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These reflections and resources are for those seeking to strengthen their connection with their friends.

Consider This: Connecting With Our Best Self One Radio Show At A Time

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Introducing Connection Messenger Annette Petrick, writer and narrator of the popular radio show Consider This.  Don’t you just love people who embrace life and live it to its fullest, regardless of their age or their circumstances? With few exceptions, these folks have a positive attitude, an appreciation for the good things around them, and a [...]

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When is a Gift NOT a Gift?

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This is a guest post from Connection Messenger Sarah Anma. I am grateful for her wisdom in helping her readers and clients make important life connections in a meaningful way. This is a thought-provoking piece that will help you get in touch with your own giving motives, whether your gift is a physical one or [...]

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The Need for Drama

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Welcome to guest blogger and Relationship Mentor, Sarah Anma. When I read the words “We don’t need drama. We need connection,” I knew this was something to share with my Heartspoken readers. ============================== When we think rationally, we would never say out loud that we “need” drama. In fact, most people would state that they [...]

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When does Giving become Giving too Much?

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This may seem like a strange topic for someone who is passionate about learning to make and cultivate important Connections, but the cold hard truth is that all of our important connections with other people should also have boundaries. If you are someone who loves to do things for others, even when you don’t expect [...]

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Lessons from Professional Connectors

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I have just returned from a workshop in North Carolina attended by about 23 power connectors, and I’m brimming with lessons learned. The Influence Style Indicator™ workshop (a brand new assessment instrument from Discovery Learning) was sponsored by AvoLead, a strategic leadership consultancy in North Carolina that was co-founded by my sister, Sarah Albritton, and her associate and [...]

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New Year…but not so Happy

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Nothing is certain and nothing can be taken for granted. My planned “Happy New Year” wish to my readers seems hollow in the face of a phone call I just received telling me that a fine young man who was in my daughter’s high school class and whose parents are friends of mine was killed [...]

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Are you singing in the dark?

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Todays meditation on Acts 16:25-40 (in which Paul and Silas were singing hymns to God and inspiring other prisoners, even after they had just been flogged) from Forward Day by Day was first published in 1962. Authors are always anonymous: “The world always listens when we Christians sing in our midnight hour. What wins people [...]

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The Magic Connection Tool

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I was reminded today of a powerful connection tool that’s easy to use and absolutely free: the pen and small notepad. I first was impressed by the use of this simple, low-tech tool years ago when used by Warren B. French, Jr., retired President of Shentel and an international leader in the telecommunications industry. He [...]

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Start by listening

The foundation of any business or personal relationship is LISTENING. How can you possibly respond to the needs of your constituents if you don’t know what they are? Pay attention to every conversation, whether it’s in person, on the phone, or through social media. Stop multi-tasking and focus on the other person. You’ll be amazed [...]

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Revive the Art of Personal Note-Writing!

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NOTE 8/17/11: This blog post has been updated to reflect the transfer of content from our old Facebook Group “Revive the Art of Personal Note Writing!” to this Heartspoken blog. I now have a “Notewriting” category that will include content, encouragement, and resources to Revive the Art of Personal Notewriting! The personal note or letter [...]

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Connect to a teenager with a handwritten note

Don’t ever underestimate how much a simple handwritten note will mean to someone of any age. I sent this letter to a high school senior friend who just got into the college of his choice. His mother told me that he loved getting it so much that he read it out loud to her. I’ve [...]

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Speak from the Heart

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I try very hard to speak from the heart in all my deliberations, both personal and professional. I disagree that you have to be somehow different when you’re at work than when you’re at home, though admittedly there are perhaps different filters through which to process your words. But the source of your words — [...]

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