We’ve Noticed with Amy & Hayley

June marks the 10 year anniversary of The Noticed Network! There are over 30,000 products in the world, countless ripple effects, and there was one dream that started it all: “to love the whole world.” 10 years ago, notice became Notice. That’s when Amy’s vision for The Noticed Network took off, and so we took some time to talk about what this month means for her and The Noticed Network.

Hayley:

Rapid fire questions first! How do you celebrate? Do you have any fun habits for celebrating?

Amy: That's a great question. I think it's always about people for me. I'm a true extrovert, so I'm going to want to be with my people to celebrate!

Hayley:

Next up: Summer has definitely hit. How do you enjoy summertime?

Amy:

Walking on the trail, driving my car around listening to music with the sunroof open, and I love to be on the water! So there's three things.

Hayley:

Any go-to snacks for summer?

Amy:

Yes! We make our at-home Cowboy Caviar. OK, so it's fresh red peppers, yellow peppers, green peppers, black eyed peas, corn, and onions.

Then you put Italian dressing on it and it's delicious! Hayley:

What is one new thing that you want to try this summer?

Amy:

I love kayaking, but I have never used a paddleboard and I get to go on June 30th! I'm super excited about that. I can't believe I haven't yet!

Hayley:

Love that. And Happy 10 Years to The Noticed Network! If someone was new to this, what's one thing that might really surprise them? Amy: They might not know it, but somebody they know has probably been Noticed.

Hayley:

Do you ever have moments where the numbers blow you away? Like, if you think about how many people have experienced this in one way or another.

Amy:

We're at a little over 30,000 people who have been Noticed. There was a moment where my family and I were in New York, and I was just imagining having a Noticed event in Madison Square Garden and how cool that would be.

I've talked to other friends who are speakers and trainers about that. It's that place. So I went online to see what the capacity was and realized more people had been Noticed than would fit in Madison Square Garden! I think one thing that's cool about it is my heart knows that there's no way to really do the math, because I believe so much in the ripple effect. So for every person that's been Noticed, they've gone on to impact the people in their lives. How many people has it affected? I don't know. And how many people will it affect? It's just exciting to imagine.

Hayley:

It’s not really the numbers, though. It’s just the story they tell. Amy:

What it feels like to me is momentum. I also think time is an interesting way of measuring things. Like when you have a new idea, it's hard to know how fast it will grow. But with The Noticed Network, I’ve always felt like it's grown right. There are times I've wanted it to grow faster. There's times where I've thought it’s not impacting as many people as I want it to, and I’ve had to brainstorm.

But the thing that eases it for me is that I know it's growing. Hayley: Right. Amy: It's like a life. It keeps growing, and it’s good.

Hayley: How has Noticing changed you over time?

Amy:

It just gave me language for what I already knew was true, and it gave me a way to live out the purpose that I saw needed to happen.

It gave me a way to do it, and I love that.

Hayley:

I can see how it changed your life, that totally makes sense. But how has it changed you? Amy:

(pauses) It has made me braver.

Because I had to learn not to need any certain reaction from people, and to trust the gift. So it made me set my own ego aside and trust in seeing the goodness in other people and sharing that with them. And then however they respond to that, I’ve stayed trusting, and it's definitely made me braver.

Hayley:

What inspires you about that moment?

Amy:

My favorite moments really are the ones where I witness someone see their value, whatever that is.

Because when someone knows their value, who they show up as and who they become is just awesome. Hayley:

What have you learned about Noticing?

Amy:

I have learned that Noticing is for all people of all ages. 10 years ago, I thought it was just for women, which really is a beautiful thing. Then the shift included everyone, and there's growth that happens there. It changed the way people saw it. There was no way of denying the truth that it was for all people of all ages.

People asked me, “How do I Notice the men in my life?” and my sweet Kristen said, “How old do I have to be to be Noticed?” They asked the questions that were needed, and the answers showed this is for all people of all ages.

Hayley:

Challenging questions are such a good thing. Amy: Another big thing is that we have to be able to Notice the goodness in ourselves to be able to authentically Notice it in other people. Otherwise, we're just guarded a little bit. So that focus on self became a big piece of it.

Hayley:

You talk a lot about the ripple effect. How have you seen that play out? Amy: Noticing is not a one time event. It happens for someone, and then every time they remember it, it affects them --over and over and over again. It has its own ripple,

It also impacts the group that they're associated with. So that's everyone in the person's family, and that's people at work, and that's people on the road when you're driving. It truly has tectonic implications.

One other thing that might actually be the biggest of all: What we practice, we get good at.

Hayley:

Definitely.

Amy:

So instead of having to reframe hard situations, you naturally see the good and the hard together, and it just makes for a more harmonious life. It changes your focus and then it changes your momentum.

Hayley: How would you invite someone to get involved in this movement if they were new to it? What is a good starting point?

Amy:

First thing I want to do is see the person face to face and say welcome! But yeah, I don't know if I'll get to do that. So I would say two things.

One, in the total privacy of your own space, practice Noticing goodness in yourself if you're not already. And if you are, then celebrate the heck out of that! Because that's a big deal. And that’s why I love the lock screens that we have. You can download them for free in the shop and practice the habit of encouraging self talk.

Like, I have one on my phone right now that says: We rise by lifting others. I see it every time I open my phone, and it's almost subconscious to see it at this point.

Hayley:

Right.

Amy: I would tell them: Start pouring into yourself. Just try it, we have so many different kinds of products because people are different and unique.

And then there’s the second step. Look through and find a tangible reminder to Notice someone else. A card to write in, a bracelet, a keychain. Look through with the intention of: hey, I think if I gave this person this thing and told them, “I've Noticed this goodness in you,” that would mean a lot to them.

Hayley:

Yeah.

Amy:

Knowing it would be good for them and it would be good for me, I'm just going to try it.

Hayley:

I always see the spark behind everything from working with you. You light up and put so much care and heart into this. But I know there are moments where you are running low on fuel, and you have to give yourself that spark again. What do you tap into for motivation in those moments?

Amy: I am human. The checklists get long, the tasks can feel daunting at times. But I think I have the advantage of starting this in such a pure way, by Noticing so many people and having enjoyed that and continued it over the last ten years. I have those faces and those imprints in my head and my heart.

It reminds me: OK, this work matters and sharing it matters and giving people the opportunity to share it themselves matters. So it really is a purposeful business and mission.

Hayley:

It sounds like you kind of think of specific moments. Over the 10 years, or do you have anything specific come to mind?

Amy:

Yeah, that question always gets me a little bit. Because I want to honor the stories and the intimacy of each of the times that I've gotten to Notice someone. It can be very personal, so I want to protect and honor those moments and not make them public. I would never want to use them to tell a story that the person didn't necessarily want told.

Hayley:

Right.

Amy:

I really honor the space that happens when two people have a quiet conversation about the goodness that they see in each other. So when you ask me, my head floods with personal ideas, personal people, personal stories, and then what I hope could be honored is the sacred space of Noticing.

I don't necessarily want to tell those personal stories. But at the same time, I love that there are so many common threads. So if you'll humor me, I absolutely have some common thread stories.

Hayley:

Go for it.

Amy:

I have more than once Noticed someone in service. So in a drive through, or at a register or in food service, I have more than once had people in service say back: no one's ever Noticed me.

It's just jarring, it's shocking.

All I've done is pay attention and then said something like, “Hey, I want to give you this Random Act of Noticing Card. I want to give you this and tell you that I really Noticed how you showed up today, you made this so much fun.”

And then to have someone just stare into your face and say, “No one's ever Noticed me before.” I'm not exaggerating. It's happened 20, 30, 40 times for me. It's absolutely incredible to me to know there are people out there that when their head hits the pillow at night, they don't know that somebody saw them.

Hayley:

Just really motivates you. Amy: Yes. And another really common theme is in our work with I Am Noticed and working with kids in schools. I have Noticed a lot of teachers and it is incredible the number of teachers who will say something similar to, “You think this happens all the time, but it doesn't. I don't have a file folder full of notes from people telling me that I've impacted their life.”

So making those moments heartfelt, and giving teacher appreciation, is so important.

Hayley:

True. Amy: Here’s one of my most recent examples of another common thread: I was at the eye doctor and there was a man who was retired who was serving as the technician that day for me. He was very kind --and a little feisty! I tried to Notice him and he wouldn't let me Notice him at all! He said, “I don't need that.” And I said, “I have not argued with you about how my eyes are because you're an expert at that. I'm an expert Noticer. So I would hope you wouldn't argue with me about this. Because everybody needs to be Noticed.” He just turned and walked away to lead me to another exam room.

When we got there, he turned around and spent about 5 minutes telling me his story. When he was done, he said, “I think you are an expert. I didn't know I needed that, but I just needed to be Noticed.” And I'm like, here's this man. He’s retired military. He's given his life in service. So many people have that kind of feeling of like, I shouldn't need this.

Hayley:

That’s the common thread. Amy:

I think that is a common thread, because people feel like it would be vain or just don't know what to do with it. It's a really human thing to need to know I matter! You know, it's a really sweet thing. So anyway, everyone's reaction is unique. So you learn not to need anyone to respond in a certain way. Because it is a glimpse into something really vulnerable. Seeing a guard that is up and learning to honor that is a skill set, but it's also an art.

Hayley:

What do you love about The Noticed Network right now?

Amy:

I love the clarity.

Hayley:

That's great.

Amy:

The clarity of what it is allows us to genuinely go in and ask people good questions that can allow them to feel Noticed while they're telling their story. Hayley: Absolutely. Amy: Then in that process, it is so authentic. It is so clear this is what we do: We Notice goodness. It feels very solid.

Hayley:

What do you love about where The Noticed Network is going?

Amy:

It feels like more and more people are wanting to be a part of it. It feels so much more possible because of the momentum of other people coming together.

There's definitely an excitement and an energy, you know, it’s a jet fuel that's like: OK, where is it going to go?

Because it can. It can, and it should.

Hayley:

Yeah.

Amy:

It should, and not because of anything other than it’s pure goodness. Like it's just good.

Hayley:

Do you have any special 10 year shout outs? Amy:

The very first Noticed conversation happened between Carl and I. His belief in me and in The Noticed Network throughout, and his willingness to invest time and effort and love and patience is huge. I also love how he Notices! Several years ago we went on vacation to The Grand Canyon and we had so many amazing Noticing experiences along the way. It was on that trip that Carl Noticed someone with a Noticed Bracelet for the first time and I remember that making such an impact.

When the first big batch of key chains came that I ordered, it was such a big deal. They came to my house. I didn't have an office.

I had done all this research to make sure that I was purchasing from a small company in America, and then they came with Made in China stickers that had obviously been through customs. I was so upset because I didn't know what I was doing and I didn't mean to buy them that way. My aunt and my cousin came to my house and painstakingly helped Carl and I take thousands of little stickers off of each of those keychains. I think about their fingers pulling off those stickers and then polishing them back up, because they had fingerprints on them, and repackaging them. I just think about it and it makes my heart so happy!

My friend Carol asked me to come speak at her event about Noticing. It was back in August of 2011, and I didn't have any materials. I was trying to print them off on my computer, and I didn't know what I was doing.

Then my friend Andrea showed up with a canvas bag that she had ordered through Vistaprint and it said Noticed in my font on the front, and inside of it were business cards, postcards, magnets, and pens that I could pass out to people. It was the sweetest thing.

In general there is no way that The Noticed Network would be what it is today without all of the love and support from my friends and family. We could make a whole blog post just listing all of these amazing humans!

Many of these people would never want the spotlight on them but I just can't help but want to thank them. Like my in-laws. I am so very grateful for all of their support and Grandma Twerp is an awesome Noticer!

I think about how many times different friends were willing to listen to me brainstorm ideas. So many people have been willing to listen to me figure this out.

Click on the picture above to enjoy this special slide show tribute.

I'd also like to give a shout out to The Johnson Girls. When you're an entrepreneur in a family it affects the whole family. So my girls being proud of me and letting me bounce ideas off them means a lot. They’ve given their support in their own right, and each of them have at times packaged products, set stuff out on tables, went to events with me, and Noticed people. So they've certainly been a big part of it.

In the last 6 years, Jamie and I started working together. The process of growing The Noticed Network, and also growing a business with her to serve schools was an interesting process. It took some huge grace and some huge respect for each other. She has been absolutely integral, and so it's an honor to get to grow I AM Noticed with her and watch her grow her own business, In Joy.

I am so grateful that I get to work with Jaime! She believes in all of the goodness so much, and it just propels each of the businesses to succeed.

And it's just like the coolest thing... I would say this cool gal named Hayley called me up one day and said, “Can we chat because I like what you're doing.”

So I think without you coming into the picture in the last year, it does not look the way it looks today. It doesn't have that momentum. And so I'm so grateful. I'm grateful that you're willing to, in a lot of ways, take a chance on it, and put your heart and soul in it. I am grateful that you are a person of integrity who cares so much about it, and has taken the time to understand the brand.

So there's no way to not say thank you to you.

Hayley:

Well thank you, I know this is a really big question to answer. There would be no way to get everyone.

Amy:

It feels like that kind of question is in so many ways the hardest question for me, because it feels like we should sit here all night. Going back to 10 years ago, I kicked off The Noticed Network by having a birthday party, and at that birthday party, I invited a few close friends. All I wanted to do for my birthday was Notice them.

So I had a cake that said Noticed, I had glasses that said Noticed, and I had their Noticed keychains ready. There's no branding. I gave them a card from Hobby Lobby, and I wrote in each card what I had Noticed about them.

It never crossed my mind that they would come and bring me gifts, which is ridiculous because it was my birthday. You would think I would have thought that through.

But it's actually the perfect metaphor for what Noticing is. It comes back to you. Right. And there's just no way I could think of all the people that have been supportive. I'm sitting here thinking, who have I left off?

But there's so many of them.

Hayley:

Last question.

Amy:

Awesome.

Hayley:

What is Noticing?

Amy:

It is saying to somebody: I see you, I hear you. You matter to me.

Just think of all those ripples.