“KITTING AROUND”
BLOG 281—Do You Lead the Way?
Don’t sleepwalk through life.
I hope to illuminate your Life with my Words.
The Wanderings of Kit (Do you wander or wonder?)
I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY OR BETTER
*** This blog looks best when viewed on a laptop or desktop computer.
*** The joy I experience in life is a wondrous thing!
*** I was hit by two trucks, but I remain happy.
*** Going through a 37-day coma–Yikes!
*** I want to help you to get the most out of life before you die.
*** If you read this through Facebook, see kitsummers.com/blog
*** I lived in my van for six years, visited all US national parks, and met Beth.
*** Beth and I married on 2/22/22 at 2:22.
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** You will find secrets to unfold and good news!
*** What are you passionate about?
BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!
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WHY I WRITE THIS BLOG
You will have many in your life who assist and teach; I am helping to guide you. Coaches like me wish to lighten your path toward excellence. It is up to you to generate your journey toward merit. I’m not trying to show you “the way”; I am trying to help you find “your way.” Writing this blog each week is new and different for me—I love it!
I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU WITH MY WORDS –
WORDS HAVE POWER!
Are you accomplishing what you want before your eventual death?
You can (and should) make changes to improve your life–at any age.
Start today, and you can build the life you desire.
YOU ALREADY KNOW
You already know much about what I write, and I want to remind you of these ideas and show that my views can provide additional thoughts, along with yours, to help you.
MY EXPERIENCES
Much of what I write about is taken from my experiences.
I have gone through much.
I hope to spread ideas so that you can live a better life.
Remember, only you know what is best for you.
EVEN IF YOU START LATE,
ARE UNCERTAIN OR DIFFERENT ––
YOU CAN STILL FIND SUCCESS!
Don’t forget–you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind!
HAVE FUN!
Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive, and always reach for more advancement.
VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE!
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TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK — Do You Lead the Way?
My father died when I was only six years of age. Growing up without a father, I had to be a leader to get through. Without Dad, I had to find my way.
DO SOMETHING!–BECOME A LEADER!
Humans have evolved to be a very social species. Evolutionarily, we are better off acting and moving together as a group, whether keeping the peace, teaching or protecting ourselves from threats. Our social groups, through computers and otherwise, have always benefited from coordination and collective action, which is easier to achieve with the presence of a strong leader like you.
You may wonder, what makes a leader?
Just a few qualities>>
- Innovation and creativity.
- Employee motivation.
- Relationship building.
- Agility and adaptability.
- Decision-making.
- Conflict management.
- Negotiation.
- Critical Thinking.
- Integrity: Honesty and reliability, with clear principles and beliefs you follow. It is essential for building trust and credibility.
- Empathy: Understanding how others think and feel, seeing things from their point of view, and imagining yourself in their place.
- Communication: Being able to articulate effectively.
- Vision: Expressing your dreams.
- Accountability: Staying open to others.
Great leaders have emerged throughout history, from Donald Trump to Mahatma Gandhi to George Washington, Queen Elizabeth I, Winston Churchill, and Nelson Mandela. Regardless of when they lived, they often shared similar characteristics: resilience, confidence, and the ability to communicate their vision.
You, too, can become a leader! Many of history’s famous world leaders were great people who inspired and helped others, like you do. But that’s not always the case. Any list of famous world leaders can include some controversial and even legendary figures.
Still, everyone needs to learn more about these people to understand history and our modern world. This list is by no means complete, but it covers a wide range of well-known world leaders from around the globe. Being a leader is not “controlling ” others; it is working together under the main leading person.
Consider an online business management course if you’re a good manager who wants to become an excellent manager but fears you don’t have the time to invest in a college degree program. Accredited online colleges and universities are designed for busy professionals (like you), enabling you to pursue management degree programs while balancing work and family commitments.
Making decisions, mainly under pressure, is an important skill to master.
HERE ARE SOME COMMON TRAITS THAT A LEADER POSSESSES >>
1—Leaders communicate clearly. Managing another person or a group, especially in the workplace, starts with good communication. Whether writing an e-mail or providing face-to-face feedback. Good leaders say what they mean and mean what they say (and they are not usually mean.) Yet, they’re not passive-aggressive or shy away from addressing challenges directly.
2—Leaders are passionate about their work. Many good leaders love what they do and are unafraid to show it. Of course, you can still be a good leader even if your professional and personal interests aren’t a perfect match. Think about what you enjoy most in your work and develop your enthusiasm around that—you may even find that you’re managing yourself into greater workplace satisfaction.
3—Leaders don’t care about being famous. If their first concern is whether everyone likes them, you may be less effective. Whether it’s giving harsh criticism or pointing out a practice you believe is unethical, learning how to be a good leader means getting comfortable doing or saying things that are best for your team and your organization, even if they make you temporarily unpopular.
4—People running things keep their minds open. Another characteristic of a good leader is remaining receptive to new ideas; your ideas. Instead of resisting change, good leaders are flexible and highly adaptable. They’re approachable, and they welcome opinions different from their own.
5—Leaders work for “their” employees. Managers may answer to higher-ups, but good leaders know their real mission is to ensure their employees have the resources to do their jobs as efficiently and effectively as possible, growing the business more and more.
6—Leaders are cheerful and encouraging.
Good leaders are uplifting.
Good leaders praise employees for a job well done and take time to coach and train if performance lapses. They encourage their employees to be their very best, as they are, bringing out the best in them in good times and bad.
7—These leaders respect others. From direct reports to clients and their higher-ups, good leaders treat others as they want to be treated. Those they lead often follow suit, creating stronger morale throughout the workplace and, therefore, helping the organization grow.
8—Leaders build relationships. Forming productive connections is a vital quality of a good leader. Others don’t threaten strong managers. Instead of guarding their territory, they constantly change and build bridges with others.
9—The leader leads by example. The best managers know that setting the right example is essential to being a good leader. From putting in extra hours on a significant project to treating others with respect and kindness, good leaders show they’re ready and willing to do anything they ask of their employees.
10—Leaders never stop learning. Perhaps the most essential characteristic of good leaders is continuous learning. They prioritize their education through formal learning, such as building skills through management degree programs or attending other departments and roles daily. A good leader always wants to know more.
Strong leadership is increasingly about empathy, integrity, and accountability. It’s also about empowering those who look to you so that they will be ready to lead one day. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “To lead people, walk behind them.” Leaders help others to become leaders.
BE THE LEADER THAT YOU ARE!
YES, YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO FIND YOUR SUCCESS!
THINK — AND THEN THINK AGAIN.
WHAT NEW STORIES ARE YOU READY TO WRITE?
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WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU!
Inspirational quotes and sayings have a unique ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thoughts. They are attractive, challenging, and essential on our path to joy and happiness and finding ways to inspire ourselves and others.
THE BURST!
Inspirational quotes and ideas give us a quick and timely burst of wisdom to regain our focus, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion. I hope the words below bring a smile to your face and drive you to make this day and every day a fantastic event.
BE POSITIVE!
Just as positive words can make someone smile, and a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control! You have complete control over only one thing in the universe—YOUR THINKING!—and that’s where motivational quotes come in!
“YOU”
How you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible, determines everything in your life, and it all derives from your quality of thinking. Use quotes to move ahead in your life.
SELF-TALK IS SO ESSENTIAL—THINK RIGHT!
To stay motivated, you have to use each day as an opportunity to improve and get closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it! Motivational words, yes, are just words. But they are positive words; they will keep you on track.
QUOTES WILL BENEFIT YOU!
Positive and inspiring quotes can be like beams of sunshine on a cloudy day. They inject optimism into our thoughts, brighten our mood, and help us focus on the good in life. They remind us that even in the face of adversity, we can see the silver lining and embrace a positive attitude.
PEARLS OF WISDOM
In a world filled with challenges and indecisiveness, the power of inspirational quotes cannot be exaggerated. These pearls of wisdom uniquely uplift our spirits, can spark positive change, and fuel our motivation often when we need it most.
I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS ADD TO YOUR LIFE >>
“Show them the way!”
Kit Summers
“A leader … is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, at this point, the others follow, not realizing that they are being directed from behind all along.”
Nelson Mandela
“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are an excellent leader.”
Dolly Parton
“The very essence of leadership is that you have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.”
Reverend Theodore Hesburgh
“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader.
A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
“The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, whether in a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
“A leader takes people where they want to go.
A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go but ought to be.”
Rosalynn Carter
Ultimately, a genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.
Martin Luther King Jr.
“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character.
But if you must be without one, be without strategy.”
Norman Schwarzkopf
“Leadership is about empathy.
It is about relating to and connecting with people to inspire and empower their lives.”
Oprah Winfrey
“The challenge of leadership is to be strong but not rude; be kind but not weak; be bold but not bully; be thoughtful but not lazy; be humble but not timid; be proud but not arrogant; have humor but without folly.”
Jim Rohn
“The most excellent leader is someone other than the one who does the most extraordinary things. He is the one who gets the people to do the most remarkable things.”
Ronald Reagan
“Leadership is solving problems.
The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is when you stop leading them.
They either lose confidence that you can help or conclude that you do not care.
Either case is a failure of leadership.”
Colin Powell
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself.
When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
Jack Welch
“Fight for what you care about.
And do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“The art of leadership is saying no, not yes.
It’s straightforward to say yes.”
Tony Blair
“To be a good leader, you must be a great listener …
No one has a monopoly on good ideas or good advice.”
Richard Branson
“The ability to learn is a leader’s most important quality.”
Sheryl Sandberg
“The secret of leadership is simple:
Do what you believe in.
Paint a picture of the future.
Go there.
People will follow.”
Seth Godin
YOU IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR THINKING,
YOU CHANGE YOUR LIFE’S DIFFERENTIA—SOMETIMES INSTANTLY!
COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!
YOU CAN TURN THINGS AROUND FAST AND ACHIEVE YOUR
WILDEST DREAMS NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE!
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MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>
Each week goes by so quickly, don’t you think?
It seems like time is going by faster and faster.
You must live joyfully, daily, for each day!
Do you know what you did last Monday?
Do you remember what you ate for dinner last Thursday?
Keep track of your doings for a few weeks; you will see your time differently.
Remember, the quality of your life depends on what you do each day.
7/13–My last blog was about water and how beneficial it is to drink a lot. Yet, we are having bad water in the area—YIKES. An announcement came out that suggested boiling water first before drinking. We are still deciding whether to shower or wash clothes in the faucet water.
Over our time together, Beth and I have saved up many water containers. With the current world changes, less available water could become more common. Are you saving water? If not, I highly suggest you start doing so.
A good thing is that I set up the rainwater collectors to save water. We currently have about 200 (of over about 1,000) gallons available. We should have enough on reserve for any emergency.
Have you set up your rainwater collection system? As areas worldwide are going bad, acquiring one would be fantastic. Contact me, and I will show you how to set one up kitsummers@gmail.com
HERE IS THE RAIN BARREL *
Amazon.com : VINGLI 100 Gallon Collapsible Rain Barrel, Portable Water Storage Tank, Rainwater Collection System Downspout, Water Catcher Container with Filter Spigot Overflow Kit
We also have a water filtering system that allows you to drink rainwater. Mainly we currently use the rainwater to water the plants and clean.
At about 3 p.m., we discovered the water ban had been lifted. Boy, and I’m not even thirsty. Beth has already put a load of laundry in. As the water clears more and more, we will start drinking it again. How can you ever know if you have bad water coming in?
7/14–I’m out watering the plants first thing this morning. As I’ve written before, it is best to water in the early morning before the sun is entirely out to dry out all the water. Water deep to reach the roots; it is worth the extra time.
It’s a warm day today, near 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I wish Americans had converted to the metric system when Jimmy Carter was president. He tried to implement it, but Americans do not like change and do not want this change. The metric system is such a superior way of measuring.
We have a new bunny! This bunny is from a male and female rabbit, from rabbits we had in the past. So it’s a member of the family already—an adorable white bunny.
7/15–Didn’t sleep much last night, as usual. Amanda from Reading Glass Books recently contacted me about reviewing my book, Accident. She puts together reviews of books for the New York Times newspaper book review. This publication goes out to over twelve million subscribers. This could result in hundreds of thousands of books sold!
And there is a possibility of getting my story made into a movie!
Do you have a copy of my book Accident yet? A book is attached to the email notification you were sent. If you are reading this through FaceBook, send me an email, and I will send you a book attached >>
kitsummers@gmail.com
7/16–I Woke up at about 1am, and my mind turned on. I have to get up and get things going–I am so excited about the prospects in front of me. There are various people I have to write to about the publishing of “Accident.”
We just picked up another giant birdcage. This will hold a few birds while we move the other birdcage to a new home. Do you have any birds?
7/17–The crack of dawn is still many hours away–yes, up early I am–again
It’s impressive, Beth is reading a lot, I can’t keep up.
So hot out! We brought Amelie (the Flemish Giant) in because of the heat. We kept her in the bathroom.
A Lot of rain is coming down right now, which is great for the garden, of course. I’ve not had to add more water from the hose for a few days, so that’s good.
My friend Daniel Powell and I found this abandoned house in Wyoming.
He sent me the photo today.
7/18—As usual, I’m awakening early. I’ve pulled up a lot of grass that was out of place. Then, I ran the mower over all the grass and cleaned it up. Remember, which I did, that grass clippings make a fabulous mulch.
Then, after I mowed, a heavy rain came in—so good for the plants and puts a smile on my face.
7/19–As I look outside this morning I see everything is wet from raindrops. Rain cleans everything up and helps with my growing plants.
DO SOMETHING NEW–DAILY!
THEN, KEEP DOING IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
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THE GARDEN THIS WEEK
A self-supportive life can be a better life.
A garden would be a part of that life.
You must look into it. 
This week, I pulled out the Amaranth; it was about done. We did not consume this plant this year, but we will next year. You can eat the leaves and use the seeds to make flour. I mainly wanted to grow it because it is such a beautiful plant.
I pulled all the green bean plants up. Neither Beth nor I liked them that much, anyway. I planted Cherokee Purple Tomatoes, Beth’s favorite. It is late in the season, but I will let you know after they appear.
I am bothered when people put their grass clippings out for the trash. This is the perfect ingredient for compost. Also, fresh-cut grass should always be placed in your garden around growing plants. It will hold water for the plants, keep weeds out, and eventually become compost for garden growth.
I look out my office window, where I do most of my typing and blog work. All I see is nature, the garden, growing things, and wildlife. What a lovely view every time I am on my computer.
START YOUR GARDEN TODAY!
IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR YOUR LIFE!
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ALL OUR LIFE, WE MUST CHALLENGE OURSELVES!
YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>
As Beth and I have had to do, we could not use faucet water because the water was contaminated. Your challenge: Spend one day (or more) this week using only saved rainwater and/or bottled water, and that is all. This is for drinking and any use of the faucet, such as a shower. Can you do it? — Let me know.
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NEXT BLOG >>
Death, something that you can look forward to?
This subject I have covered before.
It has been on my mind, so here we go again.
AND WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR YOUR UPCOMING WEEK?
