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“Giving is like a muscle. To be strong, you have to exercise it, and to grow as a person, giving is the exercise. You can’t really enjoy anything without sharing it.”

~Zig Ziglar

Right now is probably one of, if not the best time of the year all around the world.

It is a time of the year that we all focus more on thinking about what we can give others to make them happy versus what we want or need to make ourselves happy. It seems like a sense of being more giving and welcoming takes over and saturates our normal day-to-day world. Doors that weren’t held open before, are today. A smile and hello that wasn’t given yesterday, is today. Some loose change that was kept stashed in the cup holder last week is handed out the window today. The local charity with only three volunteers last month is now overfilled and has a waiting list.

Lets Give!

During this time of year, all of us at Lake Country Builders like to volunteer at a local non-profit as part of our gift to others in need. It is for a great cause and it undoubtably helps a lot of others in need around the world. The organization we worked with had everything laid out and planned to make it as easy as possible for all of us to contribute in a variety of small ways that built to one grand goal. They took every little step that we each made and conglomerated them into one big offering that goes out to thousands of people in need. To say it left me with a great feeling of warmth and goodness couldn’t be truer, however, much like I felt after doing this same volunteer work last year, today I’m left with a feeling of guilt that I don’t do more like this everyday.

Today, tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that and…

With the Holiday Season on us and the New Year approaching, I hope that all of us can take some time to think about how you can or will give throughout the year. Know that giving doesn’t have to be an object or money. Remember that you can give time, give support, give love, give laughs or simply give your presence. I know that I spend so much time thinking about what I need and planning my days around that and how I can get that. Perhaps if I give more of that time to others that need my help, my needs will be given to me?

Enjoy this Holiday Season with your families and friends. Do your best to consider the others around you that are not as fortunate as you are. If you’ve got some time to share with those in need, do so. If you’ve got things around your house you no longer need but could benefit someone else, give it. If there is anything of yourself you can show or teach to others who could use it to better their life, share it. Join me in trying to keep these thoughts and actions in mind throughout the year and the years to come.

Gettin Ziggy with it!

The quote at the top of this post is from world renowned inspirational speaker and salesman Zig Ziglar. I was first introduced to Zig Ziglar and who he was by Peter Jacobson the founder and president of Lake Country Builders. When I first started here, Pete showed me around the office and stopped to point out the “Zig Ziglar Award” trophy in the lobby. This award is honored yearly to someone on staff in office or out in the field that best exemplifies Ziglar-like values throughout the year. To give you a better idea of those values and to help you start your New Year off with a mindset to give more of yourself, I have included a list of my favorite Zig Ziglar quotes below.

“Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart.”

“Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you.”

“Never blame anyone in your life. Good people give you happiness. Bad people give you experience. Worst people give you a lesson. And best people give you memories.”

“Give the world your best and you will get the best out of the world.”

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

“If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”

“A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.”

“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.”

“The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you think you can only do a little.”

“Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give them yours.”

“True joy comes when you inspire, encourage, and guide someone else on a path that benefits him or her.”

“Don’t count the things you do, do the things that count.”

“Hope is the power that gives a person the confidence to step out and try.”

“We cannot start over, but we can begin now and make a new ending.”

“There is little you can learn from doing nothing.”

“When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you’re making a commitment and difference in that person’s life. Encouragement really does make a difference.”

“There are not traffic jams on the extra mile.”

How is that for a vibe to come into everyday!

Needless to say we like to try and give all that we can to every person and project here at Lake Country Builders. We hope it shows through our quality craftsmanship, our award winning projects and the ever-expanding group of friends we’re making along the way.

Best wishes to you all this Holiday Season and for the year ahead!