Adrienne Bankert - Your Hidden Superpower : The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone

PRAISE FOR YOUR HIDDEN SUPERPOWER

Adrienne is right... the secret to success lies in relationships. The greatest relationships are created by a want and/or a need to partner with someone else. Getting to work with someone who is kind, thoughtful, and has your back as a partner is what we all want. Kindness is vastly under measured, yet it lies as that foundation to the best partnerships... personally and professionally.

Garth Brooks

I loved being interviewed on TV by the warm and perceptive Adrienne Bankert. I could have talked to her all day. Her empathy and humanity were a delight. In her book, she explains her philosophy on life, work, and connections in a relatable and easy-to-read way. I hope it will spread the word kindness to a wider, waiting world.

Anthony Daniels, Actor, Author, I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story

Adrienne is a magical soul... she never ceases to amaze me with her unique ability to meet someone and, in minutes, find a way to emotionally and energetically meet you exactly where you are. Ive witnessed it time and time again, but when she points her superpower at you, it stirs your soul and awakens empathy muscles that I think we forget as adults. I call her my Kindness Guru because no matter how complex and convoluted the challenge I bring to her, she inspires answers that make your spirit feel good, and this book is a testament to that spirit.

Omar Johnson, Former VP of Marketing, Apple

2020 by Adrienne Bankert

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Published by HarperCollins Leadership, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC.

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ISBN 978-1-4002-1820-2 (eBook)

ISBN 978-1-4002-1814-1 (HC)

Epub Edition April 2020 9781400218202

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I dedicate this book to everyone who wants to have

it all. May we live all in with our relationships,

dreams, and identity. To the world changers, mountain

movers, and breakthrough agents, lets agree to live

authentically and wholeheartedly with kindness.

When we know who we truly are, nothing can stop us.

CONTENTS

K indness has become too rare of a commodity.

Some things are more precious than gold. Time is one of them and kindness, in the midst of our priceless hours and minutes, is another. Whether with loved ones or with those we cross paths with in our daily lives, kindness is given and received in an exchange that helps us to truly enjoy the world around us. Every person, at one time or another, would benefit greatly from kindness.

Investing what seems like a mere moment can have a tremendous impact. Making time to care for someone we didnt previously know helps us snap out of going through the motions and realize that were dealing with real people. From the hotel housekeeper to the top executive having lunch, they each have gifts, needs, and stories to share that we can become a part of. Being kind to the busser at every restaurant I dine in communicates how important that person is to my experience, which in turn flows to my food server and the cook. The way we treat one person has a ripple effect on each consecutive person we come in contact with. Also, how we treat the person we will probably never see again shows us who we truly are. The key is to treat each and every individual we come across with kindness and respect rather than reserving this treatment for a special few. Who knows? Perhaps that moment of kindness to your janitor, server, or the person waiting in line next to you for a latte could turn their life around.

If we are patient and stay alert, we are afforded the opportunity to meet special people. Meeting Adrienne Bankert in February 2005 was one of my lifes golden moments. Standing before me was a young, bright, special gift waiting to be revealed to the world. I was fortunate that day to be able to see into the future, able to see right where she is living today. She has turned into the powerful woman that I envisioned the day I met her.

Over the years I have had the privilege, in different cities, to see people come up to greet her with fondness in their hearts and a twinkle in their eyes. They speak to her like they were best friends. The warmness she lives while on air has always communicated her love and kindness to those watching. Most, if not all, of the stories you are about to read were never broadcast. One of my favorites is when her kindness was expressed as she was walking through New York City, stopping to speak to a young mother pushing a stroller with a baby, who, by Adriennes keen observation, was having a rough morning. She made time to invest in this womans life, encouraging her and telling her that she would overcome the challenges she was facing. As a result of this perchance meeting, that relationship continues to this day.

With an extremely hectic schedule, including coast-to-coast and international travel as part of her job, Adrienne makes time for othersevery day and in any way, expressing kindness to both the fortunate and the less fortunate. Whether it is while working in the studio, riding on a plane, or walking in a park, she is ready at a moments notice. I happen to know that a big part of why she is so intentional is because she is extremely grateful for the times people have been there for her. I have called Adrienne when she needed someone to encourage her. This life that she chose is not always easy, and people can be unkind. I am glad to have reminded her on those occasions that were not going to join in with anyone having a bad day. I am so glad she listened and that she is now sharing these skills with others.

Adrienne is ever conscious that in our busy, overtaxed, and go-go-go world, people need to know that they countthat they are important and they do matter. You are about to start a journey; this book is a treasure map and a how-to guide into a lifestyle of kindness. You will see the benefits of kindness in a new light. Adrienne will tell you that as a child she wanted to be a superhero. Today she is, and you can be too. Through these pages, become a superhero of kindness, and a champion of considering others.