STAYING CONNECTED BY DISCONNECTING
FAST CARS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
NEW PERSPECTIVES FROM 12K FEET
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
Helen Keller
HARMONY IN EVERY HOME
TABLEOF CONTENTS
THE VISION
Celebrating and honoring Mom.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dream achieving and dreaming again amidst the anger.
DISCONNECT TO CONNECT
Lessons from my Mom about staying present.
CARS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
A unique take on life in the fast lane as a saleswoman.
SKYDIVING AND TEAMWORK
Find your tribe, even above the clouds!
REMARKABLE RESOURCES
Instagram directory
THEVISION
A SHIFT IN ALTITUDES CAN BRING NEW VISION OF PURPOSE
My Mom, Del Allen, had 996 skydives over her career as a semi-professional skydiver. I’m at 4 jumps, that’s me above.
I didn’t grow up selling cookies, but I did grow up hanging out with skydivers. My sister and I were known as “The Delettes.” We were little versions of her, and skip and play at Harvey’s airport in Snohomish.
Growing up with a mother who was a self-described adrenaline junkie was definitely fun! We had amazing childhoods and this month I want to honor my Mom and some of the lessons I’ve learned from her.
I will weave some business insights and family fun into this edition. Enjoy!
LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR
Falling is best with a support system in place
MyMomtookafullswingatlife. That’stheopeninglinetoherobituary.
DealingwithmyangerinmygriefIleaned onthesupportofmycoachalotlastmonth asdeathofaparentisoverwhelming.
Wedovedeepintomymessyconfusion aboutthelast5-10yearsofmyMomslife whichdeterioratedfromastrongand independentwomanIknewandloved,into acompletelydifferentpersonbornfrom painanddefeat.Whyhadsheburnedso manybridges?Didshenotknowhowtoask forhelpordidshetrulypreferherown companyatthispoint?Didshenotwantto burdenthemanymorewithpainthey couldn’tfix?
AsIreflectonmyownjudgementsofhow someofmygrowingupdidn’tseemnormal orsafe,I’mremindedthatlifedoesn’thave tomakesensetoappreciateit.
WhatIwalkedawayfromthat recentcoachingconversationwas adeeperdesiretobea“bridgebuilder.“
Idon’tdothisconsistentlynowsonow andthishasreallytriggeredsomething deepinmyheartabouthowthousands ofseniorsmayfeel.ThiscouldbeHigh Schoolseniorsor71yearoldskydivers!
It’salwaysagoodtimetobuildyour teamandsupportsystem.
Marcelle Allen
Editor-in-Chief
Del as a baby!
Skydiver Del Mom atNew Castle
Skydiving summers
Dani, Marci, Del Mom andRay
Dani and Marci
The Delettes Dani andMarcelle
FrommyearliestElementaryyears on,Momhadintroducedmeto branding.Shedidn’tcallitbranding, shewasjustcool.MyMomwasa salesrepinthelendingindustryand Iwouldhelphercreatemarketing pieces.ReallyIjustusedscissorsand stampsbutherpersonalbrandhada lottodowithaCorvet Ifoundthisold customluggage tagshehadandit broughtthisflood ofmemoriesback. Ihadnoconceptof“b timeotherthanshelovedPepsiand couldalwayspickitoutattheAlki Beachsodatastingcontest.
Shewouldtelltheseexcitingstories oflettinghercustomersdriveher car.She’dwalkin,knowtheteam, andtosssomeonethekeys!Could youimagineabeautifulladyjust handingyouthekeystoher Corvette!?Thisishowshemadea firstimpression.Shewoulddelight them!HerfullnamewasDelanie andshe’dalwayshavetosay,“like MelaniewithaD.”Thosewhoknew herwell,knowherasDel.Looking back,she“DEL-ighted”them!
Mysister,picturedabove,used tosharethefrontseatwithme. MyMomwasabitofarebel! Momreallywantedtosharethe joyofherwinswithothers.Big energy.Fun.Fast!Iremember onewintertherewasacrazy stormhappening.Shedidn’t wanttosithomeandwatch fromtheTV;nope,wedrove outtoAlkiandlettheocean splashupandsprayusright alongsidetheTVreporters.
Asshegrewolderthepace changed.Sheshiftedgearsalittle andrecentlyshe’dshowupwith myfavoritedessert,RiceKrispies treats.Sheinspiredmetobevery intentionalandtobringdelight!
Ibelievesocialmediashouldconnectus.I getthatitcandistractanddiscourageus butwehaveoptions.WhenIwrotein FinancialJoy,andhavestatedmanytimes inthispublication,aboutconversations; (notscrollingorcommenting)real communicationisaboutactualeye contact,trueconversations,andbecome moreimportantinourlives, especiallyas seasonsshiftandfamilieschange.
Wecanprioritizepeople.Notevery conversationwillgotobusiness,butwhat iftheybuiltbridges?Emotionally, spiritually,physically,financially,socially; weallhavevaryingneedsasseasons changeandgreatconversationsbridge ourfrustrationtosolutions.
Delightfulconversationselevatemoods andshiftenergy.Strategicconversations clarifynewbehaviorsortactics. Compassionateconversationsvalidateor motivate.Invigoratingconversations remindusofourtruestrengthsand direction. Whattypeofconversationsare youcraving?
Postaboutit.Seehowmanyphonecalls youcanhavethismonth andbuildsomebridges.
Mom and Me
Ohma, Dempsey, and Pierce
Mom andMe
TrythisFacebooktrickwhenyou wanttodosomebridgebuilding: Clickthe “SeeFriendship”fromthetopofa friendsprofile.Youmayneedto clickthe3littledotstoseeit. Hereisasetofphotos,curated fromFacebookwhenIclickon “seefriendship”formyMom. Italsoshowsothercommonalities andmutualfriendsorshared groups.
When I was able to access my Moms phone, it was very convenient to better understand her network.
Now if you see this snooping of mine as a major violation of privacy, be sure to select a legacy contact in your settings.
I wish I had more photos with her and I’m sure we’ll find more in albums. One other cool thing my Mom taught me was the value of presence.
She was very strict about this. When I was with her, I couldn’t be on my phone. She wanted my full attention and she wasn’t afraid to ask for it. It was a sign of respect and for the most part when I’m with someone I am with THEM. The nature of my business as a social media manager makes it tricky because so often I want to show and tell or record. I’ve learned to find a balance.
It does mean I didn’t take dozens of photos every time we visited these last few years but I will remember our conversations and I’m truly grateful for all of them.
Do you have a strict no phone policy at the dinner table or at certain times of the day? Consider the conversations you might be missing if everyone has their nose buried in a device.
My favorite photo
My sister graduated in 1999, two years before me. Left to Right, My grandpa John Aydelotte, my grandma Haxie Aydelotte, my older sister Dani Graham, me, Marcelle Allen, and my Mom, Delanie Allen.
My grandma passed away the next Spring and this was our last family photo from my childhood My Mom was so proud of us
ALWAYS IN RED AND WHITE
In any of these photos, my Mom is in the red and white jumpsuit. She had a remarkable ability to enjoy the ride!
SkydiverDel
Incredible teamwork and practice kept my Mom busy for many summers. She loved the days she was able to be a part of something so special!
DEFINING REMARKABLELEADER
Findingaplacetobelongis oneoflife’sgreatestjoys!
Whilemyclientsmayappearas digitallyhesitantinitially,theyknow theyneedsometechnicaland intuitivesupport.Navigatingsocial mediaismulti-layeredwhilegreat leadersdrivescommunities andindustriesforward.
WhenIdescribemyidealclientas remarkableleader, Iusuallyprovide2keyelements:
Meetupconsistently(monthly, annuallyoranywherein between)wheretheyfacilitate activitiesthathaveapurpose.
1. Auniquelanguageamongthe communityortribe.Clever phrases,acronyms,slang,ora lingothatoutsidersmightnot grasp. 2. Itdoesn’tmeantheleaderneedsto makeupwonkywordsorthatall eventcoordinatorsareleaders.
Creatingafollowingisn’talways aboutonesingularvoice,yetthe purposeisshared.
MyMomhadawonderfulcareer inthelendingindustry,Ilearnedso muchaboutcustomerserviceand salesfromher.I’mhappytohave realizedskydivingbroughther communitymuchlikeatribe.She wasaccepted,valued,andfound suchjoywiththem.Shewasa singleMomneedingtoconnect.
Divingintomemorylane,finding photoswasnostalgicandspecial.I didstumbleacrossaninfographiclikekeyfortypesofteam formations.Thesewerebeautiful designsformedbythehumanbody thousandsoffeetaboveground.
ThisinfographicbySDC RhythmXLisalotlikethe oneIsawinheralbum. Whethertheyhadteamsof4 or20,it’squiteremarkable realizingthey’redoingthis thousandsoffeetintheair. Tospelloutdesired behaviorsandactionslike thisisfascinatingtome.To achieveitafterfallingoutof anairplane,sowildandcool!
Whomeverledtheseyoung andambitiousskydiverstruly knewhowtocommunicate clearlyandconfidently.My Momisinredandwhiteat thetopofthisformation. I’msohappythatmyMom hadaplaceshebelonged. Shelovedthosejumps,the practices,thefunallalong. Theyallhadintenseamounts ofpracticetopullthisoff. Whattypeofpracticeare youputtingintoachievea result?
Ever since my first Skydive at age 8, I’ve had this unique ability to use my imagination to zoom up ahead and over a situation. When I use this Social Audience Matrix in my consulting, it’s like a 10,000' view of an area similar to a that of being in an airplane. The perspective is different than up close.
Looking at my Discovery Deck is an up close view of the tactics that could be used to advance or solve problems mid campaign. No marketing plan is exactly the same and it’s important to realize how flexible we can be in our approach and how we may need to keep adjusting until we perfect how it lands with our readers.
Years ago after my husband passed, I went through this book with a grief coach. I didn’t write the letter to him, I wrote it to my Mom for pain from decades before. It completely changed how we enjoyed the last decade together. If you have a poor relationship with someone, consider going through this book in a group or alone.
People often wonder what the purpose of social media really is. To me, one of my favorite parts is the ability to initiate conversations. We can ponder publicly if you will. We can steer the direction of the topic. We can shift how others see or understand something.
My Mom used to tell me, we are thinkers. We think critically. We see problems and we aren’t afraid to dive in a solve them.
D$10Digital ownload
My Mom, as a Corvette driver, knew she didn’t want to live in fear of speeding tickets. She mentioned once that she budgeted for 3 tickets a year. She knew she drove fast and didn’t want to live in constant fear of those consequences so she planned on it. She really didn’t get that many tickets and she definitely set her own rules.
This collaboration with Ross W Murker is the 1st of a 3 part series on budgeting. My main goal is to make the word “allocate” a common word among us.
Developing Digital You takes a lot of creativity and data driven decision making. Storytelling imagery & talking head videos in general doesn’t help us decide. It helps us see a character at a point in time. Data art looks back at the choices we made in our prior month, year, or decade. We we have thousands of stories we could tell, and I’ll be navigating what else I can share about my Mom in upcoming stories and articles. It’s important we learn from those who loved us and walked before us.
Help others bend time!
Spatially and visually track progress in a way spreadsheets can't.
My Mom used to love crunching the numbers to see what her commission checks might be. She really embraced a heart of service for her customers and had a strong drive for achievement.
The internet collapses time in a way that is hard to explain. Posting a video to your one business page isn’t the only place people might benefit from it. Visualize your sphere of influence to help more people find your videos & resources. My Mom said “You need to know your sales territory and don’t be afraid to go get what you want.”
Data art is a novel and complex topic. I’m happy to be interviewed on podcasts, instagram lives, or co-create to help bring this important message to more people.
Stay well, Marcelle
service
Social media touches ALL 7 of these core competencies of a business
Social media touches ALL 7 of these core competencies of a business
OftenIwilltellmy clientsitonlytakes7 elementstocreatea successfulbusiness.We don’tneedtobe100%at eachofthemallthetime.
Wedoneedtoconsider howtheyconnectand howwecanimprove.
Doaquickanalysis;how isyourleadershipfrom1 to100?Howisyour Marketing?Sales? Customerservice?How aboutFinancial managementandProduct Development?Areyour operationssmooth?
Giveyourselfarough% foreachcategory. InmyMom’sprofession, sheexcelledatSalesand CustomerService.Not everyparentwillneed eachoftheseifnotin theirownbusiness.
The Revenue Ringlet
Connect
Scrollingismorefun withafriendorfamilymember!
Askabuddythesecuriosityquestionsandsee ifyoucanmakeagreatconnectionorreferral.
Check them out and hone your conversational resourcefulness.
All Instagram usernames are clickable or you can use the search feature. Click through to learn about these business resources in our community. Network away! Interview each other. Have some fun with data art discussions.
Behind every username is a wealth of information and sometimes it takes some digging to truly get to where we need or want to go.
DirectoryofRemarkableResources
Want your kids to be strong with a healthy self-esteem?
@activemillcreek
Is your voicemail full?
@answeringservicecare
How has your husband's pornography addiction affected your self confidence?
@bethbrunkcoaching
Tired of drawing your eyebrows on and taking too long to get ready?
@carefree_beautypmu
Do you need custom embroidered swag?
@custommadebyjulie
Have you considered moving to the Pacific Northwest?
@denisepetersonrealtor
Ready to organize and optimize your body of work and leave your legacy behind?
@dreamosity
If you had to list your home in 30 days, would you be ready?
@Elisa_ Hawkinson
Need to strengthen your pelvic floor and feel better in your body?
@empowered_physicaltherapy
Are you ready to be professionally trained in sales?
@eric.lofholm
Get included in our Remarkable Resources Directory Only $50 for 12 months.
Would you like to be exceptional at connecting?
@exceptionalconnections
Ready to ignite your visibility with publicity?
@Fireralker_ PR
Do you know the steps to get your home ready to SELL?
@genevievejonesproperties
Craving fitness encouragement and zoom accountability?
@getkayleanfitness
Need advice about money matters during a divorce?
@karenkoenig
Want to develop your mix of humor and be more confident on stage?
@laftechnw
Ready to invest in Mill Creek?
@mill_ creek _guy
Ready to grow your business connections in Mill Creek?
@millcreekchamber
Hopeful for a safe place to move forward with others who will understand?
@modernwidowsclub
Want to trust yourself more?
@natashaventer_ ac
Ready for some grief resources?
@OfficialGriefWarrior
Would you like to build a sales team and earn referrals?
@pnanorthwest
What does it look like to overcome trauma?
@RebootRecovery
All links click through to Instagram
Want to live a happy life?
@rosannastritzel
If life is a game, who’s writing your rules?
@rwm6f8
Ready to show up visually in your brand?
@silverkeysmedia
Wanttovisitthebestselfcare centerinRentonlaunching Summer2024?
@soakandsagedayspa
What are the popular choices for living situations after 62?
@teresa_ barthol _managing_ broker
Want the best most effective massage of your life?
@wanderinghummingbirdmassage
Brands highlighted in PINK this month were mentioned somewhere in this current publication. .
Network with these remarkable people!
Reflect carefully
Twice a month we review our marketing efforts together, discuss leverage points, and examine results.
Advance enthusiastically
Leverage your sphere of influence in new ways, collaborate creatively, share intentionally and enjoy expanding.
Your data, your medium
Know the data behind your dreams for the week, month, and each quarter. Be able to connect the dots and gain new insights.
