One of the questions we get a lot from candidates in interviews is “What’s the toughest part about working here?” I like to answer with something along the lines of…

“It can sometimes be a challenge being in a fast paced and agile company, because in every department you have to be able to roll with the punches, and change directions in a moment’s notice. At times you have to be willing to abandon old ways, blaze new trails, or pivot in an instant.”

For some this may come naturally, and for others it may not. If it does sometimes stress you out though, rest easy knowing that a recent study from the University of California, San Francisco found that short bursts of stress can actually be beneficial to us. Just like a muscle, as long as there are rest periods in between, “working out” our stress levels can build the theoretical muscle. This has proven to heighten productivity and attention to detail, acting similarly to bursts of adrenaline, and making us more resilient with every "stress set."

So next time you feel a little stressed, remember three things:

1. You’re experiencing what not everyone is able to handle, hence why you work here.(yay!)
2. Your stress workout is getting you theoretically jacked
3. And finally, you have a whole team of Crusaders on your side to back you up! Don’t be afraid to call for a spotter (;       

A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp, and he spotted that the elephants weren’t being kept in cages or held by the use of chains. All that was holding them back from escaping the camp, was a small piece of rope tied to one of their legs.

As the man gazed upon the elephants, he was completely confused as to why the elephants didn’t just use their strength to break the rope and escape the camp. They could easily have done so, but instead they didn’t try to at all.

Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked a trainer nearby why the elephants were just standing there and never tried to escape.

The trainer replied,“When they are very young and much smaller we use the same rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The only reason that the elephants weren’t breaking free and escaping from the camp was because over time they adopted the belief that it just wasn’t possible.

Moral of the story: No matter how much the world tries to hold you back, always continue with the belief that what you want to achieve is possible. Believing you can become successful is the most important step in actually achieving it.

I take my dogs to the park for 20-30 minutes every day when I get home from work. Not because it's fun for me, but because it's the biggest thing Tucker and Nolan look forward to every day. (Note: "look forward to" is an understatement. When I get home at 4:15, they are bouncing-off-the-walls STOKED).

Ever since I first saw this image, it's really stuck with me because of how embarrassingly true it is. I enjoy taking my dogs to the park because I know how much they love it, but usually I'm counting down the ball throws until they're tired enough and we can go home. Why is that? On beautiful days, I'm sitting at my desk looking out the window wishing I could move my computer outside to soak up the sun. But when I have the chance to actually be outside with my dogs enjoying the weather, I'm thinking about the next thing - about how I have to go get a workout in, about what I'm going to cook for dinner, about getting my rent check in the mail. 

Did you know that research shows that most of us spend just over half of our attention capacity on what's in front of us in the moment? That means that we're usually not really, truly focused on anything if a little over half of our attention is on what's in front of us and a little less than half of our attention is on everything else. 

It's not hard to see why being with my dogs is the best reminder I get each day that living in the moment and focusing on what's right in front of me is the best way to live. Now, I get that they don't have the mental capacity to focus on their ball I accidentally threw over the fence the other day or the epidemic that puppy mills are becoming in the dog community, but the way that they are SO into whatever they're doing in the moment is inspiring. They're living their best life now, as Oprah would say.

(Note: The only time I don't want to live in the moment with them is when they find a mud patch to roll in while I'm not looking. *eye roll emoji*)