things, the activities I did with my kids (bike riding, miniature golf, crafts) weren’t that unique or impressive.  However, the moment I put in a little extra effort to connect those activities to a something my kids cared about, the experience transformed into something more special.  By being a little more intentional and putting in a little more effort we can create experiences that truly resonate with others.

The challenge: How are you enhancing the experiences you create for people?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

Enjoying Side Missions and the Unexpected Things in Life (10-12-22)

Last week was about framing an adventure and preparing for dragons.  This week is about taking time to enjoy side missions and the unexpected things in life.

When we talked to the kids about going on an adventure, we told them there would be main goals and side missions.  We never knew what those side missions would be, but we would need to keep our eyes open for them.  Our favorite side mission occurred when we were in Edinburgh Scotland.  We were there to check out the city and the castle.  Both of those were gorgeous.  We had just finished our castle tour, and we were starting to walk back to the meeting point.  The crowd was all walking one way, when we noticed something out of the corner of our eye.  Out of nowhere there was a company on the street with owls giving individuals a chance to hold them.  My kids LOVE birds.  They were enamored, watching these people hold owls.  Of course, we asked if the kids could hold one.  They were a bit nervous at first, but each of the kids got to hold a baby owl on their arms for a few minutes.  It was the highlight of the trip for them, and the best side mission ever!

What does this have to do with anything?  There were a lot of other people on the street that day that never noticed what was going on around them.  Maybe, it’s because they had their head down as they shuffled along the street.  Maybe, it’s because they were so focused on walking to their next destination that they weren’t open to seeing anything else.  Similarly, in work and life sometimes we can get so focused on the final goal or the next milestone that we miss the interesting side paths that open to us.  We miss experiences that could bring us growth and joy.  Does this ever happen to you?  I know it happens to me.  

The challenge: Are you keeping your eyes open for side missions?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry