Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
I just returned from a visit to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I flew into Spokane, Washington last week and promptly drove East into Idaho and traveled up the Gem State’s panhandle until just south of the Canadian border before turning right and heading for my birth state of Montana. I think I passed more deer on Route 2 than I did other vehicles.
I Can See Clearly Now
The vistas and landscapes are simply inspiring no matter what part of the state you’re in and it really makes you appreciate the beauty of this part of the country but it certainly gave me a great explanation why people refer to Montana as “big sky country.” From one horizon to the other and all the sights in between, it is simply breathtaking.
I arrived in Kalispell, the 7th largest city in Montana, where I was able to visit with my Mom and belatedly celebrate her 80th birthday. We spent a few days exploring some of the amazing features of Northwest Montana such as The National Bison Range and Glacier National Park. We also enjoyed great food and tasty craft beers in Kalispell as well as quaint towns like Lakeside, Whitefish and Bigfork. The nations’ 4th largest state by size, Montana is nicknamed the “Treasure State” but unofficially goes by “The Last Best Place.” Every time I visit, the awesomeness of the scenery, climate and people remind me why this unofficial nickname is so fitting.
After a few days visiting with Mom, I headed 7 hours away to the hidden gem called Walla Walla. Located in the “high desert” in the Southeast corner of Washington, this town known for great wine and small town friendliness is the home to Coldwell Banker First. Broker/Owner Dennis Ledford and I originally met at a Coldwell Banker Gen Blue conference several years ago in Las Vegas so when he invited me to visit him and his associates, I knew I had to make it happen. Flying in and out of Spokane made the perfect fulcrum for my visit and allowed me some time to explore some of what the “Evergreen State” had to offer.
Washington offers some amazingly unique landscapes and views, especially when you head south of Interstate 90 which traverses the state from Spokane to Seattle. Unlike the rocks and mountains of Montana and Idaho to the east, the Southern potion of Washington is called “high desert” so the landscape consists mostly of rolling wheat fields and occasional scrub and pine trees. Washington State University is like an educational oasis in the bottom right hand corner of the state and just 90 miles further west is the charming little village of Walla Walla. I really enjoyed spending a few days there, sharing several meals, a few more craft brews and hopefully a lot of valuable content that my new friends will put to use in building more relationships, solving more problems and having a lot more fun.
Find Your Place and Keep It Green
What’s your “Last Best Place” when it comes to helping you get focused and revived? Do you get energy when you relax at home or perhaps you use your visits to the gym to boost your adrenaline into business? Do you have a favorite coffee shop to meet clients or maybe you have a special chair or place in the office where you secure clients and contracts?
How much of your daily routine and marketing efforts considered “evergreen“? Can you repeat your efforts and share the message over and over again without changing too much the way many of the trees dotting the landscape of Washington don’t drop their leaves and instead retain their color year round? Things like great customer service, creating memorable experiences and consistent follow-up will never lead 
your business in the wrong direction.
Spend some time this week understanding where you are at your best and those tools or techniques that seem to work every time. When you can discover those places, people and processes, everything else seems to become crystal clear.
Much like the sky and streams of Montana and Washington.
