GiveWell Community Foundation is a pillar of philanthropy and service in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties. For more than 13 years, Lori Martini has advised the Community Foundation on philanthropic issues that affect our community. Lori has played an integral...
Let's Grow Together Blog
Blogs to help you grow with purpose.
Leading with a Sense of Discovery and Purpose: A conversation with Ana E. Wood
My most recent leadership conversation was with Ana E. Wood, Waste & Recycling Director for Polk County Board of County Commissioners. Wood has responsibility for all field operations, including the environmental and social impact of waste management activities....
On Leadership: Lessons About Leading Through Uncertainty from Christina Criser Jackson
The scale of COVID-19’s local and global impact to date is extraordinary, and its future aftermath is yet to be seen. Organizations of all sizes are simultaneously acclimating to this unexpected abnormal period of time while charting a course for an unpredictable new...
Everything that Happens Begins with Intention
In 2010, while reading The Power of Purpose, by Richard Leider, I set a powerful intention for myself by composing my own personal purpose statement. Be in the world every day on purpose, in relationships, in work, and in nature in ways that are true to who I am, and...
How to Stress Less at Work
Stress happens. It is inevitable – especially when competing priorities, differing personality styles, role confusion, constant change, and the pressure to juggle multiple tasks often defines our workplace environment. Many surveys and studies confirm that job related...
Feeling Overwhelmed? Get Still.
It is that time of year again. The holidays are upon us which means our calendars are overfilled and our to-do lists are overflowing. As a leader, the start of Q4 means that you are likely evaluating the annual performance of your team, focused on addressing any unmet...
Mastering Leadership – An Insider’s View | Retreat
One of the most soul-filling aspects of the work I do as an executive coach and business consultant is hosting retreat weekends at my family’s property on Crooked Lake. The tranquil setting on one of Florida’s most pristine lakes has been my sacred space for decades –...
Are you Making Life-giving Choices that Create Balance?
Balance takes place in the midst of action. Creating and maintaining work-life balance is unique for each of us and requires an ongoing commitment to life-giving choices that generate fulfillment and joy. Like walking an uneven pathway that requires the careful...
Top Blogs
How Designing Alliances Will Cultivate Cohesive Teams
Every leader has been involved in spearheading a strategic initiative that has gotten off track. When this has happened to you, were you able to identify the cause of the setback and quickly get your team back on track? Perhaps there was some misalignment about...
How To Create Meaningful Connection
If you’ve ever struggled as a leader with how to meaningfully connect with your team members while staying focused on achieving your organization's goals, you’re not alone. The generative tension that exists between demonstrating care and concern for others and...
Kim Long – Seeking First to Understand
Kim Long as the Executive Director for Polk Vision, leads a county-wide collective impact organization dedicated to aligning resources across Polk County. Prior to her current position, Kim’s varied career spans the corporate, non-profit, and private sectors and she...