Blog - Simon Says Lead

Gratitude Month: Monique & Holly

Feb. #graditude post – It’s my Birthday Month, and the tradition of gratitude posts continues! Meet Monique Ramos-Smith, PHR and Holly Peterson. I have had the privilege to lead and work alongside these two amazing women in my career. I am so grateful for their partnership over two decades ago when we worked hard and played hard. We rolled up…

Are You Battling Crisis Fatigue? These Resources Can Help.

Recently I came across the term “crisis fatigue” with an immediate sense of recognition. I have to say, it felt so great putting a label on what I felt I had gone through during the past few years. As an HR professional tackling 24/7 demands through the height of the pandemic, I know how this…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Leading together

Feb Gratitude, Final post! I wanted to close with this as I end my Birthday Month and my Feb Gratitude posts. When I was in my 20s, I started my staffing industry journey working for Volt Services Group. A company that was founded by two brothers. Bill and Jerry Shaw sat at their mom’s kitchen table in…

Gratitude February 2022 Post-Brain Health

My amazing Amy L. Grove! Amy became a part of my life just over 11 years. She was the “organization” behind Simon Says Give High Five for Supplies. She partnered early on with Mandi Simon to co-chair H5FS, creating structure and building the event into Guinness World Records worthy! Amy was also a partner with me at Simon Says Lead. We…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Connections

I love connecting people who do amazing things in the world together. I wanted to give appreciation and gratitude to a significant connector in my life, Jeffrey Hayzlett. If I hadn’t met Jeff Hayzlett 11 years ago, I would not have met Jeff Brown (featured in a post earlier in the month). JEFFRY BROWN then multiplied the impact…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Ride or Die Girls

Feb Gratitude Cont., These two ladies have been my rock over the past 10+ years!! Eleven years ago in May, I met Cathy Paper, M.A. in Hollywood, CA, at a SANG event (Speakers Authors Networking Group). Since we were in Hollywood, CA, and probably the only ones from Minnesota at the event, everyone pushed us to meet…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Legacies

Feb Gratitude Continued. Today, Feb 15th marks the 11th anniversary of when I filed Simon & Associates – now dba as Simon Says Lead – paperwork. Over the last 11 years, the ride has been amazing with so many that I have partnered with both at Simon Says Lead and Simon Says Give My gratitude post today…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Impact Partnerships

Tony Sorensen and Chris Ohlendorf and the Versique Search & Consulting and Parqa Digital Marketing Agency teams have been involved with Simon Says Give since 2012 when we packed 1,000 backpacks. They have provided talent at every event we have ever had over the years! Fashion shows, backpack packing, building birthdays, Guinness World Records, and…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Be ready if asked “how can I help”?

JEFFRY Jeff BROWN & Jim S. Johnson, CSP have been with us at Simon Says Give since the beginning! Jeff and I met in the ideation days when Mandi Simon was just dreaming about what she wanted to do in 2010-2011. When he said, “How can I help”?? He introduced us to Darin Lynch (a…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Sisters

On my actual birthday, I wanted to share gratitude for my sisters, since they have had to put up with me all of their lives! To the left of me is my little sister Susie, she is wild and crazy and keeps us all on our toes! Susie works in administration in a hospital in…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Women Entrepreneurs

This powerhouse lady is my cousin Mary White. Over the years of raising kids and grandkids, she has had a successful career in some cool areas. What I love most is her ability to market and tell a story and build lifelong relationships. She and her husband have an extraordinary real estate business and are…

Gratitude February 2022 Post – Partnerships

February Gratitude Continued. Darin Lynch came into our lives early in 2011. When Mandi was starting Simon Says Give he and Irish Titan jumped in to help Mandi launch our website. With their mission of “Business First. Online Second.” they worked with Mandi to understand what she was trying to accomplish and help it come…

Gratitude February 2022 Post-Generations

Feb Gratitude Continued. My 1st professional job in college was with Associates Leasing (a div of Ford and a company that has been gobbled up by mergers). At an early age, I was so blessed to work for dynamic leaders that didn’t see me as a kid, but as a professional that they took the…

Gratitude February 2022 Post: Youth Leadership

Feb Gratitude Continued – a HUGE thank you to Joseph S. Burgess, CFP®, CAP®, AIF® for the amazing podcast with Mandi Simon that hit all podcast venues yesterday. So inspired by Mandi’s account for her past 10 years and the amazing community supporting Simon Says Give. THE ASCENT PODCAST

Gratitude February 2022 Post: Learning Leadership from the Master

February is my birthday month, and I am dedicating it to gratitude posts! I am so grateful my journey has been so impacted by the servant leadership teachings of Ken Blanchard and his team! Lynn McCreery and Phil Reynolds my train for trainers and coaches! I am still inspired 20+ years later by you! Vicki…

Benefits of Hiring a Coach

During my professional career, I have been surrounded by some of the best-known leadership coaches and I have witnessed first-hand the results their clients experienced. Watching these transformations has always inspired me to get my own coaches – even though I too am a coach! I hired my first business coach when I was 35…

2021 Word = Deliberateness

The trend of starting the year off with a focus word is one that I have loved. This year, more than ever, I feel I personally needed to regroup and refocus and get intent on the word I picked. Someone I have followed and admired in the coaching space is Christine Kane. She has provided…