Ashley (Oliver) Kappel’s Post

Shaun and I celebrated our 20th anniversary recently. I know, I can’t quite believe it either. One of the things we did very early in our relationship was sit down and map out a life plan. This involved working out our core values and priorities as well as our short- and long-term goals, both as individuals and as a couple. They were categorised into six core areas, including work / career, health, relationships, and money. We looked at where we wanted to be in 20 years and what we needed to do to get there. Taking the time to sit down and work through our priorities and goals gave us a framework for the last 20 years of our life together. It set some ground rules for our relationship and helped us stay focused when times were hard. By setting priorities and some deadlines, we could better manage where we spend our time, energy, and attention. Our goals also helped keep us accountable, as we reviewed them at least every year, and often every quarter. And because we mostly wanted the same things, it made decision-making easier as we could evaluate options and choices based on our long-term goals and values. Twenty years on and we have achieved almost all that we set out to do all those years ago. Now it’s time for us to create our life plan for the next 20 years! Do you have a life plan? Or goals of any sort? What do they look like? I'd love to know. #goals #lifeplan #anniversary #celebration

Business wife appreciation post. Today we're celebrating our 25+1 year anniversary. The reason for that at the end. For the majority of our married life we've owned a business together. You won't see her on linkedin, at events, with customers, or networking as that's not her thing. She is however the backbone to every business we have done and although at times I think she might have preferred me to have a "normal" job she's always been my support. She's the business engine room like accounts & book keeping, contracts & legal but she's way more than that in being my advisor, sounding board, the voice of reason, the pick me upper, the calm me downer. She listen's, (I've learned how to over the years too thanks to her), she advises (I've learned to take that advice too) she let's me get on with it (as long as I commit to being present when the work is done for the day). There's so many reasons she's my best partner in crime and we honestly mostly just have a great time working hard, doing good work, having fun. She's 50/50 in everything and I could not have done it without her Lessons I've learned - Take time out to slow down. Not everyone wants to go 1million mph in all parts of life - Listen without interrupting every day. Make time for this. - Work hard on having an out of work life together. As often as you can. - Not every idea you have is a great idea. - Not every bad day is the end of the world. - It's difficult, especially when you work from home, to separate work life from home life so create a time break or a space break between those daily lives - Find someone who still loves you enough after 25 years to postpone a 25th anniversary holiday by a year! So happy anniversary to us. Celebrating just a year late. Priscilla "P" Browning. Love yas x

Whenever I hear about anniversary celebrations, I always ask the couple, "What’s your secret?" Because let’s be real—there’s so much value in learning from couples who are still celebrating, year after year. And you know what I hear most? It’s all about *showing up* for each other. That means really listening, learning, trying to understand, and being your partner’s biggest support. At the end of the day, everyone just wants to feel seen and like they’re a priority. So if you’re wondering what the secret to a happy relationship is, here it is: get back to the basics.

Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate a team member who always goes out of her way to celebrate others. Happy 10th anniversary, Samantha Le! 🎊✨ From the very first day you joined our team, alongside your Stafflink colleagues, you’ve brought our Guiding Principles to life, supporting our ONE TEAM, always being ACCOUNTABLE by showing up ready to make things happen and living by an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. Cue the drumroll... In honour of your anniversary, here are the top 10 things we love about you, Samantha: 🌟 Your quiet competitive streak. Even though you don’t like the limelight, your determination to place the right candidate for every role is something to behold! 🌟Your genuine care. We love that you’re always the first to ask everyone how their weekend was, how they’re doing and whether anyone on the team needs support. 🌟Your sense of accountability. We know that anything assigned to you will be done well and on time. 🌟Your collaborative nature. You’re always the first to pitch in and help others out, brainstorm and offer a friendly ear. 🌟Your memory. How can any human keep track of so many details? Dates, numbers, names, times, deadlines, everyone’s favourite things, anniversaries… you store it all so effortlessly. No wonder you clean up at trivia! 🌟Your dedication as a mom. We appreciate your super-human efforts to balance your many responsibilities as a mom to a very active youngster while always showing up for your team members and candidates. 🌟Your super spidey sense with charades. How can you possibly guess so fast (especially when the acting isn’t always top-notch)? 🌟Your love of food. And your adventurous spirit with it! We love that you’re game to try new things and share your top recommendations. 🌟Your spot-on shopping advice. You always know the best AND highest quality thing to buy. On the fence about a purchase? Ask Samantha! 🌟Your love of cars. Who would have guessed you were a car fanatic? Have a question about a car? Ask Samantha! Here’s to you, Samantha! And to many more years of adding to our list of favourite things about you! #CelebratingSamantha #workanniversary #10years

Coming face to face with the time of year your person died can be really painful. And compared to the other anniversaries you may celebrate in your life, such as your wedding or job anniversary, this day can feel daunting and scary. What’s important is that you are doing what feels right for you in the moment, and if that means carrying on with your routine, heading to work or distracting yourself during the day to help you get through, then that’s what you should do. If, however, you do decide that you want to mark the anniversary, we’re sharing some ideas that might help you to make sense of your feelings surrounding the day. For more ideas on how you could spend the day, visit https://lnkd.in/eE8NJRhT

In celebration of our 5th anniversary 🎉 we asked 5 colleagues 5 questions, and we'll be sharing their answers over the next 5 days so you can get to know us better! Today's question: Who did you want to be when you were 5 years old? Share your answers in the comments section below! Stay tuned for more. #MetLifePoland #CenterOfExcellence #Anniversary

Today is my 20th wedding anniversary and, I'll be honest, given this account is aimed at those that are separating I feel a bit uncomfortable posting about it. This is not some kind of "look at me I'm amazing and I made it" type statement. The reality for everyone, including me, is that whilst relationships can be amazing and fulfilling they can also be draining and challenging. Often long term relationships are both of these things. No relationship is 100% good or 100% bad. Making the decision to stay in or end a relationship is often a fine balance of many different factors and different people may make different decisions but only you can decide whether your relationship is worth staying in. For me it's not about making things perfect all the time (what an unreasonable ask that would be) it's about a willingness to listen and to change things where one or both parties need changes. People often joke that as a mediator you must never have arguments, or never snap and that you have magic and soothing communication skills all the time. I laugh at this (you know that uncomfortable laugh that is a bit too loud and goes on a bit long). For the record yes even with all my training and skills I still sometimes shout at my husband and shout at my children. I am able to apologise afterwards and to talk about the root cause and what we might all need to change how things pan out in the future. But I'm human and I have bad days and bad moods like anyone else. One of the things that has always struck me is how much we model to our children in our relationships. What do you want your children to learn about relationships from watching yours? That there are no arguments would probably set up an unreasonable expectation that might lead them to feel utterly bamboozled in an argument with a future partner (or to actively avoid them). I think the ability to argue and then apologise and review is a pretty good skill to teach. The last 20 years have 100% been the good (at points the amazing), the bad (in some very difficult moments in laugh) and the ugly (when such challenges have not brought out the best side of me and Mr W). But I'm definitely up for another 20 years and beyond so here's to that Mr W. ❤️

Reflecting today on the importance of celebrations. This week is our 25th wedding anniversary. As we step away from work, family, obligations, kids, dogs, friends, etc. The benefits of slowing down and reconnecting are crystal clear. Whether your celebration is personal or professional, the data couldn’t be more clear regarding the importance of recognizing others in your life. The benefit of gratitude and recognition is found in both the giver and the receiver. This week, during your planning hour, I want you to take an extra five minutes and go through your list of most important professional, family, and friends. Reach out to one of them in each bucket each week in whatever format is most appropriate. I promise this practice will yield ten-fold results when compared to the overall time you spend on it. Be.Well. If you aren’t well, that’s OK, seek help. Your guide on the side Dr. B

I am celebrating my one year work anniversary at GableGotwals! 🌟 My first year as a lawyer overlapped with my first year as a new mom — which was daunting, to say the least. I worried and wondered how it would all work out: childcare, balancing, keeping up. Being a working mom is tough, because it is very easy to feel like you are failing at everything. “I’m not a good enough lawyer because I’m a mom. I’m not a good enough mom because I’m a lawyer.” My colleagues and mentors at GableGotwals have actively and ardently worked to alleviate these insecurities. I have received constant support, encouragement, and understanding during my first year of practice. Thinking back, I recall so many examples of my colleagues going out of their way to tell me: “Great work.” “I appreciate you.” “You belong here.” “We couldn’t have done this without you.” As a new lawyer, you need a safe place to learn. You need people who speak highly of you to your face and behind closed doors. You need examples of integrity and excellence to model after. You need community and friendship. You need leadership that you can trust and believe in. I have all of that and more at GableGotwals. This is the best firm, and it’s because of the people. I have learned so much about law practice this year, and I intend to keep learning. But, I have also learned so much about the type of person I want to be—and that makes all the difference. Here’s to year two, and hopefully many more after that!

Four lessons learnt in four years 💡 As we celebrate our 4th birthday today, we’re reflecting on some key lessons that have guided our success: 🧍♀️Prioritise your team and suppliers: Treat your staff and suppliers like your most valued clients. Celebrate small wins, prioritise mental health, and invest in professional growth. A strong team is the foundation of any thriving business. 🚶♀️Know when to walk away: As a small business, it may feel counterintuitive to turn down work. However, if there’s no mutual respect or a client is making your job unnecessarily difficult, it’s better to part ways. Your team’s worth is undeniable—you hired them for a reason. 👑 Value your worth: In the early days, it’s tempting to take every opportunity - but don’t undersell yourself. Be selective and confident in the value that you bring. 💪 Maintain strong relationships: While it’s not always possible to avoid burning bridges, it’s crucial to nurture the relationships that matter. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and our growth has been fueled by the recommendations of partners, clients, and suppliers. Thank you for being a part of our journey and here’s to what the next four years may bring 💫 Kirsten Samantha Roos | Samantha Thomas | Lavina Naidoo | T.Y Hlangwane