The About Perception Podcast

Three Quotes That Shape My Leadership

What quotes are shaping you right now? Not the ones framed on a wall. Not the ones you repost on social media. The ones that quietly sit in front of you every day — and challenge you to lead better. Thank you for joining, me, this is Tom Garrity. This month on the Perception Podcast, I’m taking you on a short field trip — to my office. At the base of my computer screen are three Post-it notes. They’ve survived desk clean-offs, office moves, and new monitors. They’re still there because they still matter. In the spirit of one beggar showing another beggar where to get food — here are three sayings that continue to shape my perceptions and my leadership. 1. “People want to be part of something bigger than themselves.” You’ve heard versions of this from leaders across philanthropy, national service, and business. It aligns closely with Simon Sinek’s concept of starting with “Why.” That’s likely how it ended up on my screen — I’m a big fan. At its core, this statement reflects a fundamental human truth: People crave meaning. We move from “me” to “we.” From task to purpose. From activity to impact. Whether in business, community building, or family life, people want to know their effort matters — that it connects to something larger than their job description. This quote reminds me that leadership is not about spotlight — it’s about stewardship. It’s not about building a platform for an individual; it’s about building a mission that others can step into. It also checks motivation. Am I creating space for others to contribute to something meaningful? Or am I unintentionally shrinking the vision? When people feel part of something bigger, you get engagement. You get loyalty. You get legacy. The second saying you will find on my computer monitor screen… 2. “Humility tells a better story.” This one likely came to me through the He Gets Us campaign, and it stuck. In a culture that rewards volume and self-promotion, humility feels countercultural — and powerful. “Humility tells a better story” suggests that service, self-awareness, and quiet confidence are more compelling than bravado. A better story is not one where the hero dominates the stage. It’s one where the hero grows. Humility shifts the focus outward. It allows empathy. It invites collaboration. It leaves room to admit mistakes and evolve. Arrogance creates a brittle narrative — one that cracks under pressure. Humility creates resilience — because it allows learning. As leaders, especially in communications and public life, it’s tempting to control the narrative. But the most compelling leaders don’t force their story — they live it. Humility tells a better story because it’s believable. The third and final saying you will find on my computer, at least for now… 3. “People are not the enemy. They are the opportunity.” In today’s environment — especially online — it’s easy to see disagreement as combat. We all have seen what happens when keyboard warriors get the best of us. Social media is very good at telling us what’s wrong and who to blame. That line from The American President still rings true. But this Post-it note of wisdom forces a shift of mindset. When I see someone as an enemy, I conserve energy for defense. When I see someone as an opportunity, I conserve energy for growth. This quote reminds me that people with different perspectives are not obstacles — they are invitations. Invitation to listen. Invitation to understand. Invitation to collaborate better. It demands empathy as a first response, not a last resort. Even when there is disagreement — especially when there is disagreement — there is opportunity for refinement, for perspective, for better solutions. And sometimes, for personal growth. <

Living Intentional: A Simple Practice for a New Year

By the second week of January, most New Year’s resolutions are already negotiating their exit strategy. The gym is a little less crowded. The notebook with the fresh goals is sitting closed. And the optimism we felt on January 1st is now competing with real life. If you’ve ever set a goal with the best of intentions—and then quietly watched it fade—you’re not alone. Today, on the Perception Podcast, I want to share a simple practice that has helped me not just set intentions, but actually live them. Welcome to the Perception Podcast, presented by The Garrity Group Public Relations where we help small businesses to be heard and large organizations to be understood. I’m Tom Garrity. It’s a new year—and new years are usually filled with good intentions, goals, and resolutions, all born from a healthy dose of optimism. If you’re anything like me, you’ve identified an intention, set a goal, or decided on something you want to accomplish over the next 365 days—otherwise known, now, as 2026. Sometimes setting a goal is easy. Sometimes it takes real soul-searching. And short of writing it in wax on your bathroom mirror, sticking it on the refrigerator, or posting it on your vehicle dashboard—all of which I’ve tried at one point or another—how do you actually keep these life improvements top of mind? In the spirit of one beggar showing another beggar where to get food, I want to share a tip—a hack—a small nugget of wisdom about how I’ve gotten into the habit of setting, and more importantly, living, my intentions. Full disclosure: I did not invent this. I heard it once on a radio program and thought, “That’s a great idea. I think I’ll try that.” The first step is identifying your intentions or goals for the coming year. For me, that usually includes a few categories: * A relationship intention—something I want to experience or accomplish with one or both of my daughters * An activity or travel goal * A personal goal * A professional goal * And sometimes a project around the house—build a wall, add a gate, replace the windows And then I choose a theme for the year. Heads up: choosing a theme can be a bit of a preview of things to come. In 2020, my word was perseverance—which came in handy during COVID. 2021 was resilience. 2022 was forward. 2023 was balance. 2024 was transition. 2025 was flourish. And my word for 2026 is intentional. We all have different words. We all have different things we want to accomplish. The question is: how do we remember them? Those of you who know me… know my social media world mostly lives on Instagram. Yes, I’m connected on Facebook, Threads, Twitter, and TikTok—because who doesn’t enjoy a good doom scroll on TikTok from time to time? Okay… I digress. During the first week or two of the year, I capture an image on my phone—something that could live on my Instagram feed. Something that represents a memory, a hope, or an adventure. I send the iPhone image to Walgreens, have it printed as a 4x4, pick it up, and write my intentions on the back of the photo with a thin Sharpie. Then I place it in what has become my “intentions photo frame.” To the visitor or guest, only the 2026 photo is visible, only I know what’s written on the back. That frame holds photos and intentions going all the way back to 2018, and it sits right next to my coffee maker—so I see it every single morning. Do I remember and recite everything I wrote down? No. I wish I did. But here’s what’s really cool. Once or twice a year, I’ll get curious and open the back of the frame—only to discover that I’ve been living many of the intentions I set months earlier. Sure, s

Small Business Featured on the Perception Podcast

Small Business Featured on the Perception Podcast This episode of the Perception Podcast will focus on small business and major business corporations. In addition to sharing insights on how New Mexico residents view small business and major business corporations, we are going to hear from Chrystal Trykoski of Enchanting Soap Collections.  This is a small business that providing a path forward for women in a very unique way. Learn more about Enchanting Soap Collections by visiting: https://enchantingsoapcollections.com [https://enchantingsoapcollections.com/] ==================================== Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group Welcome to the Perception Podcast presented by The Garrity Group Public Relations. I'm your host, Tom Garrity. Today's episode focuses on one of the most consistent storylines in the 2025 Garrity Perception Survey: New Mexico's Unwavering Support for Small Business. Every year since 2011, The Garrity Group has partnered with Research and Pulling Inc. To understand who New Mexico residents trust. In February of this year, a statistically valid sample of 415 New Mexico residents shared their thoughts, giving us a 95% level of confidence in the results. And once again, small business rises to the top. Let's start with the numbers. Consistent with past surveys, four out of five New Mexico residents, 79%, hold a favorable opinion of small business. Only 5% hold an unfavorable view, and 16% are neutral or unsure. Compare that with the perception of major business corporations, which has a 30% favorability of New Mexico residents. That means major corporations have the lowest favorability. Among all 17 of the measured industries and institutions that were in the 2025 study. To put it into perspective, corporate favorability has dropped sharply over time, from 50% in 2020 down to 42% in 2023, and now just sitting at 30% favorability. Geographically, support for small business is especially strong in North Central, Eastern, and Central New Mexico. Meanwhile, the areas where major corporations perform best, relatively speaking, are North Central and Northwest New Mexico. At The Garrity Group, we often say that we help small businesses to be heard and large organizations to be understood. Much of our early work involved partnering with organizations that help entrepreneurial communities thrive, including one of our first clients known as Accion. Now it's known as DreamSpring, and they are a community development financial institution that's committed to supporting entrepreneurs through resources, mentorship, and microloans. One of my favorite memories from that time involves a simple bar of soap, Dream Spring, often highlighted products created by entrepreneurs they serve. And at this particular event that I was at about a year and a half ago, at our table sat a bar of soap with packaging. About a story that has stayed with me since that time. Fast forward about 18 months, I'm walking through the New Mexico Artisan Market at Hotel Albuquerque when I spot a booth. Beautiful soaps, handcrafted and familiar. I pick one up and immediately read the packaging. And I know that I've seen this before. That's when I had the honor of meeting the owner Chrystal Trykowski of Enchanting Soap Collections, a New Mexico small business rooted in purpose, sustainability, and a remarkable entrepreneurial story. I'm delighted to have her on the podcast today. Welcome to the Perception Podcast, Chrystal. Thank you so much, Tom. When I came up and we talked at the New Mexico Artisans Market, you shared a story and it was it was powerful. Share with our listeners your story.  Chystal Trykoski, Enchanting Soal Collections [00:03:47] My mother and I, Roberta, we founded this company in 2006. In 2009 I exited this business for about 12 years. And then I got sober in 2019 for the last time. And in 2022, I rejoined Roberta on this journey, on this mission to empowe

Trust in the Election Process

This episode of the Perception Podcast will focus on trust in the election process—a topic that shapes how we view democracy itself. Our conversation spotlights one of our clients Observe New Mexico Elections. Observe New Mexico Elections is a nonpartisan group working to build confidence through independent election observation across 11 municipalities statewide. The organization’s immediate focus is the 2025 Municipal Election.  It’s long term focus is on confidence in our election process. Tom Garrity hosts this podcast which includes Carmen Lopez, co-leader of Observe New Mexico Elections, and Kelly Fajardo, a former state representative and member of Observe New Mexico Elections’ advisory committee. ======================================= Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group [00:00:05] Welcome to the Perception Podcast from The Garrity Group, where we help small businesses to be heard and large organizations to be understood. I'm Tom Garrity. Today, we're focusing on trust in the election process, a topic that shapes how we view democracy itself. Our conversation spotlights one of our clients, Observe New Mexico Elections. Observe New Mexico Elections is a nonpartisan group working to build confidence through independent election observation across 11 municipalities statewide. The organization's immediate focus is the 2025 municipal election. Joining the Perception Podcast today, Carmen Lopez, co-leader of Observe New Mexico Elections, and Kelly Fajardo, a former state representative and member of Observe New Mexico Elections Advisory Committee. Welcome both Carmen and Kelly to the Perception Podcast.   Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group [00:01:02] Carmen, let's start with the big picture. For listeners who may not be familiar, what is Observe New Mexico elections and what inspired its creation?   Carmen Lopez, ONME Co-Leader [00:01:12] So Observe New Mexico Elections is a nonprofit in New Mexico. We are funded by The Carter Center, the Jimmy and Roslyn Carter Center in Atlanta. And we're concerned about the increase in both political polarization and the decline in trust and election outcomes. And so our goal is to increase people's knowledge level about elections, the transparency of elections, and as a result, to increase the public's level of trust in New Mexico's elections. And we do that by providing in-depth training about election law and process to hundreds of New Mexicans each year and supporting nonpartisan observers to watch elections throughout the entire state during the voting process and then throughout all the various election processes. And then we compile all that data into a final report that we share with the public. And we're led by an amazing board of high profile, accomplished people from across the political spectrum who care deeply about well-run elections and people's trust in election outcomes. Our board is led by former Governor Gary Carruthers, former Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, Barbara Vihel, Ryan Cangiolosi, who is the chair of the Republican Party, Maureen Sanders, who's a civil rights attorney, and Kelly Fajardo, who's a former representative, and Leonard Gorman from the Navajo Nations Civil Rights Division.  Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group [00:02:39] It's a it's a great board, including Kelly Fajardo. And Kelly, from your perspective as a former state legislator and current lobbyist, why did you decide to join Observe New Mexico Elections Advisory Committee? And what makes the initiative important to you?  Kelly Fajardo, ONME Advisory Committee [00:02:55] I joined because of personal experience. So when I first started when I first ran for office back in 2012, there was a lot of distrust of the election process. A lot of it continues today. And back in the day down in Valencia County, me and my colleagues, we decided to put poll watchers into the different polls around the cou

Perception Podcast: New Mexico Stress Levels

The Garrity Group does a deep dive into the 2025 Garrity Perception Survey related to New Mexico Stress Levels.  New Mexico residents are feeling a bit more stressed today than they did 10 years ago, according to the 2025 Garrity Perception Survey (GPS ’25). The findings show that 31% of New Mexico residents have a great deal of stress, an increase from 24% in the 2015 Garrity Perception Survey. Tom Garrity hosts this podcast which includes the team: Makayla Roberts, Michelle Bowling and Taeya Padilla.