The Really Useful People Group, LLC - Alison Smith

Earthrise.

Just look at that incredibly beautiful planet hanging out in the dark. The place we all get to call home.

This incredible image was taken by Apollo 8 Astronaut William A. Anders on December 24th, 1968.

This is how the picture happened…

The astronauts had been photographing the lunar surface using black and white film when out of the corner of his eye, Anders caught a glimpse of earth.

Anders: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! There’s the earth coming up. Wow, that’s pretty.

Borman: Hey, don’t take that, it’s not scheduled (joking)

Anders: (laughs) You got a color film, Jim? Hand me that roll of color, quick would you…

Lovell: Oh man. That’s great!

Where would we even start with the leadership lessons captured in the taking of this image? It provides endless incredible discussions in my leadership classes and I’m sure it will for a long time to come.

Photographer William A. Anders died this weekend at age 90, whilst piloting his plane. What a life and such a loss.

What does Earthrise mean to you?

Yesterday I spent a wonderful morning with extraordinary leaders at discussing culture and change.

Such great conversation and valuable insights. Expect great things 😀

True in life, love and work.

Discover who you are and then live-the-heck-out-of the life you have.

Thanks Steve.

Today I got to teach about Leading Courageously at the Women in Leadership program at AND my first peony of the season bloomed.

Coincidence? I think not ♥️

I never wanted a masters degree but at age forty-five I felt stuck in my career, the toolkit I’d been happily using for twenty-five years wasn’t cutting it and I knew I needed more.

Attending was life changing for me. The incredible education and lifelong friendships made me a better person and OD professional.

Today is our nine year graduversary and I become more grateful with each passing year.

Oh what fun to be back at the teaching Leading Change from The Top with a spectacular group of leaders, and then seeing my former leader Marilyn Carlson Nelson on the cover of the school of management magazine! A great day indeed 😀

Thanks as ever to Jason O’Connor my wonderful program manager, who helps keep this particular faculty member in the right place at the right time with the right materials, and most latterly helping her get out of the car park!

Team work makes the dream work!

Who are you enormously grateful for at work?

Seeing people in their giftedness is my Very Favorite Thing, so spending a day watching culinary genius Scott Graden of the New Scenic Café creating delicious delights in celebration of the Swedish festival of Valborg (the arrival of spring), was such a treat!

Brilliantly assisted by the fabulous Patrice Johnson (instagram ), we learned how to cure salmon in beets creating gorgeous sunset colours, how to whip up the most divine deviled eggs ever, AND how to make the incredible Smogastarta which is a three filling sandwich that looks like a birthday cake!

All of this delightfulness occurred at the American Swedish Institute where both Scott and Patrice regularly teach, AND where you can buy a glass of wine or delicious aquavit to accompany your culinary delights!

I thoroughy recommend taking a day off once in a while, to do your favorite thing with your favorite folk. What, when and with whom will that be for you?

🇸🇪

Happy Earth Day!
Praise the LORD for the wonderful rock we get to call home ♥️🌎♥️

Wow! This morning I spent two glorious hours with the leadership team of Satellite Industries while they shared their personal leadership summaries, telling the stories of who they are, what they bring and how they lead.

You could have heard a pin drop. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, and we all knew we had been on hallowed ground.

It takes a special kind of leader to tell the whole truth about who you are in the presence of your peers. Could you do it?

Congratulations Fabulous Ones, your courage, openness and authenticity predict even greater things ahead! ✨♥️

Oh.My.Word! Stationary Lovers, I think I’ve found the perfect pens! 🖊️♥️🖊️

Lovely bright colours that show up on light AND dark paper - be still my beating heart 💓

I predict any journalers, card and letter senders or other Really Useful Writing People will ♥️♥️♥️ these.

Thanks to the brilliantly creative for the intro 😀

My spring break this year was in glorious California. Time with Loves to rest and recharge is such a blessing.

…the wine was good too! 🤣😂😅

How are you resting and recharging at the end of the first quarter of 2024?

The fuzzy buds of spring look glorious in the bright sunshine ☀️

Happy Monday, Fabulous Ones!

SO GREAT working with these two communication geniuses yesterday!

Whilst I can witter on for hours unscripted, scripts and learning lines give me the heeby-jeebies and I become an anxious, sweaty mess 😬

Ryan and Ben rigged up a fabulous new teleprompter to help get me through and the whole episode was quick, painless and actually rather fun, although I forgot my lipstick so I may look a little pale in final cut!

Our Live Your Purpose reboot at is finally coming to life after months (years actually!) of prayerful dreaming, planning, beta testing and hard work. I am so grateful to be involved in this incredible work with such a wonderful team. Expect GREAT things ✨

“Hey Alison! Do you have time for a quick chat?”

I absolutely LOVE it when former colleagues, clients, students and various other LinkedInians call for a chat! What a privilege to be considered a resource for such wonderful humans, I’m always surprised and humbled.

Last week I received FOUR such requests! How blessed am I? 🥰

Reach out if you ever need a sounding board or to phone-a-friend, I’m here for you ♥️

And speaking of friends, I would like to introduce you to Alison Friend, the incredible artist who created the lovely image above. She’s all kinds of brilliant ♥️

Have a wonderful week Y,All!

Well I was going to wish y’all a Happy Hump Day, but clearly our hump has become a dip!

Happy Wednesday anyway! 🤩

Happy almost March, Fabulous Ones!

It’s feeling very springy in Minnesota, no snow on the ground, warm temperatures and even the birdies are singing!

Spring is a beautiful time of new growth and new beginnings. 🌷🧼🐣

What’s new for you?

Hey Fabulous Ones!

How has your week been?

+ What worked?
+ Where did you get struck?
+ What might you do differently next week?

Onward to the Weekend!

Love

Squiffy-Sausage and me

When my fabulous friend and brilliant strengths-genius colleague reached out last week to explain how have updated their reporting on www.mygallup.com I was intrigued, and I think you will be too!

This picture is a graphic representation of my 34 strengths, with the top 10 in bold colours and each strength numbered by its place in my top 34! Is there any wonder why I struggle turning getting things done, and it explains perfectly why I am so appreciative of others who can and do execute with precision and consistency

If you have ever taken the strengths finder profile, log back in and see your strengths in a whole new way. It’s BRILLIANT!

Here’s to going from strength to STRENGTH together ♥️

Whoosh! Coming into February like a perky otter who just caught breakfast!

Can you believe we’re in February already? As I tuned the page on my faithful kitchen calendar this cheeky otter greeted me, such enthusiasm, perkiness and energy brilliantly captured in one picture.

If a picture paints a thousand words, which would describe your entry into February 2024?

Out of the blue!

Well this was a lovely start to the week☀️

After seemingly endless days of gloom and fog, the clouds lifted to reveal the most beautiful blue sky.

In the pursuit of proactivity, the late, great Stephen Covey always encouraged us to ‘take our own weather with us’ and not let dark days get us down. Clearly I still have a way to go with that…

Why does everything feel easier and better on a blue sky day?

I hope your Monday is magnificent, fabulous ones!

It’s my 6 year Americancitizenniversary today! Wooo Hooo 🎉🎉

What a privilege to call two places home. 🇬🇧♥️🇺🇸

Being an immigrant is a real journey. My experience has been so privileged, with incredible support, wise counsel and so much love along the way.

My heart aches for the 281 million immigrants in the world who haven’t had my privileges, being a stranger in a foreign land isn’t for the faint of heart.

If you know someone from another place, reach out and see how they’re doing today. I promise you, They will appreciate it way more than you will ever know.

♥️

Squiffers loves to join me for online learning adventures!

Happy Monday, Fabulous Ones 😃

Let me count the ways I Love:

a) Teaching personal and professional development to students in the Masters in Healthcare Administration at the ♥️

b) Having brand new notebooks and sharp pointy new pencils! 📓 ✏️ ♥️

🎶…these are a few of my favorite things!

What are your favorite work things?

Three ‘Top Bananas’ and a Dream Job! 🍌🍌🍌🌟

Woooo Hoooo! Four of my Really Useful clients are having an incredible start to 2024. Three are taking the top jobs in their respective organizations, and one after remembering who they really are, is following their passion into pastures not exactly new but definitely more ‘them’.

I am continually amazed by the incredible leadership and life journeys I get to come alongside in my work. It’s such a privilege to see people thrive and flourish at every age and in all walks of life.

Congratulations Y’all!

Happy 2024, Fabulous Ones!

I can’t wait to see all the wonderful oubaitori blooming we will do together this year, are you ready?

Go!*

*in your own time and individual way of course! ♥️

#2024

The sun is setting on 2023.

In the northern hemisphere today is the shortest day, in the southern hemisphere, the longest.

And there it is, darkness and light, evening and morning, the hard and the holy.

As the calendar turns once more, I hope you take some time to look back on the days and seasons of the year we have walked together.

The accomplishments and accolades are good, but look for the love and light - especially the light shining in the darkness - that is the real gift of every year.

Life is a gift. Love is the point.

See you in 2024 ♥️

Oh what fun! A wonderful day of learning and laughter at with leadership legends! You know who you are 😉

usefulpeople

I’m thankful for YOU!

As we fast approach the US Thanksgiving holiday, I just want to say how thankful I am for YOU! You know who you are 🙂 where you are 🌎 and why 🥰.

Love, hugs and Best Blessings to you ♥️

I see you!

I love leaders. Always have, always will, and the more I get to work with you, the more I see the enormous pressures you are under that sometimes make you just want to hide.

But if you peep out for a bit I’d love to help. My specialty is helping leaders discover who they are, how they lead and then go and do that.

It’s simple but not easy, takes courage and time, but is so worth the effort.

The first step is to pop out from whatever you’re hiding behind and say hi.

I’m here for you 🙂