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Mastering Conflict
Running a family business for the past 13 years means we’ve seen more than our share of ups and downs. Couple that with growing the business in perhaps the worst economy in our lifetime and you can just imagine the conflicts we’ve had to work our way through. We don’t always agree, but we try to keep our priorities in order by remembering why we started the business in the first place. We focus on our goal for IMARA Woman Magazine—to uplift, enlighten and empower. We remember the fun we had when we first got started trying to figure out how we were going to make all the pieces work together to deliver a quality product to our readers. And, we remember that nothing, absolutely nothing, is more important than keeping our family together in our family business.
We are grateful for the employees, advertisers, sponsors and volunteers, who have helped us along the way. We know they not only believe in us but that they also believe in what IMARA is doing in communities all across the state. Keeping these things in the forefront of our sometimes spirited verbal differences of opinion (arguments) has helped us not only maintain our business, but also maintain our 32-year marriage.
In this special anniversary edition of IMARA Woman Magazine, we’re focusing our attention on conflict. It’s a topic most of us would like to avoid, but unfortunately, it is unavoidable if we are a part of the human experience. No ifs, ands or buts about it, if you’re doing anything in life at all, you will face conflict. It’s everywhere—in our homes, workplaces, politics, even in our churches. And while conflict may be unavoidable, we can learn to master the controversy that flows from it, if we are mindful of how we talk and engage with people around us. Even in the heat of an argument, we can enlist fair boundaries and rules of engagement and produce better outcomes.
Conflict does not have to end in violence or hurtful words that can do irreparable harm. We can confront our differences and be better for it, if we are willing to respect each others opinions, especially when we disagree. It won’t be easy, but we hope the stories in this edition will help you keep what’s most important in the forefront. We hope that you remember, like we often do with our business, that there are people who believe in you and are counting on you to make it work.
Be Blessed
Wendy and Paul Brawley
wbrawley@imarawoman.com
pbrawley@imarawoman.com
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