Kristin Kaufman - Social Commerce Entrepreneur

Thank heavens for this perspective.

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What is YOUR favorite band from the 70's?

Hard to beat September Song!!

Did you know? Johan Sebastian Bach lost his little daughter and then three sons and then his wife. Then he remarried and then he and his second wife, Anna-Magdalena, lost four more daughters and three sons. Eleven beloved children...

Many researchers have wondered: how Bach managed to handle these losses?

How did he not stop breathing, how did his heart not stop? And most importantly, how could he continue to write music? Kantati, cello suites, masses, concerts... The most beautiful music the world has heard. Do you know how he did it?

At the end of his music, he always wrote "Soli Deo gloria" (Glory to God alone) and in the beginning, "Lord help.” Therefore, you can pray during Bach's music because the music itself is prayer. You could, then, consider Bach's music a conversation between man and God.

How do you deal with challenges? With pain?

Prayer can be the best solace.

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Having experienced much loss this past year.....the love and empathy shown by many cannot be underestimated or undervalued.

It is indeed an elixir. Audrey was 100% correct.

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15 lessons from A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter:

1. Value your family and friends. They are the most important people in your life.

2. Be humble and compassionate. Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their social status or background.

3. Work hard and be persistent. Don't be afraid to set ambitious goals and work hard to achieve them.

4. Be honest and ethical. Always do the right thing, even when it's difficult.

5. Give back to your community. Use your time and resources to help others.

6. Be grateful for what you have. Don't take your blessings for granted.

7. Don't be afraid to fail. Failure is a part of life. Learn from your mistakes and move on.

8. Be forgiving. Forgive yourself and others for their mistakes.

9. Live in the present moment. Don't dwell on the past or worry about the future.

10. Enjoy life. Find things that you're passionate about and make time for them.

11. Be open to new experiences. Try new things and step outside of your comfort zone.

12. Be curious. Ask questions and learn from others.

13. Be courageous. Stand up for what you believe in, even when it's unpopular.

14. Be hopeful. Believe in a better future for yourself and for the world.

15. Make a difference in the world. Use your talents and abilities to make a positive impact on the world around you.

Carter's book is a reflection on a long and well-lived life. He shares his wisdom and insights on a variety of topics, including faith, family, politics, and service. His lessons are universal and can be applied by people of all ages and backgrounds.

It is hard to beat a good book, cup of coffee, in front of a warm fire this time of year.

Why not give a personalized book - or trilogy of books to those hard to shop for folks on your list? AND - you can do this from the comfort of your own home!! Great stocking stuffers!!⁠
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Simply go here to check them out - and I will sign and ship directly to WHEREVER you wish!! ⁠

https://kristinkaufman.com/kristins-books/
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Thank you to Arkansas Money and Politics for publishing my article on 'How to Build a Functional Team'. It is so rewarding to contribute to my home state!

The link to this article is: https://armoneyandpolitics.com/building-a-functional-team/

In this month's video (link below) I share openly - with nothing but infinite gratitude - the experience I had over the Thanksgiving holiday this year. My trips to Scotland and Brugge were beautiful, love-filled, and rich in every way. You can listen to my thoughts here:

https://kristinkaufman.com/2023/11/29/4-ah-has-from-my-trip-to-scotland-and-brugge/

This is so fun and affirming!! Thank you "Shout Out" for being recognized for the work I love.

Here is the link to the article:

https://shoutoutdfw.com/meet-kristin-kaufman-leadership-consultant-business-advisor-and-author/

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People work with me for one simple reason:⁠
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They want ALIGNMENT™.⁠
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I have always LOVED Jacques Cousteau. We were glued to the TV growing up when his show would come on. We can learn so much from animals, birds, and fish. They 'get it'. ⁠
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When we are aligned - individually and collectively....we, too, are at our most certainly at our most powerful, most fulfilled, and contributing at our highest level when we are ALIGNED and surrounded by a supportive tribe.. ⁠
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In their careers⁠
In their lives⁠
In their teams⁠
In their groups⁠
In their brand⁠
In everything....because it IS all connected.⁠
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We GROW LEADERS. We GROW SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS. ⁠
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https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman

There is such POWER in writing things down.

It is simply not enough to think it or speak it.

Writing makes it real.

Want to change the trajectory of your life? Write down your dreams. Write down your goals.

Write.

We GROW LEADERS. We GROW SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS.
We GROW.
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https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman⁠



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And so it ends…. A wonderful cap to my 2023 Thanksgiving sojourn and a Belgium reunion.

These men…our Brugge posse… it all started last year. They embraced me and I embraced them. Bonds established. Relationships formed. Much much more than casual acquaintances..friends. Huge age differences and very different life experiences … yet love glued it all together.

Grateful. Special people in my life. We had so much fun these past few days… little sleep 😂yet incredible time together., Their lives are just starting in many ways… oh, to see where they are going.. their talents are unbelievable. ❤️love that our paths crossed.

Redgy Van Wijnsberghe-HuysmanAnthony SamijnSeppe Swinnen

Love is the answer - always has been.

And appreciation, being seen, being acknowledged, being 'shouted out' - are just ways to show that love. Wouldn't it be great if everyone who espouses love truly demonstrated it?

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People work with me for one simple reason:⁠
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They want ALIGNMENT™.⁠
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These precious ducklings know the importance of staying aligned....and supporting others in their 'tribe' We, too, are most certainly at our most powerful, most fulfilled, and contributing at our highest level when we are ALIGNED. ⁠
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✔️In their careers⁠
✔️In their lives⁠
✔️In their teams⁠
✔️In their groups⁠
✔️In their brand⁠
✔️In everything....because it IS all connected.⁠
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We GROW LEADERS. We GROW SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS. ⁠
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https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman

"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

Abraham Lincoln

Loss is inevitable in life. ⁠
We will all face loss and grief. ⁠
I read this weeks ago (if you were the contributor - please comment below, as I don't know who offered this) - and it touched me deeply.⁠
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In a word: BEAUTIFUL.⁠
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"In the Lakota tradition, a person who is grieving is considered most wakan, most holy.⁠
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There's a sense that when someone is struck by the sudden lightning of loss, he or she stands on the threshold of the spirit world. The prayers of those who grieve are considered especially strong, and it is proper to ask them for their help.⁠
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You might recall what it's like to be with someone who has grieved deeply. The person has no layer of protection, nothing left to defend. The mystery is looking out through that person's eyes.⁠
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For the time being, he or she has accepted the reality of loss and has stopped clinging to the past or grasping at the future. ⁠
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In the groundless openness of sorrow, there is a wholeness of presence and a deep natural wisdom."⁠
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https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman⁠
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"Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us."

Maya Angelou (Book: Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now)

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Going into month 12 of an intense regime. What I know for sure - start each day FRESH. If we slip - get up and start over.

I am in a full body/life transformation - and it feels incredible. ⁠

⁠https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman⁠ ⁠⁠

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Beautiful prose - and thoughtful perspective.

"It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days, such a humorless little p**g. Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me. When it comes to dying even. Nothing ponderous, or portentous, or emphatic. No rhetoric, no tremolos, no self-conscious persona putting on its celebrated imitation of Christ or Little Nell. And of course, no theology, no metaphysics. Just the fact of dying and the fact of the clear light. So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling, on tiptoes and no luggage, not even a sponge bag, completely unencumbered."

~Aldous Huxley

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Yes, life is short.

If you think otherwise....this is not the post for you.

To be perfectly direct - I have been smacked over the past few months with this realization.

We have TODAY. That is really all we have....and even that is not guaranteed.

And being GRATEFUL for that time can make a pivotal difference.

This is why this month's webinar is a direct discussion around being THANKFUL and how that can change not only our direction - but also the MOMENTUM in which we live out our lives.

In this webinar, you will walk away with thoughtful actions to take AND resources to explore.

Join us! TODAY - at 11am CST. (45 minutes of direct and provocative discussion).

Just go here to save your seat.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FDgUJEqNTh2IqofFnDSaSQ #/registration

As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.
Rumi


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My daddy (below) was just one of the many veterans in my family.

He was deeply patriotic and never (ever) offered a prayer which he did not ask God to look after the men and women who protect our freedoms. He spent 13 months in a war hospital (about which I wrote in my last book), his Faith and steadfastness was (and still is) admirable and serves as a tremendous role model and reminder.

We owe our Veterans so much.

Geese 'get it'. They naturally fly in alignment.

“Alignment trumps everything. Stay off the subject that disturbs your alignment, and everything that you are about will come into alignment.” - Abraham Hicks

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Universal truths.

Beauty abounds.

Gorgeous, powerful, strong Bald Eagle....our national bird. They fly over our lake house - and sweep and soar like no other bird.
And our little blue birds, wrens, purple finches, woodpeckers, blue jays, mockingbirds, (etc.) ...and our beloved Cardinals (which I believe are my mom and daddy checking in on us)....live, thrive, and enjoy life together.

Oh.....what we can learn from our feathered friends.
All different. All the same. All Gifts.

Never underestimate the power of Alignment.

My company is built on this philosophy....and yes, it matters.

Homage to my Momma and Daddy......

Girls (meaning Gretchen and me);

👉️Stand tall. Shoulders back. Chin Up. Rise up on your hind legs.
👉️You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to do.
👉️Stand tall….

When facing exclusion
When facing ridicule
When facing jealous judgment
When facing challenges
When facing your own fears, uncertainty, and doubt
When facing the unknown.

👉️STAND TALL. SHOULDERS BACK, CHIN UP. RISE UP.

When pursuing opportunity
When pursuing uncharted waters.
When pursuing your dreams
When pursuing beyond your comfort zone
When facing naysayers
When facing resistance
When facing rejection
When facing hurdles that seem insurmountable

👉️STAND TALL. SHOULDERS BACK. CHIN UP. RISE UP.

ALL of us CAN do this. Not all of us WILL do this.

Yet….as Mary Oliver would say: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Now is the Time. Time waits for no one.

JOIN HANDS WITH ME….Let’s change the world…and LIVE the most INCREDIBLE LIVES we CAN.

We GROW LEADERS. We GROW SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS. Check me out: ⁠
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https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman⁠

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So....I'm just trying to keep real.....here I go:⁠⁠
YES... we all have days of unharnessed optimism....AND we also have days feeling defeat and fatigue.
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YES. THIS. IS. REAL.⁠
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AND.....I believe we can CHOOSE the mindset we want to embrace. Not always easy. We ALL can feel depleted at times.
AND....I choose to recognize and CALL OUT the challenge.
AND I also choose RESILIENCY, BELIEVE, and FAITH leading to success. ⁠AND YES - my thoughts and my words WILL indeed shift how I CREATE what is to come.....despite the situation in which we find ourselves.⁠
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Amen.

https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman⁠

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Here is precious Lulu in 2015 - we were trick or treating with Grammy and Big Foot (my parents - yes, those were their nicknames:)) - in Hot Springs. Is this not precious?!!

As we enter the end of 2023....many are seeking redirection, refocus, and yes.....Alignment.

My 12-week program: Alignment at Work™ has been very well received....and is impacting lives.

You can check it out here:

https://www.alignmentatwork.com/align.

It could be a super impactful way to end 2023 and embark on a new year!

The geese have figured out the power of ALIGNMENT - so can we.



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Loved this - and mean every word.

Who else is ready for fall?

Cool nights.... warm fires.... good books and deep conversations?

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https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman⁠



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Spot on.

⁠https://linktr.ee/KristinSKaufman⁠
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Many of you know folks who have (or are) suffering from dementia and/or Alzheimer's. It is a horrible disease and one that will affect at least 1 in 3 of us - in one form or another. It has a very raw and painful piece of my heart. What can we do?

A few thoughts:

* Drink water...we are 80% water so even a little dehydration can affect our brains.

* Practice mindfulness - meditation actually helps defer or offset dementia.

* Eat right - this is a plant-based, omega-3-rich diet with little/no packaged/processed food. This will reduce inflammation - also eating regular small meals to avoid spikes in blood sugar, etc. will help.

* Break a sweat - interval training, walking, yoga, etc. - even just 10-15 minutes a day will help shift the way the brain works.

*Sleep - 7-8 hours of GOOD rest is imperative - and if you aren't sleeping well - go see a doctor.

* Continuing learning - taking a bridge class or learning a new language or just taking a class that will require attention and reasoning will help to keep those 'synaps' charging!

* Keep your BP low - 120 over 80 is as high as it should do - so push the salt shaker away, walk and BREATH deeply, yoga/meditation/tai chi - all are proven to help lower BP!

Having watched numerous people suffer from this horrible affliction - we have no guarantee that these efforts will keep us free of dementia - yet, what do we have to lose by integrating these into our lifestyle?

And there you have it.

What a tremendous honor (and SO MUCH FUN) visiting with Sean on his fabulous podcast: Stories That Empower. You can have a listen here:

https://storiesthatempower.com/2023/10/21/354-kristin-s-kaufman

Alignment.

Yes, it matters. It DOES make a huge difference in life, in work, in contribution.

If you want to check out my 12-week program: Alignment at Work™ - you can go here: https://www.alignmentatwork.com/align.

The feedback has been incredible. You can go at your pace – yet the participants without any exceptions have said the process ‘works’ and they have benefited from the one-on-one time we have together.

They have more clarity about what to do next – whether this is staying in a big corporate job or launching out on their own – THEY get clear on what ‘SUCCESS’ means to them, and how to pursue it.



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