To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Kansas City

Simply KC – The Infamous Yellow Brick Road Leads to a Great Adventure

blog_700735_2752527_1437234082Since it’s the wrap to the weekend and we are in full summer swing, I thought I’d help you plan for NEXT WEEK’S ADVENTURES by sharing some of my ALL TIME KC FAVORITES!

I do by the way think, wish and HOPE that we would seek out each week as an ADVENTURE! After all, there are only 52 weeks in a year and only 24 WEEKS LEFT for 2015 and there is still so much to do, people to see, and PLACES TO GO!  MAKE IT YOUR GOAL TO SEEK OUT AN ADVENTURE!

Here are some IDEAS in pictures!  MAKE THIS WEEK THE BEST THIS SUMMER! 

A summertime treasure! Picnic on the Nelson Atkins Lawn.

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KC Spirit abounds! Power and Light District.

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Must go get an ice cream cone at the Country Store!

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The American Royal and their famous World Series of Barbecue!

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Amazing Roasterie coffee and it’s locally owned!

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Sporting Sporting Kansas City!

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CHIEEEFFFSSS!

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First Fridays at the Crossroads Arts District.

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Our Boys in Blue!

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Crown Center and the Ice Terrace!

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My families all time favorite… Jack Stack Barbecue.

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KCP&L Plaza Lights!

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SIMPLY KC – COOL PEOPLE ABOUND

blog_700735_2752527_1437234082I have had the opportunity to encounter some truly incredible people in Kansas City!  KC is home to midwestern values and people that not only CARE DEEPLY and CREATE INSPIRATION….  but have some MAJOR GRIT.  I’m sure that’s true for many cities, but since this is about KC I’ll stick with these fine folks.

Today I’ll share with you three Kansas Citians that have AMAZED me through the years and I know you’ll love the lessons learned from each of them!

KATHY — Kathy Schikevitz is downright COOL!  I met Kathy a little less than a decade ago and my life is so much better because of her… Here’s why:

  1. She is CONSTANTLY HELPING others.  If we have a friend who has lost a loved one, or just needs help with their daughter’s homecoming dress (or in my case to iron a tuxedo last minute)- big or small, she HELPS.
  2. She is a huge GIVER.  Kansas City is better because of Kathy and her husband Ron- They are active in so many community activities that I can’t begin to name them, but suffice to say GIVING is a key part of CARING DEEPLY!

KIRA — Kira Montuori is one of those people that you walk away, going REALLY?  I am better for having spent time with you today!  I promise!  Here’s some lessons from KIRA and how she CREATES INSPIRATION!

  1. Kira looks at the POSITIVE in everything…Kira has given her professional life to helping vulnerable children- Children who have been abused, neglected… etc.  That is a hard environment.  KIRA makes even that POSITIVE and in the process LIFTS others up!
  2. Kira uses CREATIVITY in a way that elevates the conversation.  She is able to bring out the best in others, raise funds for very important needs, and improve our community.

STEVE — Steve Fleischaker is one of those Kansas Citians that represents good ole’ midwestern VALUES and GRIT!  Steve is a family man who lost one of his baby girls to cancer two years ago.  Steve has demonstrated how great faith and GRIT can turn some pretty shitty situations into a BETTER LIFE.   Here’s how he has done that (from my point of view!)

  1. Steve jumped right out front to educate others about his daughter’s situation…. Starting a walk, and much more!  When life handed his family a traumatic situation…he didn’t hide under the covers… He put on “GRIT” and stepped into it-
  2. Steve’s style is collaborative and HONEST –  to me “GRIT” is honesty – “Cater to my success, not my ego…”

Thanks KATHY, KIRA AND STEVE FOR MAKING KANSAS CITY COOL!

Simply Kansas City

blog_700735_2752527_1437234082Kansas City has recently gotten some great press –  Ranked one of the top cities in many categories! One of my favorites reported by the Huffington Post via Forbes Magazine… America’s Top 5 Cities to Keep on Your Radar.

I am KC born and raised-  BLUE when the BOYS IN BLUE TAKE THE FIELD (and tonight during the All Star Game!) in the Spring and Summer and ALL RED when CHIEFS FOOTBALL STARTS each Fall!

This week’s theme is KC and as always, I will include some thoughts on what we can learn from the uber cool place we call HOME.

For starters, when I am aching to get out of South Johnson County (South JOCO- which is a great place but sometimes you need the feel of a real city…), I love to go down to the River Market area and enjoy our Farmer’s Market —  It is simply COOL.  The farmer’s, the local music, the aroma of fresh produce and coffee.

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On Sundays, the KC City Market has a flea market – strolling through the “booths” and finding unexpected treasures is sure to happen if you like that type of thing.

Here’s where my heart goes when I’m thinking about the “CORE” of KC that is the Rivermarket area —

  1. REAL PEOPLE: KC is home to strong midwestern values and the farmers are what made our city strong for many generations.
  2. CUTTING EDGE: While we might be old fashioned in many of our values and thinking, KC has made a leap forward in recent years in ensuring that our great CITY has world class amenities and industries that ensure growth for many years to come.
  3. CULTURE & DIVERSITY: If it’s music you love, we have it- If it’s art, we have that- If it’s sports, we have it- Great education- check- have that too-  We have diversity galore and within 30 minutes in any direction, a multitude of neighborhoods with their own unique vibe.

I LOVE KC and am PROUD to be have not only been born and raised here but to have raised my children here! If you haven’t been to KC, come for a visit- We will be sure you have a TERRIFIC EXPERIENCE!