Season's Greetings,

Each year we like to prepare a personal message to our customers and partners to express our gratitude for the role they play in our lives. This year I received such a message from Mike Muhney, one of the co-inventors of ACT, and I thought I would pass on his beautiful sentiments to you, because we could not have expressed them more eloquently ourselves.

The holiday season is often the busiest time of the year. More to do. More people to see. Business doesn't stop, but who has time for work? In addition to time spent with family and close friends, this is a great time to reflect on those in your extended networks.
If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to evaluate your networks by doing the following:

• Consider how you believe others see you. Remember, we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions. You know you mean well, but others may see it differently. Perhaps it's worth asking a few in your circle for their perspective to address any gaps between intention and observation.

• Think about the resources you have to offer others. They may be too timid to ask, so be prepared to offer your help. It may be as simple as offering to make an introduction between two parties you think could be of mutual benefit. Just remember to clear it with both parties before making an introduction, even a virtual one.

• Make time to show people they truly matter. After all, all relationships take work. The most precious resource we have is time. Show others they matter to you by taking the time to reach out. The holidays are a great time for an email, a text, a phone call, or an old-fashioned card.

It's our responsibility to do what we can to maintain strong relationships. At Keystroke, we not only have a mission statement ...we also have a relationship statement: People matter. This is true whether they are in your business or personal networks or merely those who look after us like retail store clerks, service industry professionals, and receptionists.

At the end of the day, it's the perspective of others that will determine how successful you will be with them...in your career, and in life overall. Now that's reason enough to reflect on relationships this season!

Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays,


The Keystroke Team
www.keystroke.ca