5 Things to Quit

Gee whiz...

I just realized I haven't posted anything in quite some time. So two of my last three posts (including this one) are about how I haven't posted anything. 

That ain't good!

I just have to take my own advice and "just be better."

Years Do Not Always Equal Knowledge

I have been in my Human Resource role for about a year now and it's been a very interesting one.  I have learned a lot about a lot of things.  It's funny...I have worked for Kroger for over 32 years, 31 spent in the stores.  You would think that I would know about a lot of stuff because of those 32 years but what I learned in this last year is you just don't know what you don't know.  The bad part is that others think because I have been around for 32 years I should know certain things.

Ha!

Fooled them again!

So it's been a good leadership lesson.  Just because someone has been around a while doesn't mean they will know what to do when they come into a new role inside the same company.

Sounds like a simple lesson...one everyone should know.

It's not...

I Have Returned

Wow...has it really been since June that I wrote a post?

That ain't good!

I have no excuses other than...

Nothing!

See, when someone says they have no excuses other than XXXXX then that means they are giving an excuse.  I have no excuse...I just didn't write anything.  But I'm back now so you guys should be seeing more from me.  I actually need to change the tagline or subtitle or whatever you call it.  I'm not working at the Loganville Kroger anymore...it's been a year since I was assigned there.  So I need to come up with something else...hmmm...

Any suggestions?

G-Rated please :-)

Do You Feel Defeated?

Today I want to start off by talking about frustration.  A frustration that comes from feeling like you are doing your best and yet this thing we call the grocery business is weighing you down…bending your shoulders…straining your back.  You have so, so many things you are concerned with and so, so many numbers you have to make.

You are on two, three, four or more conference calls during a day asking you about OSAT, Green Half hours, Labor, Out of stocks, salesplans and other metrics.

You receive dozens upon dozens of emails each day asking you for this, giving you information about that…you need to enter interview times, we need you milk prices, where are your schedules, your hours…oh crap I forgot the fuel check.

You are trying to accomplish a mountain of things each day and your help is in seemingly short supply…I had call-outs, eschedule only scheduled me one person during this time frame…I only have 2 co-managers and one is on vacation.

It can be hard…
It can be tough…

It can be defeating.

We worry about shrink, we worry about sales…we worry about visits, we worry about sanitation and we worry about safety.

It’s a ton of stuff we are responsible for when we are running a store…a department.

It can be defeating.

Are you defeated?

I hear a lot of frustration when talking to store managers.  I get it…I understand.

We all want to be successful.  “Just give me the tools and I will be successful” I hear many say.

I get it

I understand

It can be defeating

Are you defeated?

Or do you take action…take control of the moment?

By taking control of this moment and then the next…it makes the next moment easier.

Then you take control of that moment and the next and pretty soon the moments are less frustrating and they become less troubling…less defeating.

As you take control your main weapon becomes your mind…your thoughts…your plans.  You start to think clearer and options…positive options start to appear.

You are able to find ideas…and see results.

This stokes your competitive fire and soon you are attacking shrink, safety and those green half hours become something that is a challenge instead of a anchor around your body of your front end …around your store.

And OSAT…oh OSAT…it is a fun challenge…a puzzle to be solved…a perceived impossibility just as human flight once was…but we know different now.  We don’t just look at numbers anymore…we look at behaviors and action.  Action is the key word here…action - the word - implies motion…drive…it is making stuff happen and since we are in control we make stuff happen the way we intend…and not the way of the unintended.

We step forth with full confidence that we control our world and we will make it happen because we are not feeling defeated…we are not defeated.

We’re competing…

We are competing on a stage that we are in charge of and that will bend to our will…our desire…

Frustration gets us no where except into the depths of further frustration and despair.  Action…confidence…taking control…planning…leading…achieving…

That is where our purpose is found…this is where we want to be…

So make today the last day of your frustration.  Throw it away…stomp it to nothing.  Grab control of your thoughts and by doing so grab control of your world…and your store.  Know that you and your store team have the ability to achieve anything…everything…

Go make stuff happen today…compete…and win…and the victory is the satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

So go out there…take action…make stuff happen.

You are not defeated…you are just getting started.

Dreams are Inspiring - Work is Not

I was listening to a Google Talk the other day and the guest was Jon Taffer - the host of Bar Rescue.  It was actually very interesting.  The guy is somewhat full of himself but he is very successful by most measures and offered up some words of wisdom during the program.

One thing he said during his wrap up was…

Dreams are Inspiring…work is not.

He said...

Dreams are Inspiring…work is not.

He was emphasizing the need to follow your dreams - even through your workplace.  Do not give up on your dreams.

This fits right in with our Happiness and Imagination theme we have discussed in the past.

Dreams are a way for us to see our future positive reality - using our imagination

We gain joy as we pursue these dreams - the definition of happiness

Of course many of us are probably wondering - how can I pursue my dreams while working at Kroger.

This is the wrong question…

You guys all came to Kroger for a reason…oh so many reasons…and when you came to Kroger you imagined something in your future.

So…the question is - "How will I partner with Kroger to achieve my dreams?"

I used to give a talk to middle school students about Kroger.  One of the things I would do during the talk is to ask the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up and I would list them on the white board - no chalkboards in schools these days…

We would end up with a list of 15 - 20 things…some duplicates.  Many wanted to be professional athletes or singers….I would then tell the kids that they could do almost everyone of the jobs they listed within the Kroger Company.

They looked at me like I was CRAZY

But then I explained how and the looks turned from crazy to encouraging.

So I would like to ask you all, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Then I challenge you to find a way to do that within The Kroger Company.

You’ll be surprised…

Now what does this have to do with offering a Highly Satisfying Shopping Experience?

As you are pursuing your dreams you will create an environment in your stores that promotes

Action

Excitement

Accomplishment

Happiness

Which all go toward creating an environment for success to happen.

Also, your “work” becomes less work and more joy

“Dreams are Inspiring…work is not”

Follow your dreams

Pour into others...