I just boarded the plane!

I just boarded the plane.

Literally, as this message posts to my blog, I will be on a flight to the Dominican Republic to spend the next 5 days with John Maxwell and the coaching team for a transformational leadership development initiative called Transforma Dominica.

Five years ago, when I first met John, he invited me as his guest to Paraguay where he had personally been invited by the President to create positive change in the country. It was in that week that I first learned how to facilitate round tables discussing leadership and the importance of living good values. I didn't speak Spanish, but the interpreter that was assigned to partner with me, named Natalia, made a wonderful partner. We visited a wide variety of corporate offices for various companies, government offices, and even a women's prison to facilitate these round tables.

Honestly, I had no earthly idea what to expect when John invited me to participate in this life-changing excursion. In short, I traveled 13 hours to visit a country that I had never been to and did not speak the language. I was just a little nervous to say the very least!

I put my trust in my faith and where I felt I was being called and got on that plane.

That week we were in Paraguay, the country was transformed on many levels as over 200,000 leaders were trained in a single week! Oddly, I feel as if I was transformed from my experience of being there.

Fast forward to five years later, a similar request is being answered to administer change for the President of The Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader. He invited John along with select members of The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation to visit his country to mirror what had been done in Paraguay. You didn't have to ask twice if I were on board, I committed to him within 20 minutes of hearing the news!

I know this experience will be different than Paraguay on many levels as we are dealing with a different culture. I know that it will create new memories in my life and as I sit on the plane, I am thinking of the positive change The John Maxwell Team will make in a matter of just 5 days. It is exhausting but incredibly rewarding.

Our agenda will begin in Santo Domingo as we head out to local businesses, government offices, and educational institutions. Three days later, we will travel to Punta Cana to celebrate the launch of 'Change Your World' in The Dominican Republic.

If I may ask a favor from you, please send positive vibes my way so we can serve as many of the people possible during the next five days here in Dominica. I promise to share lessons learned from this experience once I return!

Let the journey begin...

Kelly

Memories from 5 years ago in Paraguay when I was in a women’s prison facilitating round tables on how to live out good values.