Engagement Is A Process, Don’t Push It
I never thought knowledge about plastic recycling would be the reason to get more engaged. Those who know me now may find it hard to believe that I hardly participated in any school-sponsored events before college. I was the student who ignored or declined pretty much every extracurricular activity. I thought that was something “those” […]
And the Winning 2023 #FreeHugs Postcard Is…
Thank you to everyone who has participated by submitting wonderful designs and voting for our 2023 #FreeHugs postcard! We are so grateful to Kevin Battersby for such creative contributions. He designed six wonderful postcards for us, and through your votes, one was chosen! Kevin works at Lehigh University as the Assistant Director of Housing. 3 […]
Extroverts Can Be Scary And Decrease Engagement
Now I know how a matador feels when they get trampled by a bull. No, I wasn’t in a bull ring, but when the group of leaders charged at me as I entered the meeting room, I saw parts of my life flash in front of me, thinking it was my final moment in life. […]
How To Spot Trending Leaders In Your Community And Keep Them Engaged
I was paying thousands of dollars but wasn’t engaged at all; therefore, I was not getting any value. Two years ago, I received an invitation to join a fatherhood community. Although I paid my membership fees on time each month, I wasn’t very active in the group. It wasn’t a priority for me at the […]
Design Our 2023 #FreeHugs Postcard!
Are you a creative person? Does your art dazzle, amaze, and inspire? Do you want the opportunity to have your original design travel across the world? We have an exciting opportunity for you! Here’s the rundown: Swift Kick loves free hugs, both virtual and in-person. We want to spread that love as far as it […]
The Three Core Principles of Member Engagement that Apply To Every Community
Even though I can hold my breath for over three minutes, what could I possibly teach the U.S. Military about engaging their Marines? Marines are known for swimming for hours in freezing cold water while holding heavy weights above their head. I’m known for Free Hugs and my love of peanut butter. So when the […]
Why Random Acts of Kindness are a Sign of a Healthy Community
My foot was seconds from frustratingly hitting the broken parking machine when I heard a voice behind me, “Is it broken? That happens all the time.” The story of the broken parking machine took place during a business trip I recently had to Salt Lake City, Utah. I was there to speak to a group […]
3 Reasons Why Your Online Community Needs To Meet In-Person
Meeting Barack Obama for the first time wasn’t the most nerve-wracking part of my day. Jill and Aire’s friendship solidified after an activity they did during their fourth virtual success meeting through an organization called The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). The two kept nodding in agreement as if they were of one […]
Deciding When To Pull The Plug On Your Community
I was the captain of a sinking ship, and I didn’t know exactly how to stop my ship from capsizing. A few years ago, I was hired as an engagement growth specialist for an up-and-coming community. When I received the offer to be their executive director, I was overjoyed because it fits perfectly within the […]
3 Reasons Why Every Community Needs a Core Leadership Team
Watching all the newest blockbuster movies for free should be an exhilarating experience, but it was a colossal failure for me. As a college student leader, I launched a movie club with three friends. The club aimed to watch movies and review them while looking for subliminal marketing messages. In short, we got to watch […]