President's Message

Last month, Managing Director Angela Sontheimer and I attended a seminar on ways to boost happiness in the workplace. We learned a couple of really great things to help increase worklife satisfaction and productivity. Two things that struck home with me—and that I'd like to share with you—focus on attitude and gratitude.

If you've been to one of our programs, you've probably heard Gen. Jim Anderson talk about attitude. You may even have a copy of the business cards that he hands out. One reads: “Attitudes are contagious—yours is worth catching!” The other reads: “Attitudes are contagious—is yours worth catching?” Which one would you like him to hand you?

Think about your attitude toward your leaders, followers, friends and family.  Do you project a positive and productive attitude? Do you foster it in others? You can choose your attitude—you're the one in charge of it! I've often quoted the line that “life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it,” but I never knew where the quote came from. I've included the whole quotation, attributed to Charles Swindoll, below.

Another thing we learned at the seminar we attended is that attitude leads to gratitude, and gratitude is a major contributor to happiness. Who doesn't like to be praised for a job well done and told “Thank you—I'm grateful you put in the extra effort.” As leaders, our gratitude to our followers provides a significant boost—and it's free! So the next time you have the chance, try showing your gratitude in a significant and meaningful way. You may be surprised at the response you get!

Here's another neat idea: Start a gratitude journal. It's easy; just take a few seconds each day to jot down three things for which you are grateful. They can be work related or have to do more with your personal life.  It's a great way to be conscious of the positive things in our lives.

Steven B. Wiley, president & founder
The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg

www.gettysburgleadership.com

84,000 Coins Used To Create Giant Lincoln Penny

An artist has worked full time for three months to create a replica of a Lincoln penny … using 84,000 pennies. The artist, Wander Martich, started collecting the coins in 2006 while going through a tough period during which she got divorced, lost her job and lost her home to foreclosure. Even after getting a job, she and her two daughters continued putting $20 of pennies into a jar each week, which later developed into a savings account.

In 2010, Martich decided to use the savings account to embark on this penny creation for an art contest as a way of telling her story. It took 10 to 14 hours a day for three months to stick all 84,000 pennies to the wooden frame, using 22 tubes of construction adhesive, and the work was eventually called, Helping Mom One Penny at a Time.

Learn more about the piece, which has been acquired by Ripley's Believe It or Not! here.

CPE Awards Are Now Available for LLI Sessions

LLI has made its sessions available as continued professional education (CPE) and is now a member of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

The National Registry of CPE Sponsors is a program offered by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to recognized CPE program sponsors who provide CPE programs in accordance with nationally recognized standards. Professionals seeking continuing education are eligible to participate in LLI's sessions.

“We wanted to make CPE awards available because past clients have asked if the courses qualify for CPE. Originally, we made this available to government clients and now we decided to make it available to corporate clients as well,” said Shari Boyd, LLI's operations administrator.

In order to participate in LLI sessions and get CPE credit, applicants must go through a detailed application process in which they must include information that helps display their qualifications. To learn more about CPE sponsors, visit www.learningmarket.org.