Build an Extended Family
by Winn Claybaugh
author of Be Nice (Or Else!) And What's In It For You
 Families can be chosen as well as inherited. Your family can include blood relations as well as “adopted” ones. For example, you might have a stronger bond with a childhood friend than with a true blood sister. Or you may be an only child by blood, but by building an extended family, you can take pride in telling people that your family is enormous.
We all build extended families. We adopt people into our lives, and we choose to take care of and look after certain individuals as though they were our own parent, child, or sibling. I think that’s amazing, and we should always look for ways to grow our extended families. Let me share some ideas on where to look.
There might be some people in your life with whom you’ve had weekly or even daily interaction for years, and yet you know nothing about them. After ten years of continuous, close proximity, they could suddenly disappear, and you’d be left thinking, I knew nothing about them, and they knew nothing about me. In your life, who are those people? A co-worker? A neighbor?
The same cleaning lady, Angelina, has come to my house each week for eight years. She’s responsible, caring, funny, inquisitive—and she’s family. Angelina has daughters and grandchildren at home, whom I always ask about. Likewise, she always asks about my parents, whom she’s met several times over the years when they’ve visited from out of town. I miss Angelina when I travel, and she tells me that she misses me. I sincerely hope she knows (and I often tell her) that she can come to me for anything. I want her to know that although we’re not blood related, and although we live different lifestyles, she has someone she can count on; she has someone who will watch out for her. That’s what families do.
Winn Claybaugh, author of Be Nice (Or Else!) with foreword by CNN’s Larry King, has worked in the beauty industry since 1983. He is the National Motivational Expert for John Paul Mitchell Systems and the founder of Paul Mitchell The School, with several locations throughout the U.S. Winn has helped thousands of businesses build their brands and create successful working cultures; his clients include Vidal Sassoon, the Irvine Company, Entertainment Tonight, Mattel, For Rent magazine, Structure/Limited Express, and others. In 2004, the North American Hairdressing Awards (NAHA) recognized Winn’s outstanding contributions to the hair and beauty industry by naming him to their Hall of Leaders. In its November 1997 "Super Heroes" section, American Salon magazine called Winn a "mover of mountains" and "Mr. Fix-it." Winn has also served as vice president of the AIDS Relief Fund for Beauty Professionals, and he continues to pursue many fundraising projects.
For speaking engagements, or to order Winn's book BE NICE (OR ELSE!), call 1-800-459-4007, or visit www.BeNiceOrElse.com
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