Welcome to your New Beginnings! – Anderson Connect

Welcome to your New Beginnings! With the launch of a new year comes reflection on what the past 365 days brought to your life and a fresh vision of hope and determination for what you can create in this year of 2024.

We recognize precisely what it has taken for you to embrace this next stage of your career, to build the life you desire and deserve, and we could not be more in awe of you. You are taking your life, for yourself and your loved ones, to new levels of extraordinary. As you set your sights on the year ahead, we wish you the ability to apply yourselves in ways that empower you to achieve your goals and find balance with family and friends, and laughter and joy to fuel you all along your way. This month’s Anderson Connect, is to inspire you in this! Enjoy.

Today’s read is approximately 4 minutes.

Inside this Edition:

• A Thought to Ponder
• A Short Story to Inspire
• 1 Short Video to Motivate

A Thought to Ponder

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity, and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

See the days ahead with fresh eyes and new hope, and then write your story of 2024 as you envision it to be. Your Anderson family is cheering you on, and here for whatever you need to make those dreams a reality – a 2024-story you’ll reflect upon with heartfelt pride next New Year’s Eve.

A Short Story to Inspire

Two Lumberjacks in a Wood of Possibility

Two lumberjacks of equal skill, experience, and stamina worked side by side chopping down trees, day after day in the deep woods, together.
One lumberjack worked tirelessly, barely taking any breaks throughout the long hours. The other lumberjack had a different approach. He chopped determinedly, but every hour he took a short break and then would come back to work beside his friend.

Amazingly, both lumberjacks chopped the same number of trees by the end of each working day. And the first lumberjack was exhausted, while his counterpart seemed quite refreshed.

Puzzled and frustrated, the lumberjack who worked all day long asked the other how he managed to chop just as much as he did while taking breaks throughout the day.

To this, his friend responded, “Well, it’s simple really. I spend that time each hour taking a short rest and sharpening my axe.”

~ Adapted from a story in Stephen Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The Moral of the Story ~ The key to success is about working smarter, not harder, and breaks and balance in life leave us with the ability to tackle any task with greater energy. Find the balance in your work and you will achieve all you envision, while still enjoying your moments.

1 Short Videos to Motivate

Mastering Happiness: The Watermelon Story

In the days of 2024 ahead may you find ways to work smarter, plan and balance your time between work and those activities that refresh you, and live with lightness and laughter.

In celebration of all you’ve achieved and all that is yet to be!

~ Your Anderson College Family