Sarah M. KippSarah M. Kipp

Archives for March 2013

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New Beginnings

For many years of my adult life I bought into the idea of the New Year beginning on January 1st. Every where I looked–friends, courses, books–there were indicators that this was the perfect time of year to make new resolutions, chart my path for the upcoming year, hit the reset button, and swing into action.

Yet, in my inner world, I was still in deep hibernation mode. The weeks leading up to the New Year were usually filled with traveling to see family in Ohio, Connecticut, and New New York. I tucked in as early as possible on New Year’s Eve exhausted from our family travel and fun. Projects and presentations were already in full swing for January and February, and January 2nd was a day full of pre-ordained work that had been put on hiatus throughout the holidays. Nothing about this time of year felt ripe for new beginnings. [Read more…] about New Beginnings

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Grace and Grief

Over the past several years, I have been on both sides of the grieving process. I have been the person grieving the loss of a loved one. I have been touched and loved by those who knew how best to support me through the days, months, and years of grief. I have also been the close friend, relative, and distant acquaintance to others who were navigating the uncharted waters of grief. How we communicate with someone who is grieving directly relates to how well-supported the grieving person feels. I use these five reminders to help me stay present and supportive when someone I know and love has experienced a loss.

 

Make the call. [Read more…] about Grace and Grief

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How to Write a Eulogy

At some point in your life, you may be asked or you will offer to give a eulogy for a loved one. A eulogy is a speech that acknowledges and praises someone who has died. While the eulogy you give may be one of the most important speeches you will ever deliver, you may have a very short period of time to prepare, and you may experience a wide range of emotions while you are creating it.

Here are five strategies for writing a eulogy that will have the positive impact you intend and will leave a lasting impression with those who hear it.

Keep it short. While you have a plethora of stories you want to remember and share, your audience will have a shorter attention span because they are grieving. Unless you are told to do otherwise, keep the length to no more than four or five minutes. Three to four minutes is ideal. If you are speaking at a Catholic mass, the priest may ask you to keep it to about three minutes. Even in a less structured setting, less is more. Give your audience the gift of brevity. [Read more…] about How to Write a Eulogy

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Creating Connections: Part 3 – Choosing to Connect

Creating Connections is a three-part blog series. Part 1 explored how employers speak with their employees about utilizing our services. Part 2 focused on how employees can take the lead in introducing our company to theirs. In this third and final part of the series, we’ll share a few of the behind-the-scenes reasons people choose to engage with Express Yourself Write.

 

By the time our company has an opportunity to partner with someone, the person standing in front of us already has a lifetime of experience. Part of our process involves understanding what hasn’t worked for our clients in the past. When working with topics as personal as writing and presentation skills, we know that how we work with clients is as important as the skills we share with them. This list reflects how we do what we do in the privacy of our meetings, and explains what differentiates us from our clients’ previous experiences.

We lead with respect.

The granddaughter of immigrants, the founder of Express Yourself Write learned at a very young age that expressions of oneself on paper or in spoken English may not be a reliable reflection of a person’s wit, intellect, or work ethic. Some of the most intelligent, capable leaders we know have experienced challenges in the areas of writing and presenting. With this in mind, we begin our work by focusing on the areas in which our clients feel successful and confident, and use those strengths as a foundation for working on their challenges.

We model what we teach. [Read more…] about Creating Connections: Part 3 – Choosing to Connect

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Creating Connections: Part 2 – Making a Request

Creating Connections is a three-part blog series. Part 1 explored how employers speak with their employees about utilizing our services. Part 2 focuses on how employees can take the lead in introducing our company to theirs.

Something has sold you on us. Perhaps you have seen, first hand, how we assist people with their writing and presentation skills. Maybe you have heard from a friend how they benefited from working with our company. Maybe you are struggling with your own writing or presenting skills, and believe our company will make your life easier. How do you approach your employer about hiring our company to work with you?

Making requests and asking for help can feel like risky endeavors. Even when we know we would benefit from additional support, actually asking for what we need requires intentionality and courage. The key to making requests is being able to identify, in advance, how your proposal will be a win-win for everyone involved.

Here are some steps you can take prior to making a direct request.  [Read more…] about Creating Connections: Part 2 – Making a Request