Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Biz Encounters...the stories behind the journeys. Entrepreneur Life.


 

Inspiring & encouraging! Biz Encounters...the stories behind the journeys. 
Araceli Amador, Las Aventuras de Araceli LLC 
Araceli is in digital marketing and is an influencer, 
a medical interpreter, and a translator. She has an incredible story of being an overcomer!







Visit: lasaventurasdearaceli.com to learn more!
DLBizServices.com
hashtagencounters hashtagentrepreneurlife hashtagbilingual hashtaginfluencer hashtaghispanic

The Skill Leaders Often Overlook: Listening to Lead

 

 

 

Dr. Kristen Craft 

Most leaders are trained to speak — to cast vision, direct teams, and deliver results. But John Maxwell identifies listening as one of the most underrated leadership skills a person can develop. "To connect with others," Maxwell teaches, "you must listen to them first."

Listening isn't passive. It's a discipline.

Maxwell's Law of Connection reminds us that leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand. And you cannot touch what you have not taken time to understand. That understanding begins when you intentionally close your mouth and open your ears.

Here's what active leadership listening looks like in practice:

Listen to understand, not to respond. Most people mentally formulate their reply before the other person has finished. Challenge yourself to stay fully present until they're done.

Ask one more question. Before you offer a solution or direction, ask a follow-up. "Tell me more about that" communicates value and often surfaces the real issue.

Reflect back what you heard. Summarize what someone shared before you respond. This simple habit builds trust faster than almost anything else you can do as a leader.

Create space for it. Listening doesn't happen in a rushed hallway conversation. Protect time to be fully available, one-on-ones, open doors, unhurried check-ins.

Maxwell puts it plainly: people follow leaders they feel heard by. If you want to increase your influence, start by increasing your attention.

The skill isn't loud. But its impact is lasting.

 

 

Dr. Kristen Craft is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Teacher, and Speaker, and a certified DISC Consultant.

 Learn more at craftedbykristen.com.

In partnership with DL Biz Services | DLBizServices.com 


 

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Overcoming Communication Challenges: Our Energy

 



Do you find it effortless to communicate clearly with some co-workers or clients, but feel completely misunderstood with others?

 

Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychologist posited that we have innate preferences that predict how we will act in certain situations – including communication. The four dichotomies that make up the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) are how we take in information, how we make decisions, where we get our energy, and how we organize our outer world.

 

Let‘s look at how we get our energy. We’re familiar with introversion and extroversion reflecting how we interact socially but Jung looked at it as a source of where we get our energy and what drains us. When it comes to communication - if we have an extroversion preference, we tend to process our thoughts out loud. Thoughts come into our minds, and we say them aloud, and in our speaking them, we get clarity. Compare that with the introversion preference, where we tend to process our thoughts in our minds before we speak at all.

 

Think about a “brainstorming session” you were in where a few people dominated the discussion while others may have said almost nothing . . . until they were asked. This is textbook Introversion/Extroversion dichotomy differences playing out in communication.

 

To improve our communication, we want to identify our individual preferences, and understand those opposite ours, so that we know how best to reach across the potential communication gap and have meaningful and productive communication.

 

Want to learn how to improve your collaborative communication and decision-making skills? As a Myers-Briggs Certified Coach, I work with both individuals and groups.

Lavonne Mullet Career Insights, LLC

In Partnership with DLBizServices.com

Biz Encounters...the stories behind the journeys. Entrepreneurs Life.

Inspiring & encouraging! Biz Encounters...the stories behind the journeys. Join me and ghostwriter and business owner Ty Davis as he discusses his entrepreneurial journey!
YouTube Link:

#entrepreneaurslife



 

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

"You Can't Steal My Jesus!"

\

New YouTube Series!

NEW! YouTube Series: "You Can't Steal My Jesus!" Unwrapping the truths of the Bible: what is really in it, what Jesus truly says, and how his examples can clear up many of today's misinterpretations and the wrong ways the Bible is being used. Let's take the Bible back!

Listen to the Intro Here:


Hit like and subscribe to be notified when new posts happen!

Debra Lee | Author & Keynote | Biz & Life Coach
DLBizServices.com

 

Monday, March 23, 2026

Overcoming Communication Challenges: How we function in the outer world

 

 

Lavonne is a Myers-Briggs Certified Coach and works with both individuals and groups.

  

Do you find it effortless to communicate clearly with some co-workers or clients, but feel completely misunderstood with others?

Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychologist, posited that we have innate preferences that predict how we will act in certain situations, including in communication. The four dichotomies that make up the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) are how we take in information, how we make decisions, where we get our energy, and how we organize our outer world.

Regardless of how we get our energy – Introversion (internal thoughts, ideas, reflections) or Extroversion (interaction with people, activities, events) we all need to function in the outer world we live in.

The two dichotomies for how we organize our surroundings are Judging and Perceiving. Judging types want to have order and structure and want closure. You can think of Judging preferences as “a place for everything and everything in its place” while a Perceiving preference wants to leave their options open and explore other possibilities and are not in a rush for closure.

A noticeable difference between these two is in how they approach deadlines. Judging types are stressed if a deadline is looming and they have not planned out their schedule to finish ahead of time. Perceiving types tend to do their best work under the last-minute stress of a deadline.

When it comes to communication, the rub occurs when a person with a judging preference and person with a perceiving preference are working on something where both have responsibility for providing input. The judging preference wants to get to closure quickly and in doing so may suppress other options the perceiving preference wants to share that could provide the best outcome. Conversely the perceiving preference may want to pursue more options than the timeframe allows so they must prioritize. Communication is essential to agree on a schedule that can accommodate both styles.

To improve our communication, we want to identify our individual preferences, and understand those opposite ours, so that we know how best to reach across the potential communication gap and have meaningful and productive communication.

  

Want to learn how to improve your collaborative communication and decision-making skills?

 

Lavonne Mullet | Career Insights, LLC

316-288-9788

#communication #myersbriggs

 

In Partnership with DL Biz Services | DLBizServices.com 


Saturday, March 14, 2026

It’s True! Microsoft Publisher is retiring in October 2026

 

Dawn Monroe Training

Listen to this YouTube Tutorial for what to do before this happens!

  Microsoft Publisher is Retiring | Try Canva.com | Upload PDF Versions of Your Files


Dawn Monroe

Microsoft Office Specialist Master

Microsoft Certified Educator



In partnership with DL Biz Services | DLBizServices.com

The Most Valuable $20 a Business Owner Can Spend

 


Paying for AI is one of the easiest business investments to justify right now. The free versions are fine for casual use, but the paid tiers are where the real value starts to show up: stronger models, higher limits, faster performance, and access to the features that actually change how you work. Just as important, privacy is one of the biggest draws. The paid ecosystems give you far more control over how your data is handled, and each platform offers a path to limit or opt out of model training and data sharing in the right plan or settings. For most business owners, it will be the best $20 a month you will ever spend.

 

The good news is that it really does not matter much which platform you choose between ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude. All three are strong. Gemini makes a lot of sense if you already live inside Google Workspace, because it fits naturally into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive. Claude has historically been one of the strongest tools for creative writing and coding, which is why so many power users still swear by it. ChatGPT remains the most feature-rich of the bunch, and its updates tend to come fast, which makes it especially appealing for people who want the newest capabilities as they roll out.

 

So if you have been trying to squeeze everything you can out of a free plan, this is the moment to upgrade and feel the power of the best models in the world. Pick the platform that best matches the way you already work, pay the twenty bucks, and start using the version that was actually built for real productivity. That small monthly cost will pay for itself almost immediately.

#ai #chatgpt #gemini #claude 

 

Stoni Beauchamp | Founder/President | Ai-Dapt Academy LLC

In partnership with DLBizServices.com

Why teach Bible Studies to Business Owners?

 

Debra Lee


I was asked this question after a presentation with business owners. I had just explained the services I offer to business owners, and I happened to mention that one of the classes that I teach is Bible Studies and that I am currently teaching from the Book of Revelation.

During the Q&A, someone raised their hand and asked, “Can you tell me what benefit it is to teach the Book of Revelation to business owners?”

I properly provided the answer I always give in the short time I have for presentations. I firmly believe that three areas of a person's life must work well together to achieve success. Personal, spiritual, and business development are important for balance in one's life. If you drain the fuel tank due to an imbalance in any of these areas, you will pay the price in many ways.

The longer answer is much more detailed. Whether you believe in what the Bible has to say or not, it is a great book of instruction. Especially for leaders and business owners. From a business perspective, here is a short list of things you can learn from the Bible about leadership alone.

·        Leadership

o  How to treat others well

o  How to lead well

o  How to pour into others' lives

o  How to delegate

o  Management training

o  How to handle money

o  How to handle/mend relationships

o  Leadership Characteristics & Qualities

o  How to discipline fairly

o  Mediation

o  Planning

o  Education

o  How to bring others along with you

o  How to raise people up

o  I could keep going…as it’s quite extensive.

Does any of this sound familiar, like something out of a leadership book written by an expert businessperson? Yeah, it was already in the Bible, the oldest book that has survived for centuries…that was written by some experts inspired by God. It is truly a book of faith.

Why do I teach Bible Studies as part of my services? Because both Christians and non-Christians can gain wisdom, knowledge, and instruction from it. It’s always about learning.

#biblestudy #education #leadership #development

Debra Lee | Biz & Life Coach | Author & Keynote Speaker

DLBizServices.com

Finding the Hidden Potential in Everyone On the Team!

 


As a Leader you are working for your clients and your team!

Make team building fun and rewarding so they want to perform! One way to do this is to consistently recognize your team’s accomplishments. Let them know you have noticed how well they are working together to reach common goals.

When a problem arises, make it a team effort to solve it. Focus on the obstacles or challenges everyone on the team faces. Do not use this time to address personal issues, such as bad behavior. The most important thing to remember is that your team wants management to implement the TEAMS solution approach if it solves the problem. This is the highest form of recognition!

Discovering and recognizing the potential in everyone will make your business so inviting that people will stand in line to work with you.

Here is a study from the New York Times:

·         25% reported being driven to tears in the workplace

·         50% call their place of business a place of ‘verbal abuse’ and ‘yelling.’

·         30% are regularly given unrealistic guidelines

·         52% must work 12-hour days

Most leaders have no idea about the unhealthy state of their workplaces. It’s the last thing on their mind, especially when the only metrics they are concerned about are the P&L reports. They don’t work with their team; they separate themselves from them.

• They do know what their customers need

• They can recite their product list by heart

• But they don’t know much about the people who are getting the work done

This is important because people will work harder for leaders who care about them as individuals.

Three out of ten people are uncaring about the work they do, the quality of their work, or giving leaders their best ideas and energy, and they are actively recruiting others in the workplace to join them in their discontent.

They feel invisible.

The best leaders LEARN how to make people feel valued and appreciated. If you have felt invisible at past workplaces, you will need to learn this skill because it wasn’t modeled for you. I know. I was one of the ones not shown the right way in my early career.

Things you will need to learn:

         Be a strategic force by rewarding behaviors you want repeated

         Be a superior communicator so that no one tunes out when a peer is being recognized

         Create an emotional bond between those you manage

         Be intentional in educating managers and team members so that they can be better at what they do.

         People who feel appreciated perform much better, which will affect your bottom line.

You want your team members to be on fire! Once they achieve a goal and are recognized and rewarded for it, they will try to figure out how to do it again, or how to do it better.

A good leader knows how to find the invisible team members and bring them out of the shadows, spurring them to reach their full potential. By recognizing their accomplishments, you will build stronger teams and businesses.

Here are a couple of examples of how people feel invisible:

         Lost in a conference call, not recognized as being on the call

         Their first name is never used, called ‘that girl’

Invisible people can do incredible work, but the only way they know how to fight back is to stay invisible. Why shine if no one is going to notice?

There is a solution to this, and it doesn’t cost any more money! Sometimes leaders think that throwing more money at a problem will solve it. The best way to move your team from ordinary to extraordinary is very simple:

         Set a guiding vision

         Actively see team achievements that move the business forward

         Celebrate those achievements

Great leaders lead people, not programs, processes, or functions. 79% of people leave a company because of a lack of recognition or appreciation. They don’t leave because of money; they often leave because of management. And the most talented will be the first to go because they have more options.

It’s a balancing act. How much praise versus criticism is enough? Praise must outweigh criticism by a five-to-one margin to achieve a high-performance culture (Gallup research). Many think a one-to-one ratio is good enough, but you don’t get anywhere.

Example. That dress looks great on you! It doesn’t make you look so heavy. You've gotten nowhere.

When your team trusts you to recognize their efforts, polls show that 79% of them say they are inspired to do their best work every day.

A leader is only as good as their people. With praise, you and your team are always at your best.

Turnover is very costly. Most in management understand that they will spend about 5-6K to replace one person. This includes advertising for the position, training, lost opportunities, possible temp replacement, interview time, and orientation. Even if you are running a small team, this can be very costly to your business.

What is not taken into account is the loss of valuable knowledge, customer service disruptions, loss of client knowledge, lost sales costs, emotional costs, loss of morale, and burnout among remaining members.

A great leader connects with their team, always looking for the hidden potential in everyone and bringing it to light. Finding beautiful gems in the making is a plus, more ways than one.

#leadership #management #recognition #teamwork #potential

Debra Lee | Author & Keynote Speaker | Biz & Life Coach

DLBizServices.com


Monday, March 2, 2026

International Women's Day March 8th


 International Women’s Day Sunday, March 8th

 Give To Gain emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction; it's intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise.

 

At work, at home, and in the community, there are many ways to overtly advance women.

 

Give respect • Give donations • Give visibility • Give knowledge • Give funding

Give justice • Give resources • Give a voice • Give protection • Give truth

Give equal pay • Give celebration • Give sponsorship • Give mentoring • Give credit

Give budget • Give introductions • Give workshops • Give opportunities

Give Safety • Give training • Give stretch assignments • Give momentum

Give role models • Give growth • Give access • Give time

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911, supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country-, group-, or organization-specific. IWD is a movement, powered by the collective efforts of all.

A note from Debra:

It really doesn’t take much effort to raise your sisters to greatness, but any small effort could mean the world to someone. Simple things like making sure they are recognized for their work, that they feel safe, that they feel heard. Mentoring and pouring truth into their lives. Respect and love. Valuing them. Being a solid friend. Praying for them.

There is no room for jealousy, backstabbing, clawing, name-calling, and stealing another woman’s man. When women have never experienced the goodness of others, the wholesome training and mentoring from another person, or the love of Christ, these things will happen because of a lack of confidence and insecurities. Raise your girls and lift up women to be confident, sure, respected, and valued.  Teach them humility, honesty, and to live a moral life. Teach them strength. Instill in them that they are the Daughters of the most high King!

 

This Sunday, March 8th, reach out to a fellow sister and tell her how much you appreciate her! Pray for women around the world who are being persecuted every day.


Debra Lee | Author & Keynote | Biz & Life Coach
DLBizServices.com



Leading with Clarity in times of Uncertainty

 


Leadership, for the most part, is about taking people on a journey. The challenge is that we're often asking people to follow us to places we've never been. Here’s an example: a pandemic combined with an economic shutdown that's left us teetering on the brink of economic meltdown while we navigate social unrest during an election year. Like many, this was my first time leading through this combination of events. A lot of pivoting was required.

If you're an intuitive leader, you know the thing people want from you most, you can't provide. Because what people want from you most right now is certainty. You can't provide certainty because it rests in a realm we have no control over—the future.

When you cannot provide certainty, you must provide clarity. You can be uncertain, but you cannot afford to be unclear. Our mandate as leaders is to be clear even when things are not certain. Clarity is honest, and clarity is enough because it is perceived as leadership. 

Clarity says, "I don't know what the future holds, but here's what we're going to do in the meantime." Clarity says, "I don't know what's going to happen, but we're going to prepare for whatever happens." Clarity says, "Here's the plan for now, and we will adjust the plan as circumstances demand." Uncertainty is our opportunity to lead well.

One of my favorite biblical examples of this principle is found in the Book of Joshua. As the nation of Israel prepared to cross the Jordan River into the promised land, Moses passed the leadership baton to Joshua. When Joshua took over, the days of wandering were over. It was a new day and a brand-new leadership context. They were transitioning from wandering to warring, from wandering around to settling down. 

It's no wonder that Yahweh spoke these words to Joshua as he stood there, overwhelmed by this new responsibility and the uncertainty it brought.  God said, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). This changes everything. The basis of Joshua's courage and the foundation of his leadership was the presence of God.

He knew he couldn't provide certainty, so he provided the next best thing—clarity. Joshua gave them something to do immediately. He told them, “Get your provisions ready. Three days from now, you will cross the Jordan right here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own’” (Joshua 1:11). It does not get any clearer or any more specific than that. Everybody knew their assignment; everybody knew the time frame, and everybody knew what to do next. But nobody knew what was going to happen, including Joshua, and including you.

 

Lead with clarity through uncertainty. It can be challenging, but it will show your courage and strength in the face of adversity, giving others confidence for the next steps.

 

Debra | Author & Keynote | Biz & Life Coach | DLBizServices.com

Research source unknown