Before working at Turn Lights On I hadn\u2019t written a blog in my life.\u00a0 Being in Human Resources for most of my career I\u2019ve written lots of reports, letters, emails and presentations but no blogs.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always wanted to, I feel like I have so much to say and to let people know\u2026 but my little ego would always be there whispering \u2018Who would listen?\u2019 or \u2018What if people find what you write boring?\u2019.<\/p>\n
Well, from reading the Turn Lights On book<\/a>\u00a0and practicing what it\u2019s taught me I\u2019m glad to say that the little issue of my ego is no more or at least almost no more\u2026 I\u2019m sure it will rear it\u2019s head from time to time.\u00a0 But I have the tools to be able to manage that amazingly!<\/p>\n Have you thought the same thing?\u00a0 Thought about writing a blog but never started?\u00a0 If so I HIGHLY<\/strong> recommend that you do the blogging challenge too –\u00a0you\u2019ll find it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alex Beadon<\/a> sends across a lovely daily email with a video with a challenge for you.\u00a0 If you\u2019re thinking of setting one up feel free to email me if you have any questions on matt@tloishappening.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n So here goes my Day 1:<\/p>\n Who am I?<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019m Matt<\/a>, currently 27, living in Manchester, from South Wales and I LOVE high fives.\u00a0 I worked in a huge corporate setting for a long time and now have taken on a fresh new opportunity in joining Turn Lights On<\/a>.<\/p>\n Why did I start blogging?<\/b><\/p>\n To reach out to people who currently Turn Lights On<\/strong> and to those who don\u2019t yet but want to know how<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Don\u2019t know what Turning Light\u2019s On actually is?<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019ll give\u00a0you a couple of examples:<\/p>\n Today I was in an opticians getting my eyes tested\u2026 while waiting I saw the optometrists coming in and out of the rooms.\u00a0 Eye exam after exam looking a little flat.\u00a0 There was my opportunity.\u00a0 I knew that I could turn\u00a0her\u00a0lights on.\u00a0 When she greeted me she said, \u201cHi, how are you?\u201d I almost went with the auto pilot answer, \u201cFine thanks. You?\u201d Instead, I enthusiastically said, \u201cReally good thanks, how are you?” Making enough eye contact to show I’m interested without doing a stare (NB It\u2019s best not to over do the eye contact)! She smiled and her eyes lit up.\u00a0 Mission accomplished! The next half an hour during the exam we chatted and laughed and made a real human connection.\u00a0 I turned her lights on.\u00a0 I know that she\u2019ll be taking the recharge of energy into her afternoon with her.<\/p>\n The day before yesterday I went and\u00a0had a hot snack at a service station on my drive from Cardiff to Manchester, it was a little late so the place was quiet.\u00a0 I ordered my food and while waiting for it to be cooked I asked my server \u201cWhat\u2019s been the best bit of your day?\u201d- a favourite of mine to break down barriers.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve had a terrible day\u2026\u201d.\u00a0 Another TLO mission offered and accepted!\u00a0 We talked through her day of sorting out moving before a long shift at work which was made worse by tipping a whole load of cooking sauce on herself.\u00a0 That does sound like quite the epic day doesn\u2019t it?\u00a0 We talked it all through, laughed it off and then high fived; like I mentioned I love a high five.<\/p>\n I turned their lights on and because of that\u00a0my lights were even more on.\u00a0 I left both situations glowing! It\u2019s like that Roald Dahl quote \u201cIf you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely\u201d.<\/p>\n Making other people happy makes you happy!<\/p>\n Who is your blog for?<\/b><\/p>\n Anyone who wants to have a read – people who want to do something to join forces with me<\/a> and Turn Lights On\u2026become a \u2018lighter\u2019.\u00a0 Do you think \u2018Lighter\u2019 works?<\/p>\n What\u2019s something that you\u2019re working on lately that you\u2019re really proud of?<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been with Turn Lights On for 6 weeks now and there\u2019s loads a happening to jump start this movement.\u00a0 All will be revealed soon.\u00a0 I\u2019m excited.\u00a0 You will be too.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the one message that you hope people will take away from your blog?<\/b><\/p>\n Mahatma Gandhi\u00a0 said:\u00a0“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”<\/strong><\/p>\n Together I want us to create an awesome network of people who change the world!\u00a0 Who eradicate loneliness! Inspire people around them! People who don\u2019t play on their phones when around friends or spend their working days wishing they were home! Or go home and wish they were somewhere else.\u00a0 Let\u2019s relish in the here and now.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in being part of that I have a few options for you:<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe on YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to our newsletter- there’s a box on the right hand side of this post.<\/p>\n We’re thinking of setting up a Pinterest too; do you use Pinterest? \u00a0Let me know!<\/p>\n Thanks for reading, as a gift from me to you you can get a FREE copy of chapter 1 of our book by signing up to our mailing list<\/a>. \u00a0It\u2019s well worth a read! I love it, so much so that I changed my career for it!<\/p>\n PS I would love you to comment below to let me know what you think of my Day1 blog\/ if you write your own blog or are going to start!<\/p>\n Much love<\/p>\n Matt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Before working at Turn Lights On I hadn\u2019t written a blog in my life.\u00a0 Being in Human Resources for most of my career I\u2019ve written lots of reports, letters, emails…<\/p>\n