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Lessons From the Pink Brigade: 7 Tips to Inspire Going the Extra Mile (or 12 miles!)
By Sandy R Lawrence

Are you trying to influence others to step out their comfort zone, to persevere or to perform at the next level? Maybe you are looking for ways to facilitate greater Team Performance, Personal Achievement or Volunteerism.

These tips and the corresponding short story provide insights for keeping others engaged and inspired to go the extra mile.



1. Make it easy to attend by confirming with details



2. Be there with a welcoming smile



3. Provide crossing guards disguised as cheerleaders



4. Walking in tandem builds confidence



5. Dancing and hit tunes a must - Pink Mohawk optional



6. Water and cookies on hand to refresh



7. Photo finish celebration



The August Journey that taught me these tips:

I learned more about how to inspire achievement and engagement one Sat. morning with an incredible group of women walking and wearing pink one Sat. morning, than I'd learned in two decades of professional experience.



A very special friend and mentor just faced breast cancer head-on this summer. (Yes, thank God, she's okay.) Just weeks after surgery Martha informed me she has been walking dozens of miles each week to train for the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, "It's the Journey." This is a walk-a-thon through the streets of Atlanta to help support breast cancer research, education and wellness programs.


Yearning for some girl time with my awesome friend (and knowing I could use the cardio exercise myself) I asked if I could be her walking partner for an upcoming training walk. In her usual enthusiastic way, she accepted my request and a few days later called to confirm with directions and details.


With my own regular walks at best 3 miles a day, I assured Martha I would just come along for the first 6 miles, and I really believed that was stretching my limits. That was before I found myself in a well-orchestrated, collaborative effort between some pretty awesome people and God. (!)


I arrived for the event just minutes before we were due to head out. (Not my intention, but it was a restless night and I had somehow turned off my cell phone alarm in my sleep,causing me to also miss my quiet time and my cup of half-caff to prepare mentally.)



Yet, there was Martha, grinning and stretching . . . and oddly,un-annoyed at my last-minute arrival. She warmly greeted me and introduced me to a few friends. Within minutes, the fun began and we began walking through the streets of Sandy Springs in spite of dark clouds and occasional drizzle. (A blessing in August in the South.)


Within two blocks of the starting point, courteous gentlemen wearing orange crossing guard vests came cruising by on motorcycles, gently ushering us back onto the right of way out of the busy street. It took a few blocks for me to realize they were here to look out for us - for me.


Every few blocks we encountered these same men taking turns directing traffic, acting as crossing guards and cheerleaders, often with '70s and '80s dance music blaring from their radios. Always we could count on seeing a big smile and nod of encouragement whether they were being pelted by rain or waving off confused drivers who seemed to notice the green lights, but not the sea of women wearing pink.



We girls walked and talked. And we walked and talked some more. Every few miles there was a water car, and every couple of blocks more dance music and smiling traffic guards. It was a party in motion.



Something about dance music helps reduce the throbbing of tired feet and the burn of the largest muscle in the body (the caboose).



And before I knew it, we'd passed the 6-mile mark. In spite of protests from the soles of my feet and an odd twinge coming from the foot I'd twisted on a curb at mile two, I grinned at my friend and my new walking buddies, took another swig of water, and continued onward.


They didn't even have to talk me into it.



Within minutes, the precious cooling drizzle began again with a lovely breeze as well. (God wink) So refreshing right about the time my muscles were starting to burn.



Graciously, my long-legged friend paced herself for several miles helping me compensate for my not quite 5'4" stride that required me to chasse every few yards just to keep up with her. And we walked and talked, and she introduced me to more journey partners.



More talking, another safe street crossing, courtesy of that guy with the PINK mohawk on his biker dude helmet, traversing a few more steep hills (this is Atlanta!) . . . another water car and cookies too (passed on those since I full on the great conversation we were having) and more walking and talking.



And suddenly, we were finished! Martha had her camera out for pictures to celebrate our successful completion Three and a half hours after we'd begun, I'd walked the entire 12 miles. OMG!



Yes, the joy was in the journey. A very well-orchestrated journey. And my eyes were opened to some new ways to inspire others - thanks to my mentor and very brave friend, Martha Lanier, and Randi (founder of It's the Journey) along with all the awesome volunteers who entertained and ushered us safely along the route.



This "Pink Brigade" was my inspiration to keep going even when it was hard. Some had fought the battle and won, others walked for family members (both men and women still in a battle), and some walked in honor of those who went on to be with the Lord prematurely.



I learned more about how to inspire achievement and how to encourage others to step out of their comfort zone from this incredible group of survivors and supporters, than I'd learned in two decades of professional training and personal research and studies!


So the next time you need to inspire that 'extra mile,' use the powerful examples I learned from the ladies (and men) in pink.

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