By Witt Hullander    

The Winter Olympics take place every four years, and we have the privilege of watching many unique and remarkable athletes competing for our country. Athletes we may have never heard of from obscure sports like bobsled and curling are put to light in front of a worldwide TV audience. One of these athletes is Hannah Teter. 

Teter won the gold medal in the snowboarding halfpipe in 2006 and the silver medal in 2010. She has won a variety of awards in national and international competitions. All in all, she is one of the most talented snowboarders on planet Earth. These athletic feats are a great testament to who she is on the snow, but what really matters is who she is off the snow.

Hannah created a charity called Hannah’s Gold, which partners with World Vision to support a small, rural village in Kirindon, Kenya. Hannah’s Gold sells Vermont maple syrup and organic cotton/hemp sweatbands to raise money for the Kirindon community. Using these proceeds as well as Hannah’s contest winnings and other donations, the charity has helped provide clean water, school fees, and even assisted residents with the purchase of bicycles. She could have kept her money and focused only on herself and her snowboarding career. Instead she breaks that mold, rises to the occasion, and challenges others to do the same.

Most of us lead everyday lives and have never attained the stardom that Teter has. However, we all have the opportunity to be leaders in giving to others. We have the opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and do something rather than focus on ourselves. As leaders, we have to look beyond ourselves and focus on the needs of others on a daily basis.

Today is the day to make that change. Think about how you can make a difference in your company or in your community. It doesn’t matter whether you are the CEO, the manager, the receptionist, or the intern. Everyone can make a difference. So go out there and do something just like Hannah has.

Tell us about your role and how long you’ve been with Woople? 

I started with Woople in 2010 as a Customer Care Representative, and I am currently the HR Coordinator.

How did you get involved with this line of work? Is it something you studied in college? 

I happened upon the HR role internally when it became available. My previous jobs had a lot of the HR aspects to them, so it was a good fit.

What is a typical workday like for you?

I’m not sure there is a “typical” day at Woople! It is ever changing, so we all wear many hats to get things done. One day I may be onboarding a new employee, the next I could be planting flowers, working with a plumber, or chasing squirrels out of the flowerbeds!

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

I can honestly say that I enjoy the people I work with and the culture of our organization.

What challenges do you face? Do you feel that Woople prepares you to handle these situations?

I think the challenges I face are normal for a Human Resource role—benefit changes and enrollment, compliance with updating laws and procedures, etc. My team is always present and more than willing to share their thoughts and ideas with me.

How would you describe the culture at Woople?

We have an energetic, open, caring culture at Woople. We have music playing throughout the building, so you never know when an impromptu dance party will break out.

What is one fun fact about you?

One of my favorite things to do as a family is spend time on our boat at a local lake. My kids love to wakeboard and I love to watch them—Even though I can’t swim!

Copyright 2014 Woople, LLC.

Get 2014 off to a great start! Join us for these engaging and insightful classes:

Winning Words One-Day Workshops - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 – 9:00am - 4:00pm

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 – 9:00am - 4:00pm

Power Up: Ethical Leadership Workshop - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Thursday, January 23, 2014 – 9:00am - 4:00pm

Sustaining Excellence Elite Management Retreats – Wildwood, Georgia

• March 9 - 12, 2014 – Level 10 Retreat & Conference Center
• June 8 - 11, 2014 – Level 10 Retreat & Conference Center
• September 14 - 17, 2014 – Level 10 Retreat & Conference Center
• November 9 - 12, 2014 – Level 10 Retreat & Conference Center

Call 800.823.7698 for more information, and sign up today!

By Michelle Plogher

Did you know the Woople eLearning platform can now be accessed from your smartphone or tablet?

Whether your organization uses the html5 version or the flash version of Woople, you may now visit app.woople.com. Log in with your email address and password to see the latest and greatest version of the platform!

If you have forgotten your password, simply go to app.woople.com and click on the “I’ve forgotten my password” tab on the right side of the login portal. Type in the email address you use in the Woople system, and an email containing a link for you to re-create your personal Woople password will be sent your way.

With this updated version, you will still have access to all of your favorite content as well as all of the features and capabilities in our famously user-friendly format.

Your usage will be tracked and reflected between the two versions. If you are concerned that your views on one version will not transfer to the other, we’ve got you covered. Your progress is simply tracked by your username (email address) and will show up in our reporting feature regardless of the version you are using.

Take advantage of every opportunity to gain helpful knowledge and valuable insight on sales, leadership, and personal development. Whether you choose to view for a few minutes or a few hours, we hope to see you on app.woople.com very soon!

Please feel free to contact the Woople Customer Care team with any questions. We are always happy to assist you!

Copyright 2014 Woople, LLC

By Witt Hullander 

When we think about great leaders, several images come to mind. We visualize Washington, Lincoln, or even Steve Jobs. What about an athlete like Peyton Manning? Has he ever attempted to pass a law in the Senate? Has he ever made any political persuasion? No, he has not. Has he won a Super Bowl? Yes, he has. Has he won four NFL MVP awards? Yes, he has. Peyton Manning did not do these things out of sheer willpower. He did with them with one part skill and two parts leadership.

 As he plays, Manning displays the knowledge and skill that separates him from other players. He reads defenses and changes plays according to the way the defense is lined up. He knows and alerts other teammates when a blitz is coming. He snaps the ball, the blitz comes just as he said, the offensive line picks it up, and Manning finds his target. He leads his teammates down the field doing this over and over again.

Manning’s leadership reveals some very important principles that apply to leadership in companies. Manning, the leader of the offense, is in charge of informing and leading individuals. He leads them, and they follow without question. They trust his judgment in any situation.  Trust is the foundation of leadership.

If you’ve watched him, you know Manning also makes mistakes. Throughout his career, he has made bad decisions from incomplete passes, to interceptions, to fumbling the ball – he has made them all. It’s his response afterwards that sets him apart. His ability to go back out there and lead his team down the field for another score, even after a mistake, inspires his teammates. The same goes for leaders in business. Leaders will sometimes “fumble the ball,” if you will. No leader is perfect, and no one makes the correct decision every time. The important thing is the way leaders respond after a bad decision. If leaders dwell on that decision, it will bring him or her down even more. Leaders have to rise up from that mistake and become even better as a result.

While leaders in organizations may not be able to complete passes with extreme accuracy or read complicated defenses, they can increase their knowledge so they know what they’re up against and make necessary adjustments at the blink of an eye. Leaders can learn from Peyton and move on after a mistake with the confidence and poise to handle the next challenge.

Copyright 2013 P.D.C.W.W.E. Inc.

All rights reserved 

By Stephanie Wharton

“Do the thing you fear

And the death of fear is certain.”

We’ve just begun another new year –

Another chance to open life’s curtain.

To struggle, study, and succeed,

To help and lift up those in need.

What is it that often holds me back?

A shortage of self-confidence –

Or heeding what others say I lack?

Is my vision one of true prominence?

Is my vision “burning so bright

It puts all of my doubts to flight?”

My vision is vivid; it’s part of me.

I will make a difference; I’ll unlock

my efforts, essence, and energy.

I know sometimes I’ll run, stumble, or walk,

Striving to “Move a grain of sand”

And yet to “Make no little plans.”

Copyright 2014 P.D.C.W.W.E. Inc.

By Sue Rice

When a new year approaches, we tend to think about our past 12 months with mixed emotions. We laugh at the fun moments, cry about the sad times, miss loved ones, and embrace life’s special seconds. We see the missed opportunities, the things we “should have done,” with sadness. We look with surprise and gratitude at the unexpected, treasured memories and wish we could rerun them a million times. 

It’s a new year – 2014. The enjoyment of your life is at your fingertips. As 2013 came to a close, I reflected on the past year with a heavy heart, remembering the close friends I have lost to cancer who were taken way too early. But because they loved life, they influenced those around them to be better friends and family members. Their legacy will last many lifetimes because of the numerous lives they touched. Maybe this is what we call Living a Level 10 Life!  

I celebrate their memories because these friends taught me to not celebrate myself, but to celebrate life’s opportunities and to enjoy life’s precious moments. They also taught me to share important conversations with those who are closest to me, to tell my loved ones how I feel about them and how they have affected my life. I recently had a friend call me after a five-year absence, just to tell me how much she appreciated my help twenty years earlier. 

This year has taught me to be stronger than ever and to embrace the courage to cross many difficult bridges. I learned to trust and believe in myself and welcome the encouragement of others to complete my goals. I learned that reflection is necessary in celebrating accomplishments, learning lessons, and looking at myself to determine what goal I can accomplish next. I have not been afraid to ask for guidance from those I respect and admire.  

2014 will bring with it new challenges, so I encourage you to embrace each moment. Laugh. Cry. Smile. Enjoy each day as a gift. Life is like opening a wrapped present - you never know what is inside the box. Don’t be afraid to open it!

My gift to each of you is the following wish. I wish that you all will go after your lives with a spirited and joyous enthusiasm. Your gift each day is your opportunity. 

Your life - your gift! 

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Copyright 2014 P.D.C.W.W.E. Inc. 

Design Tips: What We’re Reading

By Emily Keehbauch

As a Graphic Designer, I am always looking to improve my skill sets. To further this process, I read the book Logo Design Love by David Airey. This book is all about creating memorable logos and then developing them into brand identities. Full of useful information for any designer, Airey’s book provides insight for those of us who have struggled to find initial inspiration for a logo design. Here are some of the most helpful takeaways I found in the book:

“When designing logos, ask lots of questions.” Start the design process with all the information you can get from the client. Gather their requirements, wish list, competitors, etc. It is better to ask questions up front, than to spend a lot of time on a design that is not what they are looking for.

“A logo doesn’t need to say what a company does.” This takeaway is especially helpful for designers and clients alike. A bookstore, for example, does not have to have a book in their logo. The logo does not necessarily need to advertise the product or service. Some great examples are Starbucks and Volkswagen. Try to think outside the box, and do not go for the literal approach. Literal can be forgettable.

“Not every logo needs a mark.” A logo does not have to have a graphic symbol to be memorable. Sometimes, graphics can take away from, rather than add to the design.

“Work in black and white.” If your logo works in black and white, it will work in color. Always add color to your logo at the very end of the design process.

“Aid recognition.” Less is more. Simple is better. Keeping your design simple, yet elegant, makes it easier for the consumer to remember it the next time they see it.

“Be consistent.” Always be consistent with your logos and your branding. Keep colors, typefaces, and the general “look and feel” of your company design consistent. As Airey says, “Consistency breeds trust. Trust wins customers.”

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Copyright 2013 P. D.C.W.W. E. Inc.