Friday, April 24, 2020
"I heard what you asked but not the way you asked it"
I was watching my church online the other day and our pastor was reading from "A Tale of Three Kings" and he read this sentence...
"I heard what you asked but not the way you asked it."
It grabbed my attention (I was already paying attention LOL but this made me really perk up). The sentence was in reference to David responding to his men on why he didn't kill King Saul when he had the chance. His men were angry and wanted answers.
This is a good lesson in leadership. Many times we encounter our teammates and they are really passionate about something. They are so passionate that they may not follow the usual "standards" of addressing others. They are excited, maybe angry and the way they phrase their questions and statements may be harsh. Often the question is clouded in the emotion of the ask.
"I heard what you asked but not the way you asked it"
As a leader we have to go beyond the emotion and get to the real question or concern of the teammate. We have to hear what is being asked. We have to block out how it is being asked. You want people on your team that are passionate. People that get excited about what is going on. People that aren't afraid to speak out and challenge. It is your responsibility as a leader to calm the emotion by addressing the real questions your team has even as they are clouded by emotion. Of course, real disrespect should not be tolerated but the leader must be strong enough to know the difference.
Always be on the lookout for the real question. Hear what is being asked not matter the way it is being asked.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Cleaning, Piles and Joy
I tend to clean up in piles.
When I clean up I make piles of stuff and then move these piles to different locations. I clean up the living room by making a pile of stuff and move that pile to the bedroom. Then I go back to the living room and move around some other stuff, make a pile and take it to the garage. Then I go back to the living room and pile up some other stuff and take it to "Granddaddy's Room". At the end of this pile-moving the living room is clean.
Then I have to do the same to other rooms.
Not necessarily on the same day.
In fact, usually never on the same day...or the same week...maybe even not the same month.
But that's what is cool about this process. When I go back to the piles of stuff I moved from the living room into other rooms it can be like a moment of discovery.
"Wow! Look what I found!"
If I cleaned up "properly" or "perfectly" I wouldn't have these little moments of found joy.
I like found joy
What's the lesson? I think it may be that we shouldn't try to be perfect all the time and there may not be "proper" ways to do everything. But there is always ways to find joy
And that makes me smile
When I clean up I make piles of stuff and then move these piles to different locations. I clean up the living room by making a pile of stuff and move that pile to the bedroom. Then I go back to the living room and move around some other stuff, make a pile and take it to the garage. Then I go back to the living room and pile up some other stuff and take it to "Granddaddy's Room". At the end of this pile-moving the living room is clean.
Then I have to do the same to other rooms.
Not necessarily on the same day.
In fact, usually never on the same day...or the same week...maybe even not the same month.
But that's what is cool about this process. When I go back to the piles of stuff I moved from the living room into other rooms it can be like a moment of discovery.
"Wow! Look what I found!"
If I cleaned up "properly" or "perfectly" I wouldn't have these little moments of found joy.
I like found joy
What's the lesson? I think it may be that we shouldn't try to be perfect all the time and there may not be "proper" ways to do everything. But there is always ways to find joy
And that makes me smile
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Why Jesus for Me
I was non-religious for most of my life. I believed but didn't put a lot of effort into it. I felt it in my insides but never acted on it.
So what changed?
How did I spend my first 50 some odd years on this earth without making a decision and then suddenly (or not so suddenly) make the best decision of my life 2 years ago?
I heard a statement
That simple
I heard a statement that erased all of the questions and doubts I had about religion and church.
"If a man can predict his own death and resurrection and pull it off I am following him."
I heard this while sitting in Athens Church, not fully engaged but there because my wife and kids were engaged. (Isn't it funny how many men are brought to church through their wives and children?) Andy Stanley was on the screen - it was a video message that day - and he said many words, had many statements but I only remember one from this day
"If a man can predict his own death and resurrection and pull it off..."
That grabbed me...that engaged me. I didn't need to hear anything else.
My life changed.
Now...why did he do this? Why did Jesus die?
For me
I try to put things in terms that I can understand and I started thinking that if I have a friend and we, my friend and I, ended up in a perilous situation where he ended up losing his life to save mine what would I do. The answer is simple, that friend would hold a place of honor in my house, in my life, in my heart forever!
So that's where Jesus is in my house.
There are so many things to question in regards to religion and church. There are so many things to agree or disagree with. So many questions about the various church leaders. But to me it's not about church. It's not about religion. It's personal.
If a man can predict his own death and resurrection and pull it off - and that death was to save me
Yeah...it's just that simple.
So what changed?
How did I spend my first 50 some odd years on this earth without making a decision and then suddenly (or not so suddenly) make the best decision of my life 2 years ago?
I heard a statement
That simple
I heard a statement that erased all of the questions and doubts I had about religion and church.
"If a man can predict his own death and resurrection and pull it off I am following him."
I heard this while sitting in Athens Church, not fully engaged but there because my wife and kids were engaged. (Isn't it funny how many men are brought to church through their wives and children?) Andy Stanley was on the screen - it was a video message that day - and he said many words, had many statements but I only remember one from this day
"If a man can predict his own death and resurrection and pull it off..."
That grabbed me...that engaged me. I didn't need to hear anything else.
My life changed.
Now...why did he do this? Why did Jesus die?
For me
I try to put things in terms that I can understand and I started thinking that if I have a friend and we, my friend and I, ended up in a perilous situation where he ended up losing his life to save mine what would I do. The answer is simple, that friend would hold a place of honor in my house, in my life, in my heart forever!
So that's where Jesus is in my house.
There are so many things to question in regards to religion and church. There are so many things to agree or disagree with. So many questions about the various church leaders. But to me it's not about church. It's not about religion. It's personal.
If a man can predict his own death and resurrection and pull it off - and that death was to save me
Yeah...it's just that simple.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Ms. Scale and Me
I have a habit, perhaps a ritual of weighing myself every morning. I get up, go to the bathroom, empty the pipes - don't want any extra weight! - and then step on my friend, Ms. Scale. For the last 6 months leading up to the end of February the scale and I had a great relationship. Every time I stepped on her she gave me good news. 236...233...229...225...219...all the way down to 209.
We loved each other.
The last month the relationship changed. Each morning during our get togethers she started giving me different responses. 209...211...214...219...222...until this morning.
Nothing
I greeted her as I do everyday...step on her and...
No response
I stepped off of her...opened her up and massaged her batteries (she likes this)...closed her back up and set her back on the floor. I stepped back on her...
Nothing
At first I thought, "aww man...I was hoping for a good number today and I don't think I have any more batteries." Then I thought, "NO, this is great news!" See I don't need to know the number today. That number will not change reality...it just reports reality. The way to change reality is to actual do something.
So I got off the scale, put my running shoes on and headed out the door. Instead of a daily relationship with Ms. Scale I think I'll start a relationship with Mr. Running Shoes. (I'll still have to remember to clear the pipes before we start each day!)
We loved each other.
The last month the relationship changed. Each morning during our get togethers she started giving me different responses. 209...211...214...219...222...until this morning.
Nothing
I greeted her as I do everyday...step on her and...
No response
I stepped off of her...opened her up and massaged her batteries (she likes this)...closed her back up and set her back on the floor. I stepped back on her...
Nothing
At first I thought, "aww man...I was hoping for a good number today and I don't think I have any more batteries." Then I thought, "NO, this is great news!" See I don't need to know the number today. That number will not change reality...it just reports reality. The way to change reality is to actual do something.
So I got off the scale, put my running shoes on and headed out the door. Instead of a daily relationship with Ms. Scale I think I'll start a relationship with Mr. Running Shoes. (I'll still have to remember to clear the pipes before we start each day!)
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Driving to...Ethiopia!
Well...not really "Driving to..." Ethiopia. It would be something to be able to do so but I don't have Speed Racer's Mach 5 that can drive under water (at least I think I can remember it doing so in the old cartoon!)
I just wanted to show some of the progress we are making on the Ya YA Medical Clinic in Woreta Ethiopia, my wife Janet's hometown. It's been an interesting endeavor getting this far and I am sure it will be as we move forward toward finishing. There are things harder to get done there than here in the US and there are things that are easier. Of course money and finances play a big role in either place.
To remind on why we are doing this...Janet's older brother, Ya Ya, was hit by a stray bullet while he was standing in the front yard of the family home. It hit him in his abdomen. No one around was shooting a gun. Everyone was just gathering as families do. Who knows how far away the bullet came from but someone shot into the air and the bullet came down and hit Ya Ya.
The family could not transport Ya Ya to a hospital. There was not one in Woreta and the closest one - about 45 minutes away - couldn't be reached because the bridge over the river in-between the two towns was out. It had been hit during the conflict going on and couldn't be crossed. The only hope the family had was to treat Ya Ya's wounds the best they could as he laid in his parent's bed. He did not survive.
Janet's dream since that time was to come to America and earn enough money to build a clinic in Woreta so no other family has to go through what her family went through.
Her dream is becoming a reality...
I just wanted to show some of the progress we are making on the Ya YA Medical Clinic in Woreta Ethiopia, my wife Janet's hometown. It's been an interesting endeavor getting this far and I am sure it will be as we move forward toward finishing. There are things harder to get done there than here in the US and there are things that are easier. Of course money and finances play a big role in either place.
To remind on why we are doing this...Janet's older brother, Ya Ya, was hit by a stray bullet while he was standing in the front yard of the family home. It hit him in his abdomen. No one around was shooting a gun. Everyone was just gathering as families do. Who knows how far away the bullet came from but someone shot into the air and the bullet came down and hit Ya Ya.
The family could not transport Ya Ya to a hospital. There was not one in Woreta and the closest one - about 45 minutes away - couldn't be reached because the bridge over the river in-between the two towns was out. It had been hit during the conflict going on and couldn't be crossed. The only hope the family had was to treat Ya Ya's wounds the best they could as he laid in his parent's bed. He did not survive.
Janet's dream since that time was to come to America and earn enough money to build a clinic in Woreta so no other family has to go through what her family went through.
Her dream is becoming a reality...
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Winking Owl!?
Great Value
Winking Owl
Market Pantry
IGA
Bob's
Ok...Bob's isn't real or at least it hasn't come into my house yet but all the sudden I am seeing all these different brands of product that have never been in my house before.
Why?
Well, my wife isn't very happy with the place we used to shop so she is venturing out to many different stores. This is new as we pretty much always shopped at the same store chain no matter where we moved.
And it's weird for me!
It is funny how accustom you get to particular items. I've always said that humans are creatures of habit (I'm sure others have said it too 😀) and I think I am a case study in this now. My mom also used to purchase from the same store chain so practically my entire life has revolved around this one chain and the line of products they sell. Now, I'm seeing a different brand milk, cottage cheese, oatmeal...everything is different! And I wonder if they'll be any good.
Of course they will be (for the most part). A lot of private label brands are produced by the same manufacturer. But it's just a bit different.
This is a good lesson in brand loyalty
Winking Owl
Market Pantry
IGA
Bob's
Ok...Bob's isn't real or at least it hasn't come into my house yet but all the sudden I am seeing all these different brands of product that have never been in my house before.
Why?
Well, my wife isn't very happy with the place we used to shop so she is venturing out to many different stores. This is new as we pretty much always shopped at the same store chain no matter where we moved.
And it's weird for me!
It is funny how accustom you get to particular items. I've always said that humans are creatures of habit (I'm sure others have said it too 😀) and I think I am a case study in this now. My mom also used to purchase from the same store chain so practically my entire life has revolved around this one chain and the line of products they sell. Now, I'm seeing a different brand milk, cottage cheese, oatmeal...everything is different! And I wonder if they'll be any good.
Of course they will be (for the most part). A lot of private label brands are produced by the same manufacturer. But it's just a bit different.
This is a good lesson in brand loyalty
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Friday, April 3, 2020
Kindness
I read this years ago and for some reason it popped back into my head today and I thought I would share. I hope you enjoy it...
From the power of kindness by Piero Ferrucci:
Kindness? It may strike us as absurd to even approach the subject: Our world is full of violence, war, terrorism, devastation. And yet life goes on precisely because we are kind to one another. No newspaper tomorrow will tell of a mother who read a bedtime story to her child, or a father who prepared breakfast for his children, of someone who listened with attention, of a friend who cheered us up, of a stranger who helped us carry a suitcase. Many of us are kind without even knowing it. We do what we do simply because it is right…
…To receive kindness does us good. Think of a time someone has been kind to you, in a big or a small way: a passerby gave you directions to reach the station or a stranger threw herself in the river to save you from drowning. What effect did it have on you? Probably a beneficial one, because if someone helps us when we need it, we feel relief. And everyone likes to be heard, treated with warmth and friendliness, understanding, and nourished.
Something similar happens on the other side of the equation: Giving kindness does us as much good as receiving it. If you accept the broad definition of kindness that I will outline in this book, you can safely say – and scientific research confirms it – that kind people are healthier and live longer, are more popular and productive, have greater success in business, and are happier than others. In other words, they are destined to live a much more interesting and fulfilling life than those who lack this quality. They are much better equipped to face life in all its savage unpredictability and frightening precariousness.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Munnell University Screaming Weenies
Welcome to Munnell University - the home of the Screaming Weenies!
(Thank you Emily for your contribution to our school 😀).
Our motto - We will cram everything you usually do all day at school each day into just 3 hours.
The first 2 weeks or so of Corona nono school has been entirely unstructured and a bit hit and miss. I'm not too worried about it but it is now time, since we won't be going back to school this year, to be a little more responsible around the instruction.
How else to become more responsible than having a white board! Too bad it's not a smart white board...😐
We put the schedule on the white board and we will do our best to keep with the schedule. I probably should've built in some classroom change time but moving from one chair to another at the dining table shouldn't take too long.
I'm most excited about the "every day life" section on the schedule. This is where the students will learn how to do various things that will help them in every day life not related to "the standards" of school. Today we are re-installing our oven door. We took it off the other day to clean it. The students will help me do this. The other day we were outside digging in the dirt so we could have better access to our storage building. They became fascinated by the grubs and worms we found. I guess that could've been science class too.
We'll see how this goes. I'm optimistic but also know that it's a work in progress. I'm sure when Harvard was started they went through some growing pains too. I just hope I can grow an endowment as large.
Go Weenies!
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
I Got Up Today
I'm up!
The alarm went off this morning to make sure my wife was up so she could go to work. Usually, at least for the past month since my "retirement" started I would get up with her to chat a little bit before she left and then I would go back to bed for a couple of hours. This was great for a little while but I have found myself sort of just existing the last couple of weeks not really getting anything done and not feeling like getting anything done either.
See...while I am officially listed as retired I didn't actually retire. I was "restructured" out of my job. A job I held and been successful at for over 36 years. I had an idea that this would be happening. After all, I worked in both HR and Operations so I could see the signs and feel the momentum for my upcoming "retirement"...it wasn't a surprise.
At first I was both relieved and satisfied. The company that I worked for had changed a great deal, especially the last six months to a year, and I wasn't feeling it anymore. It was hard getting up to go to work each day and to remain motivated throughout the day.
Shoot...it was hard to maintain motivation for an hour!
So on a Thursday afternoon in late February my career ended.
I didn't expect the mourning period.
Even though I was ready to leave. Even though I didn't miss the company. Even though I was excited about starting something new...
I didn't expect the mourning period.
I miss the people - my customers and the team I worked with. And with the coronavirus and social distancing I haven't ventured out of the house much at all the last few weeks. This has contributed to or highlighted the mourning.
Folks say the first step to getting over something is to recognize the issue. That is why...
I'm up!
I told myself yesterday that it is time to really get going on my new project(s). I couldn't just sit around watching Netflix and eating all day - although the Tiger King and Sock It To Me pound cake were great! (OMG - I've gained 10 pounds just because I'm snacking all the time!). So, I ironed all of my shirts and this morning when the alarm went off I got up, showered, shaved and dressed for work. (I could tell I gained weight when I put on my dress shirt...gotta schedule some workout time everyday!)
I feel better already!
My life of the last 36 years has changed...and that's ok. I am excited to see what the next 36 years plus will bring!
I'm up!
The alarm went off this morning to make sure my wife was up so she could go to work. Usually, at least for the past month since my "retirement" started I would get up with her to chat a little bit before she left and then I would go back to bed for a couple of hours. This was great for a little while but I have found myself sort of just existing the last couple of weeks not really getting anything done and not feeling like getting anything done either.
See...while I am officially listed as retired I didn't actually retire. I was "restructured" out of my job. A job I held and been successful at for over 36 years. I had an idea that this would be happening. After all, I worked in both HR and Operations so I could see the signs and feel the momentum for my upcoming "retirement"...it wasn't a surprise.
At first I was both relieved and satisfied. The company that I worked for had changed a great deal, especially the last six months to a year, and I wasn't feeling it anymore. It was hard getting up to go to work each day and to remain motivated throughout the day.
Shoot...it was hard to maintain motivation for an hour!
So on a Thursday afternoon in late February my career ended.
I didn't expect the mourning period.
Even though I was ready to leave. Even though I didn't miss the company. Even though I was excited about starting something new...
I didn't expect the mourning period.
I miss the people - my customers and the team I worked with. And with the coronavirus and social distancing I haven't ventured out of the house much at all the last few weeks. This has contributed to or highlighted the mourning.
Folks say the first step to getting over something is to recognize the issue. That is why...
I'm up!
I told myself yesterday that it is time to really get going on my new project(s). I couldn't just sit around watching Netflix and eating all day - although the Tiger King and Sock It To Me pound cake were great! (OMG - I've gained 10 pounds just because I'm snacking all the time!). So, I ironed all of my shirts and this morning when the alarm went off I got up, showered, shaved and dressed for work. (I could tell I gained weight when I put on my dress shirt...gotta schedule some workout time everyday!)
I feel better already!
My life of the last 36 years has changed...and that's ok. I am excited to see what the next 36 years plus will bring!
I'm up!
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Resetting - I Hope
I don't think I'm alone with this thought...I think this "event" we are going through will cause a great resetting of things. I was talking to my wife yesterday and said that I hope one of the silver linings coming from the coronavirus fight is that we realize that the rat race we were running isn't necessary. I hope we realize/notice that we can get a lot done and have a lot of success without running ourselves ragged, without ignoring our families and without having a life.
This is a tragedy on many levels. I hope that we at least learn something from it.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Mining Gold
I want to tell you a little story I heard the other day.
Back over 100 years ago a reporter asked Andrew Carnegie – one of the first industrialist our country ever produced.
“You have 43 millionaires working for you. How did you attract 43 millionaires?”
Carnegie replied, “They were not millionaires before they worked for me.”
The other man said, “Wow! Well how in the devil did you develop 43 individuals in such a way that allowed them to become millionaires?”
Carnegie stated that you develop people the same way you mine for gold.
You move loads and loads of dirt to get to the gold.
You also must remember when mining for gold that you are not looking for the dirt – you are focused on finding the gold!
Everyone on our team has gold within them. There may be a lot of dirt in the way of the gold but it’s there. It is easy to get distracted by the dirt but if we focus on that dirt where is the benefit? Where is the benefit to the team and where is the benefit to the individual? There isn’t one. However, if we focus on the gold and what it will take to get to it, well…there’s a lot of benefits there!
Develop people the way you mine for gold.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Losing Andrew Carnegie - Seth Godin
I love Seth Godin. I have read a few of his books, follow him on twitter and read his blog. Below is a blog post of his from years ago that I love and it's extremely relevant now...
From Seth Godin’s blog…
Carnegie apparently said, "Take away my people, but leave my factories and soon grass will grow on the factory floors......Take away my factories, but leave my people and soon we will have a new and better factory."
Is there a typical large corporation working today that still believes this?
Most organizations now have it backwards. The factory, the infrastructure, the systems, the patents, the process, the manual... that's king. In fact, shareholders demand it.
It turns out that success is coming from the atypical organizations, the ones that can get back to embracing irreplaceable people, the linchpins, the ones that make a difference. Anything else can be replicated cheaper by someone else.
(http://sethgodin.typepad.com/)
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Structure = Freedom
I had a boss that used to say this a lot
Structure = Freedom
I always understood what he was saying but it has never been more obvious as during this time of quarantine and being newly retired.
OMG!
At first it was great. I was "retired" for about two weeks before the quarantine started and the kids were dismissed from school. Those two weeks had no structure as I was just taking it easy catching up on sleep and Netflix. It was very relaxing and enjoyable.
Then we quarantined.
And I made the mistake of not putting a tight structure in place. I decided to let the kids have a good time for a little while. Yes, they had to do their school work but as long as they got some done everyday it was ok.
Now after 4 plus weeks of no structure I feel like mush (plus I've gained 10 pounds so I really am a little mushy!)
I realize that for a productive life some sort of structure must be in place. For myself, I have to get up like I used to - shower, shave, put on decent clothes, eat my normal breakfast and start doing some "work." For my kids we'll implement a standard time to get up, regular breakfast, school work time, chores (a little 😀) etc. Then play time/free time after that!
You've heard "With Freedom Comes Responsibility"
I say, quoting my former boss, "With Structure Comes Freedom!"
Structure = Freedom
I always understood what he was saying but it has never been more obvious as during this time of quarantine and being newly retired.
OMG!
At first it was great. I was "retired" for about two weeks before the quarantine started and the kids were dismissed from school. Those two weeks had no structure as I was just taking it easy catching up on sleep and Netflix. It was very relaxing and enjoyable.
Then we quarantined.
And I made the mistake of not putting a tight structure in place. I decided to let the kids have a good time for a little while. Yes, they had to do their school work but as long as they got some done everyday it was ok.
Now after 4 plus weeks of no structure I feel like mush (plus I've gained 10 pounds so I really am a little mushy!)
I realize that for a productive life some sort of structure must be in place. For myself, I have to get up like I used to - shower, shave, put on decent clothes, eat my normal breakfast and start doing some "work." For my kids we'll implement a standard time to get up, regular breakfast, school work time, chores (a little 😀) etc. Then play time/free time after that!
You've heard "With Freedom Comes Responsibility"
I say, quoting my former boss, "With Structure Comes Freedom!"
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Teacher Parade!
My girls school, Blandford Elementary, had a "car parade" through our neighborhood today.
It was GREAT!
The teachers decorated their cars and came through waving, beeping their horns, yelling at their students - in a good way - who stood on the side of the streets. My kids loved it as did the other kids in the neighborhood. It was a great way for the students and the teachers to remain engaged while we are going through "social distancing."
This was a fantastic way to Drive to Happiness, Success, Engagement - you choose your word!
It was GREAT!
The teachers decorated their cars and came through waving, beeping their horns, yelling at their students - in a good way - who stood on the side of the streets. My kids loved it as did the other kids in the neighborhood. It was a great way for the students and the teachers to remain engaged while we are going through "social distancing."
This was a fantastic way to Drive to Happiness, Success, Engagement - you choose your word!
Just one of the cars in the parade...
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Deposits and Withdrawals
If you have been in a leadership position hopefully you have heard about the concept of deposits and withdrawals. You must deposit, invest, into your team before you can make any withdrawals - asking for things back from them just as you would do with your bank account.
I would say that you must make numerous deposits before making any withdrawals. In fact the more you deposit and invest the less you will ever have to withdrawal and when you do these withdrawals become very easy to do.
I have experienced this in the past from my own supervisors.
I had one who from day one of meeting him he approached me in a way that made me feel appreciated. He would ask my advice about things in my department - even when he knew the answers (but I didn't know it at the time) - and he would simply talk to me like I mattered. And he did this on a daily basis. This allowed him to ask me for things that other supervisors wouldn't have been able to ask. In fact, many times he wouldn't even have to ask. Because he invested so heavily in me and others around me the need for withdrawals was tiny. We gave the extra effort without being asked. We identified issues before they ever reached this supervisor. We took care of him.
I had another supervisor that from day one she was the opposite. Instead of asking for my advice or opinion she just barked policy and compliance. She would point out opportunities and started her withdrawals from me and those around me. We complied but because there were no previous deposits from her we quickly ran out of that discretionary effort that makes things flow smoothly. Now, we didn't do anything that was detrimental to the business but this supervisor never got the very best from anyone and she couldn't understand why.
So...as leaders we must make our deposits into our teams. Deposit and invest so much that we all become billionaires! Then, when the inevitable withdrawals have to come they seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the deposits.
I would say that you must make numerous deposits before making any withdrawals. In fact the more you deposit and invest the less you will ever have to withdrawal and when you do these withdrawals become very easy to do.
I have experienced this in the past from my own supervisors.
I had one who from day one of meeting him he approached me in a way that made me feel appreciated. He would ask my advice about things in my department - even when he knew the answers (but I didn't know it at the time) - and he would simply talk to me like I mattered. And he did this on a daily basis. This allowed him to ask me for things that other supervisors wouldn't have been able to ask. In fact, many times he wouldn't even have to ask. Because he invested so heavily in me and others around me the need for withdrawals was tiny. We gave the extra effort without being asked. We identified issues before they ever reached this supervisor. We took care of him.
I had another supervisor that from day one she was the opposite. Instead of asking for my advice or opinion she just barked policy and compliance. She would point out opportunities and started her withdrawals from me and those around me. We complied but because there were no previous deposits from her we quickly ran out of that discretionary effort that makes things flow smoothly. Now, we didn't do anything that was detrimental to the business but this supervisor never got the very best from anyone and she couldn't understand why.
So...as leaders we must make our deposits into our teams. Deposit and invest so much that we all become billionaires! Then, when the inevitable withdrawals have to come they seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the deposits.
Write Everyday
I was watching a movie the other day about Zig Ziglar (Zig: You Were Born to Win) and Seth Godin was being interviewed and one thing he said is to blog everyday...that's what he wants to do. He stated that by doing so you will have many bad blog posts but you will also be improving everyday and at the end of the day have hundreds and hundreds of posts with hundreds of excellent posts.
You build on your "failures"
Dave Ramsey, in the same movie, told a story about the garbage you have to produce in order to be a success and, if you keep going, the mountain you are standing on at the end of the day is built by the garbage. This also keeps you humble because you can always look down and see the garbage!
So...write everyday
This is advice I am going to follow starting today
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Brusha, Brusha, Brusha...
At what age do you decide that your child is old enough to brush their own teeth? To brush them well...not just to wet the brush, put some toothpaste on it and run it around their little mouths for a second or two but to really brush them properly.
Every kid is different
Every parent teaches differently
Why am I asking this today? As leaders we have to determine when those in our charge are ready to do things by themselves.
How do you determine when your folks are ready?
Every kid is different
Every parent teaches differently
Why am I asking this today? As leaders we have to determine when those in our charge are ready to do things by themselves.
How do you determine when your folks are ready?
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
March 4th
Today is March 4, 2020
The date is also giving us our marching orders in life
March forth
Keep marching toward your dreams
Keep marching toward your goals
Keep marching...and see what happens!
March 4th
The date is also giving us our marching orders in life
March forth
Keep marching toward your dreams
Keep marching toward your goals
Keep marching...and see what happens!
March 4th
Friday, February 21, 2020
A few swipes of a shirt tail
I reached for my reading glasses this morning and wow...The were filthy...all smudged up and cloudy!
I couldn't see through them very well.
Not surprising...smudges are hard to see though. Not impossible but they make it more difficult, especially if there are a lot of them.
So...I cleaned my glasses
It didn't take long...just a few swipes of the tail of my shirt and I could see clearly again.
It made me think...how many smudges are clouding my view of things in life? And how long, or short, would it take to clean these smudges?
Perhaps just a few swipes of a shirt tail
I couldn't see through them very well.
Not surprising...smudges are hard to see though. Not impossible but they make it more difficult, especially if there are a lot of them.
So...I cleaned my glasses
It didn't take long...just a few swipes of the tail of my shirt and I could see clearly again.
It made me think...how many smudges are clouding my view of things in life? And how long, or short, would it take to clean these smudges?
Perhaps just a few swipes of a shirt tail
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Beeee yourself...
Aladdin is trying to woo Jasmine and the Genie is helping. Aladdin, at this point in the story, is pretending to be a prince and doesn't know what to say to gain Jasmine's interest. The Genie becomes a bumble bee and offers this advice, "beeee yourself."
Great Advice!
There are two moments in my 36 plus year career where I can point to and say I was less success than I wanted to be. Both of those moments were when I was trying to be something other than myself. I was trying to conform with a style or I was trying to be compliant instead of just doing what I do - within the larger framework of the business of course - and letting success happen.
You can't be someone else
It doesn't work - not for any long-term success
Beeee Yourself
Great Advice!
There are two moments in my 36 plus year career where I can point to and say I was less success than I wanted to be. Both of those moments were when I was trying to be something other than myself. I was trying to conform with a style or I was trying to be compliant instead of just doing what I do - within the larger framework of the business of course - and letting success happen.
You can't be someone else
It doesn't work - not for any long-term success
Beeee Yourself
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