Unspeakable

A lot of times I sit down to write this weekly post and the content just kind of flows.  I have a general idea what I'm going to discuss and then I get a little inspired and the rest just kind of happens.  This week I feel compelled to cover the unspeakable events from last week in Newtown, Connecticut, although I have never sat down to write a post with less of an idea what to say than I am today.

I am also asking myself why write about this?  What value is there in discussing a deeply emotional and personal matter?  How does it apply to my business associates, customers and contemporaries within and outside my industry?  The answer is, at least at this moment, I have no idea.  Maybe it's just therapy for me to express my shock and horror.  I hope reading these words provide some ideas or maybe a little therapy for you.

I am the father of three teenage kids.  I cannot imagine ever having to go through a similar tragedy with one of my kids.  Unfortunately, I know many that have and I think that is one of those situations that you just don't know how to deal with it until you live through it.  The human spirit is an amazing thing.  Like any other parent and like some teachers and administrators did last week, I would sacrifice my life for any one of my kids without a second thought.  It's human nature.  We look out for those who cannot look out for themselves.  Especially those we love.

There is a hard question that we need to know the answer to.  The frustrating part is in a situation like this the question of WHY? doesn't have an answer.  News and Social Media try to dig and find clues in to the lifestyles and personalities of assailants in these situations to see if we can form clues as to what could lead them to such heinous conclusions.  The more we find out, the less sense it makes.  And the angrier we get because someone has to get the blame. 

Politicians, talking heads and people at the water color will now debate how to prevent these types of tragedies in the future.  As our president deftly pointed out in his emotional address to the country, we have had to deal with far too many of these types of tragedies is recent years.  All of us our interested in being part of the solution and many of us have or will weigh in on our stance regarding some of the issues that must be addressed such as gun control.

I have no interest in taking up such debate here.  My interest is much more foundational and based upon principles that have been around as long as man has inhabited the earth.  We have to reach out to others - especially those who are hurting - and show them we care.  It's not easy.  It's not convenient.  It's not comfortable.  It is paramount to helping not only those who are hurting but also to stop hurting others who are helpless. 

These issues could be discussed for far longer and in far more detail than I can go in to in a few short paragraphs.  I really don't know how to begin or end this topic.  There are many more questions than answers.  Arguments than resolutions.  Problems than solutions.

I do know that as we prepare to celebrate Christmas and a New Year that we must aspire to be better to each other for the benefit of our schools, our states and our country.  It's simplistic and perhaps a bit trite but to get back to basics I think Lennon and McCartney had it right:
                                                                       All you need is love
                                                                       Love is all you need 
And as Old Ebeneezer said when realizing the error of his ways: God Bless us all!
                                                            

The first Personal Mission Statement

Last week I discussed the Scout Law.  Certainly a list of ideals that we wish every American would follow more judiciously.  Our country would be a much better place to live if we all did.  To wit and in review: A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Thrifty, Cheerful, Brave, Clean and Reverent. Characteristics we could all stand to develop in the New Year.

This week, let's focus on the Scout Oath: On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.  I challenge you to find a better personal mission statement that has more compelling desired outcomes than that one in only a couple of sentences. 

As I said last week, despite the negativity that has surrounded the BSA in the press the last several months I am a weekly participant in a Boy Scout troop as the parent of a Scout, a Merit Badge counselor and a camp out assistant.  My point is I have a bird's eye view of what it means to be a Boy Scout.  My only regret is I wish I would have participated when I was a teenager. 

For example, this fall I taught a merit badge class to a group of primarily 12 and 13 year old boys.  The class was on personal management.  I guided boys through topics and exercises on setting budgets, investing money, borrowing money and time management.  Man, I wish I would have had someone spend time with me learning all that these boys learned when I was their age.  As I told them weekly, they are life skills that they can use even when they get to be an old guy like me. 

It's about that time of year when we all take stock of our accomplishments over the past year.  Then we turn our attention to those things we wish to tackle in the New Year.  I have a list of things this year that is ambitious, inspiring and makes me a little uncomfortable - on purpose.  I know that even if I only accomplish a portion of what I intend to do that 2013 will be a great year.  I can't wait to get started.

Before I do, though I want to take time to work the Scout Oath in to my consciousness so that while I am attempting to do all that I have set out to do that I do it in a way that feels right.  Let's see, on my honor, do my best, my God, my Country, obey 12 tenants of Scout Law, help other people, physically strong, mentally awake, morally straight.  Yep, that should do just fine.

Last year the Boy Scouts celebrated their 100th anniversary.  I may not be the smartest guy to ever go to a Boy Scout meeting but even I can figure out that things of value always last.  Times have changed and our culture presents both tremendous opportunities and challenges, even for organizations like the BSA.  Their message has never changed.  And it is just as relevant for all of us today and every day in the New Year as it was 100 years ago.  Happy Scouting!

I wish I was a Boy Scout

I have a teenage son who has spent the last three years in the Boy Scout program.  This program has not gotten much press lately that isn't bad.  Frankly, I think that's a shame.  I had no affinity for Scouts before 2009.  Never spent a day in my life doing it.  If not for the urging of my wife (like most of the good decisions in my life) I would have never gotten myself or my son involved.  Now I am more enthusiastic about it than my son is.  I go on camp outs, I teach merit badge classes, I volunteer whenever and however I can.  I can't get enough.

One of my passions in life is teaching and leading young men to learn life skills.  I have found my sweet spot with the Boy Scouts.  I also teach a group of 7th grade boys in a Sunday School class at church every week.  There are striking similarities between the two.  Most of all I love learning from them and being able to share with them the few small nuggets of wisdom I might have learned over the years.  Mostly earned by my own stupidity, I might add.  The phrase "do as I say, not as I do" comes to mind. 

I want to spend the next two weeks digesting two of the pillars of the Scouting program.  The Scout Law this week and the Scout oath next week.  I think there are life, business, personal and who knows what other areas of our lives that could benefit from reading and studying these "mission statements."

A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Thrifty, Cheerful, Brave, Clean and Reverent. 

I was tempted to take each characteristic and spent a week on it but thought I lose people somewhere between courteous and kind.  Even if you just take each characteristic at face value it's not a bad way to live your life.  Instead of spending the next several weeks reading my deeper thoughts about each one I would challenge you to reflect upon these one by one and ask yourself how they apply to you personally, professionally and ideologically.  I am convinced there is some gold to be mined here.

How much would your personal relationships improve from working on being courteous, kind and cheerful?  Wouldn't your customers and stakeholders be more inclined to think of you more positively (and give you more business) if you were trustworthy, helpful and thrifty?  Wouldn't you like to be known as a person who is loyal, brave and reverent.

I think you get the picture.  I think the Scouts have gotten it for a long time.  These characteristics and values don't change with the economy, the political parties or the latest technology.  Tried and true these values make us all a better nation.  God bless the USA and God bless the BSA. 

A week for Thanks

Call me sentimental and trite.  Skip over this one if you choose, however I think this year is as good a time as any to pause and give thanks for the blessings I have, the freedoms I enjoy and the ability I have to make a difference in the lives of others. 

I am blessed with a wonderful family both at home and at work.  I am thankful that I can truly say I work with people that I can call family.  It is a wonderful way to come to work every morning, to work hard every day and to look back on every evening.  I wish some of my friends who are unhappy in their jobs could experience what I get to experience every day.  I am blessed with good health.  In the last year I have lost a significant amount of weight and maintained a healthy lifestyle to keep the weight off.  Three years ago this week I spent 12 days in the hospital waiting to have surgery.  I am glad that this year I don't have to drink only juice and water on Thanksgiving but rather get to enjoy my wife's wonderful meal. 

I am thankful to live in a country where I have the freedom to speak, vote, pray and live any way I choose without fear of persecution or retribution.  I have friends all over the world and while there are many wonderful places to visit I cannot imagine living anywhere else.  Even though we are divided on many issues in this country I believe that through adversity we have and will continue to become stronger.  I am grateful for those who have given their lives for the freedoms I enjoy and do not take for granted not minimize the sacrifices of those who have given more than I ever could to enjoy more than I will ever deserve. 

I am grateful for the small impact I can make every day in a few lives that I come across.  I do not see myself as anything bigger than I am but I do enjoy the opportunity to lead and teach others and hope I can add value to each situation and personal encounter I am involved in by giving a little of myself.  The more I give of myself the more enjoyment I continue to gain out of life.  I don't say this with pride or self-promotion but rather as one who took too long to learn this lesson and wishes I would have gotten to this point in my life much sooner. 

So on this week of Thanksgiving, like most of you I am sure, I am extremely grateful for all of the things I take for granted throughout the year.  I am resolved to not just pause to give thanks this week but to strive to have an attitude of gratitude that guides me throughout the year.  If we would all embrace that mindset I suspect that we would have no choice but to turn every week in to Thanksgiving week.  Because if for no other reason one week would not be enough time to give thanks for the abundance we have to enjoy. 

What's the Plan?

Raise your hand if you feel like summer just ended and like me you're wondering how in the world we are celebrating Thanksgiving next week?  I see you all out there.  I don't know where the fall goes but the older I get the shorter they get.  In seemingly a few days we will all be celebrating the New Year of 2013.  Ok, again, just me or wasn't Y2K just a couple of years ago?  Ah, but I digress.

This time of year brings out many thoughts and emotions - mostly good - surrounding a time to celebrate family and friends, reflect on the year's accomplishments and ponder what changes are needed in the New Year.  For a business owner like myself, it's time to take a significant amount of time to evaluate budgets, expenses, cash flows and sales plans and try to project out my company's goals and objectives. 

Some of you may be rolling your eyes at this point thinking this sounds like a business text book.  Maybe so, but if I were you I would stop doing that and stop rolling the dice with your future while you're at it.  In case you haven't noticed we live in some rather trying times.  Many things that we all used to count on like clock work are either gone or have dramatically changed and I suspect that most of your businesses have changed dramatically in the last 5 years, if not the last 5 months. 

My point?  If you don't have a plan, then you don't have a prayer.  I'm serious.  It used to be that with hard work and determination you could accomplish almost anything.  My message today is you better have a serious road map that you're trying to navigate with or you are going to be lost and hard to find.  Especially for your customers.  I am not here to suggest any particular method or system but I am suggesting that you do something to make sure that every day you have a set of goals and objectives that you're trying to achieve in order to increase your unique value proposition in your marketplace.  I don't care if you're a self-employed entrepreneur or the president of a Fortune 500 company it is more true today than it's ever been - if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Don't you admire people who are able to do a seemingly incredible amount of work, always seem to be moving up no matter what the economy is doing and who are always able to take on more and stop to lend a hand or a kind word?  I suggest to you that these people have an incredible set of goals they are working for and towards every day.  They don't have any more time than you and I do, they just make better use of their time and know what they need to do every hour of every day - and what they need to not do to distract them from reaching their goals.

So as you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving next week with family and friends let me suggest you take some time alone to jot down some ideas and let them baste with the turkey.  Hopefully by the time the left overs have all been eaten up and the Holiday season is in full swing, you will be too!

Better Together

Last weekend I had a chance to do one of those things I talk about a lot.  I set aside my schedule for the greater good.  Here in Dallas, where the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization is headquartered there is a three day walk held every year to raise awareness and money to fight the  horrible disease that has affected us all - breast cancer.  Through contacts with a local woman who I'll affectionately call CC our company was motivated to get involved in the "3 Day" as it's called here by setting up a cheering station for the hundreds of people participating.  More about that shortly.

Saturday was one of those November days you can only get in Dallas.  Cloudless, sunny and about 85 degrees.  Perfect weather for an afternoon outside to facilitate the impromptu tailgate party we threw to coincide with our cheering station.  Not so perfect weather if you are walking 20 miles for the second day in a row with another 20 staring at you for Sunday.  My family, associates and new friends we met by partnering up with another group of CC's friends and supporters had a great time.  Some of the walkers looked a little worn out, frankly as we were stationed around mile 16. 

I got to see some old friends I knew that were participating and I got to encourage hundreds of people who were an encouragement to me.  It was hard to ignore the t-shirts, pins and other paraphernalia that indicated who or whom the people were doing the walk for.  Some who had previously lost the fight and some who continue to battle on.  That was the sobering part and the part that caused me to introspectively consider what a great event I was witnessing and getting to participate in, even if only in a very small way. 

It got me thinking how much good we can all do if we set aside our differences and focus on the big picture and the things that matter most.  I happened to have on a shirt representing my college alma mater - which drew some cheers and a few jeers from the passers by.  There was every race imaginable participating and in attendance with our group.  Different political, religious and socio-economic groups, no doubt.  All in one place.  All in the name of making a difference for us all. 

This week we elected and re-elected those who will govern us for the next several years.  From a political and ideological standpoint our country is more divided than at any time in her history.  And yet we all share many of the same desires, hopes and dreams.  None of us will ever forget 9/11.  Out of the horror and tragedy of that event was the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed in my life.  Sadly, it only lasted a few short weeks.  And those days have long since ended.

For a few brief weeks we all set aside our differences.  We realized that in the end we are all one people, one land and one nation under God.  I long for those days when we all will work together as one for the greater good of our friends and neighbors, despite our differences.  Last weekend I got a small glimpse of it and realized again that we are Better Together. 

Find Your Happy Place

As I have posted several times, we don't have to look too hard to find bad news.  I'm sorry to say it but much of the news media exists on their ability to bring to us the most shocking, negative and heartbreaking stories they can find.  People's reputations and privacy go out the window if there is a story that can be told.  I continue to try very hard to stay up in a very down world.  It's not always easy but it's always rewarding and a lot more fun.

Monday this week I did something I love to do but rarely find time for at this stage of my life.  I took most of the day off and played golf.  It was a perfect day for at least 5 reasons I can think of:
1) I love to play golf
2) I was able to play golf and support a very worthwhile charity
3) It was a spectacular 65 and sunny day in Dallas - with no wind
4) I got to spend time with my dad outside of work
5) I actually played pretty darn well for a guy who only plays 4-5 times a year!

Sure, I could have made an excuse why I couldn't go and I could have stayed at work with my "nose to the grindstone" but look at that list.  Look at all the good I was able to do with an investment of one day and a few bucks to help benefit others.  That's pretty great, huh?

It took some planning, it took an investment of time and money, it took some sacrifices but guess what?  It was worth 100 times more than what it cost - check that, 10,000 times!  I am a better person because of it and I hope that everyone I come in contact with notices the difference in me too and not just because of my sunburned forehead.  Are you like me where sometimes you plan or sign up to do something and when the time comes you are thinking to yourself "why did I do that?  I have at least 100 other things that are more important."  Then out of duty or necessity you do it anyway and you end up being so grateful that you made yourself do something different?  I love that.

What a great lesson to (re)learn and to use to remind myself that sometimes it's okay to veer off from my daily routine and throw responsibilities to the side in order to do something just for me!  Don't get me wrong, the end result is not that I am a self-indulgent buffoon who thinks the world revolves around me.  To the contrary, the result is I am a better boss, co-worker, husband and father.  It's a self-reinforcing loop.  The better I feel about myself, the better I feel about my roles in my life.  The better I feel in my roles the more effective and efficient I am at performing them.  And so on....

So I would challenge you this week to think about what you need to do to create some time to invest in yourself?  What hobby, activity or appointment do you need to make to put yourself back on track and make you a better person - a person that gets attention from others for the right reasons?  Maybe you just need an hour of idle time to reflect and recharge.  Or maybe you need to make some wide-sweeping changes that require a significant investment of time and money.

Whatever is needed get started now.  You can think of 100 reasons why you can't but there is at least one incredible reason why you must.  Because everyone is counting on you.  There's some good news for you to take with you as you go about your business. 

The Hard Part About Humility

Humility.  There, I said it.  As you read that word I'm guessing several thoughts and emotions enter your mind.  I'm assuming most of them are negative.  There aren't many leadership classes, books or seminars devoted to teaching the fine points of humility.  In fact, we are programmed to be aggressive, vocal, out front and BOLD.  Not to mention to look out for Number 1.

Thanks to my teenage kids I have become reluctantly exposed to a term recently that summarizes how I am afraid many in our society justify everything from rudeness to reckless abandon.  YOLO - You Only Live Once.  It is true obviously but I believe that living the kind of lifestyle that YOLO encourages is a dangerous path to walk on, even though many if not most do.  The path of humility is a much less crowded path and one that I hope I can convince you is worth checking out.

As with any idea or plan that goes against what the vocal majority thinks you should do be prepared to encounter some questions and criticisms.  As with many noble endeavors you have to ignore your critics and do what you know is right.  Easy to say and hard to do?  Of course.  In most struggles though it is my experience that once you have thwarted the initial attack from an adversary or enemy they tend to either quiet down or go away.  Besides which, ideas and plans always become better and more clear when they are challenged internally and externally.  We may have to change directions but we don't have to change paths to conform with everyone else's ideas. 

This leads to the hard part about humility.  If you know you're right and yet everyone is challenging you or questioning you, how do you remain strong in the face of adversity?  It's human nature to sink back in to old, easy (and presumably bad) habits.  The good news is, everyone likes you again.  The bad news is you have betrayed yourself and your values and none of us want to live a dual lifestyle.

So why not go for it and be courageous?  Get out of your comfort zone and get busy making a difference in your small corner of the world.  I believe in the good in every person and I believe everyone is born with an innate desire to be successful and grow even though the definitions of those words are as different for each person as we all are individually.  Think about the people you know that have a positive influence on you.  A teacher, a coach, a mentor a sibling.  Whoever that person is they bring out the best in you.  And I bet any negative feelings I created earlier in this post have been overtaken by the positive feelings you have when you think of all those people have done for you.

Guess what?  Those people sacrificed themselves to make you a better person.  They challenged your thinking and inspired you to visualize a better result than you would have achieved without them.  I bet not one of them did it so they could be more respected, admired or because it fueled their ego.  They did it out of love, kindness and humility.  No one made them do it - they could have been like all the other people in their positions and just decided to "go with the flow."  Not these folks though.  They had a higher calling. 

So my question I leave you with this week is who needs you to challenge them?  Who needs you to be true to yourself, true to your values and be more concerned about living a life of significance rather than a life of accomplishments?  The other hard part about humility is that many times the only person that recognizes your sacrifices is you.  Do it anyway.  It's a sure path to becoming the person you truly desire to be. 

We're only human

If you're like me over the last year or two you have invested a tremendous amount of time and possibly money setting up, tweaking and refining your social media presence.  I held off as long as I could before I created a Facebook page for my personal use and one for my company.  Twitter account?  Check.  Google Plus? Check.  Linkedin profile?  Check. 

I am not here to say that I do not believe in Social Media.  Indeed, it is changing the way we work, connect, buy and research new information.  Heck, I might have even made a little money along the way by reaping the benefits of my efforts.  I know some are making fortunes by doing so - those who I believe have a tremendous amount of time or a very large team of people to devote a full-time effort.  What about for the rest of us?

If you're like me with more than a full-time job, a family and a few interests outside of business you probably don't have the time to devote to gaining 1,000+ friends on Facebook or 500+ connections on Linkedin, etc.  Again, I really do see the value in Social Media but there is also value in getting other things done that come across my path each day and until my company gets big enough to hire a Social Media and Marketing department I guess I'll have to go on being a part-time Social Media participant.  So what's my point?

Recently, I have made a conscious effort to do something a little out of the ordinary.  Rather than sitting at my desk emailing, Tweeting, posting or updating, I'm using the telephone!  I hear the collective gasp of all of you.  Guess what?  I am getting great results using the phone!  Why? Because I think so few people are using it today to communicate.  Email is the new voice mail.  If you are emailing customers and prospects hoping to earn new or more business, good luck to you.  You know what I've found?  People that used to be difficult if not impossible to reach by phone are not only now returning messages, they are actually (gasp) answering their phones!  You know what else I'm finding?  Human interaction beats electronic interaction hands down.

Now listen, I am all for turning a cold call in to a warm call or giving a customer a head's up on an upcoming call or idea you want to pitch to them via email or other messaging service but I am telling you there are numerous advantages to connecting via the phone.  Just to mention a few:

• No wait time wondering if your email has been opened or read
• Immediate answers so you can get on with other activities and not have to go back and figure out who you need to follow up with (again).
• Set follow up dates to move the ideas, sales, negotiations forward.  Which leads to less time trying to chase down a potential deal a second time.
• Set up a follow up message that will get answered.  You can let them know how you will follow up with them so that they can be looking for your Tweet, Message or Email.

Talk about adding more time to your day!  Sure, you can spend a lot of time Social Networking but with a whole lot less time and a lot more immediate results you can be much more efficient and effective using the phone.  Try it yourself.  I bet the people you most want to connect with are longing for a little human interaction.

Courage in the Face of Uncertainty

I read a story this week of a man who on September 11, 2001 left his Connecticut office and traveled to Manhattan through police blockades and many other obstacles to reach ground zero that afternoon.  He watched in horror the events that morning on television like we all did and instead of being paralyzed by fear he was guided by his army training and deep faith to do something.  As the story is told he was largely responsible for rescuing the last two people pulled out alive from the wreckage of the Twin Towers. 

Most of us will never be faced with such a dramatic or heroic experience.  We live pretty normal lives with some difficulties every now and then but rarely are we called on to risk our lives for the greater good or for something we believe in strongly.  Nonetheless, we all face struggles, uncertainties and fear.  In our jobs, our neighborhoods and our homes.  Sometimes we think if we avoid problems long enough they will just go away.  When we stop lying to ourselves we'll realize all we've really done is waste a lot of time and probably ended up worrying and fretting much more and longer than we ever intended to.

Times like these scream out for courage.  The world needs people who are willing to stand strong in the face of adversity and trials.  It's awfully difficult to stand for what you believe in - especially if people are telling you what a fool you are in the process.  Yet, I would rather have convictions and find out I'm wrong and make adjustments than to be a coward and never try to do anything.  Margaret Mead said it well, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Change is hard.  Change in difficult times or out of necessity can be downright paralyzing.  Lately I have made some changes within my company and how we work with our stakeholders, customers and suppliers.  Some of these changes are to practices and policies that have been keys to our success for years if not decades.  There is resistance, there is reluctance, there is even some weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Bring it on!  My industry and business has changed 180 degrees in the last few years and continues to change.  I bet yours does too.  Old ideas don't work - even if they've been wildly successful in the past. 

Our challenge today is to venture out to places, things and ideas that have never been tried before.  It's to try to reinvent ourselves to adapt to the changing marketplace.  Having the courage and conviction to meet those challenges is only the beginning.  Some ideas may cost you in the short term.  Some ideas will have to be tossed out altogether.  The only thing more dangerous is doing nothing and watching your business evaporate before your eyes.  I speak from experience because it was happening to me. 

I don't have all of the answers and I may not have even asked all of the right questions yet.  I can assure you that I have the courage to learn and the tenacity to see it through.  How uncertain is your future?  How confident are you in your plans to address it?  These are two questions worth investing some time in.  You can avoid them if you wish but it will cost you in the long run.

Show Time!

I hope a lot of you got to watch and enjoy the Summer Olympics over the last couple of weeks.  I honestly caught bits and pieces but I live in a home where if the TV was on the last two weeks it was tuned only to one of the NBC networks.  I'm sure some higher ups at NBC in New York would like to know that.  Admittedly, I enjoyed seeing Paul McCartney at the opening ceremony and Queen minus Freddie Mercury at the closing ceremony as much as I did some of the amazing athletes.  There are few things in this world I love more than music. 

As with most people I can't help but marvel at the feats of some of the athletes.  It is a beautiful thing to watch someone like Michael Phelps break a record for the most Olympic medals - a record that has stood for my entire lifetime.  I can't help but think of all of the time and effort he has spent over the last 10 years or so preparing, training, practicing and visualizing what it would mean to be the all-time Olympic champion. 

The same is true for many of the great athletes.  If we could calculate the amount of preparation relative to the amount of time they actually spend competing in the event it would have to be a figure measured in thousands, if not tens of thousands to one.  It's hard to imagine being that dedicated to one goal for so long and then win, lose or draw within a matter of minutes, if not seconds, the race is over.  Because I am a salesperson, I actually totally get it. 

Earlier this month I was in New York for a week.  Today some people on my sales team are preparing for trade shows in Atlanta and Dallas and next week I will be in Las Vegas for the MAGIC show which is arguably the most important of all.  For my business August is my Olympic stage.  Everything that has happened from March to July has been a build up for what will happen next week.  Just thinking about being there, seeing customers and discussing business opportunities for early 2013 is a huge adrenaline rush.  Please understand, I have never been nor will I ever be anything resembling an Olympic athlete.  But I do have a greater appreciation for how it feels before going in to competition.

The pressure to succeed, if I allow myself to think about it is huge.  Not only for me but for everyone who works alongside me, those who support me and those whom I support.  Just as a star athlete must do, I imagine, I am prepared to block all of that out and be ready to compete to the best of my abilities next week.  I am on the show floor for a total of 28 business hours.  A minuscule amount of time compared to the time, energy and expense that has gone in to preparing for those 28 hours.

I can only imagine the rush someone like Usain Bolt gets by being the greatest sprinter on the planet.  Yet, next Tuesday morning at 9:00 pacific time when the doors of the Las Vegas Convention Center open to customers from all over the world I will put that rush up against any 100 meter dash.  Was it worth all the time and effort I put in to it for a mere three days on the show floor?  Without question. 

It's show time!  Let the game begin!

A little goes a Long Way

Next month we will mark the four year anniversary of when most experts agree the global economic crisis began.  Although it is an inauspicious occasion as with most troubled times there are lessons we can learn as we go through the struggle as well as many good things we can take with us whenever things finally recover - which is anyone's guess.

If you're like me over the last four years you have done a lot of analyzing, reflecting, soul searching and planning while realizing that many of the things that you thought were essential really aren't.  When we are forced to make sacrifices we often find that all we have is all we really need.  The 80's, 90's and early 00's taught us to live extravagantly and well beyond our means.  We did it, corporations did it, and lending institutions did it, just to name a few.  It has taken a long time to clean up our mess but I sense that we are getting close to exiting this crisis.  In a much better state of mind than we were before it began.

I don't know if the prosperity of past decades will ever return to the degree we enjoyed in decades past.  Whether it does or not I believe we have all learned to enjoy what we have and appreciate our opportunities to a degree that we never would have had we not experienced the hardships of the last four years.  More than that, I believe we have become much more dependent on our families, coworkers and others who challenge us to be our best.  I am much more apt today to appreciate the times I have to collaborate with coworkers, enjoy free time with my family and to draw everything from this life I can through diligent effort.  Another way to say it is I am not afraid to work harder, love better and enjoy every day because I am grateful for each and every opportunity I have. 

Call me old school but I think this crisis can and has made us better people.  Our selfishness and overbearing behavior has been taken away from us and we are forced to be more others focused, compassionate and dare I say kind?  Yes, I sense and overarching desire amongst us all to be more helpful and considerate in all of our relationships. 

With a little more gratitude and a little more kindness driving our thoughts, behaviors and actions I am excited to see what the next few months and years will look like.  It's a fascinating study that bears watching as each day we try to give a little more of ourselves to those around us.  I for one believe that we have more of an opportunity to positively impact the future than at any other time in my life.  What will your contributions be today?  Tomorrow?  This fall? 2013?  We all have a lot to give and a little from each of us will have future implications beyond our ability to gauge. 

Addition by Subtraction

This week a friend who was way too young died as a result of bleeding on his brain.  This time last week he was alive and well.  On Monday he was gone.  Many of you may have had a lot more experience dealing with sudden and unexpected losses in your life.  Fortunately for me, I have not.  It hurts like crazy and I am having a hard time answering questions like "why him?" 

Whether it's a life changing loss or something forgotten by the end of the day none of us like to give up something (or someone) we rely on and think is absolutely necessary for our well-being.  When it comes to the life changing events we find that there are truly very few things we really need.  Health is certainly at the top of the list.  Loss is hard.  Change is hard.  Yet, through our struggles we grow stronger.  This is true in life, friendships and business. 

What's true in nature is true in our lives as well.  Sometimes in order to grow in to the full measure of what we were created to be we have to be pruned in order to achieve full growth.  Pruning hurts and nobody ever wants to go through it.  Oftentimes people look at change as pruning.  There are people that would rather hide in a closet than have to experience change.  Even those who say they like it are not totally comfortable with it because with change come uncertainty.  Is it really possible to embrace pruning and change?  Candidly, I'm not sure.  I am sure that the closer we can get to that state of mind the better we will be able to succeed after change, loss or pruning has come.

There may be some changes that you never fully recover from.  My friend's wife of 27 years will never stop missing her husband and his children their father.  Knowing them though I know that through their hurt they will find the ability to gain strength and live life better in spite of their pain.  This is an inspiration and a challenge to me.  Not only does it minimize what I think my problems are but it shows me that love, determination and faith triumphs tragedy.  I cannot think of a better example of living life to its fullest than that.

I have heard it said that the only thing certain in this life is change.  We may not like it but I am challenged after this week to look at it differently.  Life isn't fair, life isn't always easy.  If we count our blessings, determine to thrive as we go through difficult times and find ways to create some good out of those times then we will successfully find that though we may bruised and beaten we are not defeated.  Conquer your challenges and embrace uncertainty my friends!  Add what only you can as you go through your trials and tribulations.  If you do, everyone wins. 

The Cure for the Summertime Blues

The older I get the more it seems what gets the most attention in the media is how bad the economy is and how crazy the weather has gotten.  Both may be a result of neglect on all of our parts to make sure that we are doing everything we can to protect this world we live in while holding accountable those elected to public office with the hopes of helping to create a better (economic) future for ourselves and our children.  Those are different topics for a different day. 

It is human nature that no matter how good things may be we all long for years gone by when "things were better."  Business was better, the weather was better, our children behaved better, it was easier to travel on summer vacations, etc.  You name it, and add a few year's gap to anything and we seem to forget the difficulties and remember only the good things.  Never mind the struggles we faced and obstacles we overcame.  Those are long forgotten.  Meanwhile, our world continues to be redefined by new products, technological capabilities and industries that have been created that we never realized were necessary but we now can't live without.  Don't believe me?  Open your eyes the next time you go "surfing the net."

Once again this summer I just returned from a week at my church's Youth Camp as a counselor for 8th grade boys.  I can't say for sure if last week was better than the week I spent a year ago but I can certainly say it was one of the greatest weeks of my life.  14 and 15 year old boys are a funny group to hang out with.  They are somewhere between adolescents and adults and still trying to figure out a lot of things, not the least of which is how to enter high school and take on the responsibilities and obligations that come with that.  I love being able to counsel and advise young men how to live lives of significance and some of the pitfalls to avoid.  The pressures and burdens some of these kids carry at such a young age is heartbreaking and yet by giving a week of my time I feel I am making a positive difference in the world.  I gave up a lot to go last week but oh boy what I really gained!  It seems that the Apostle Paul was right when he said "it is better to give than receive."

So no matter what your excuse is for the Summertime Blues, I encourage you to look outside yourself and see where you can make a positive difference in your corner of the world.  With all apologies to Eddie Cochran and the many since who have sang the lyrics "Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do, But there ain't no cure for the Summertime Blues," I say the cure lies in your willingness to take action and do something positive that will pay rewards well after summer has come and gone.

I spent a week not worrying about what was happening with the economy, which country was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy or who the next president of the United States is going to be.  To a lesser degree I also let go of the concerns and pressures at home and especially at work associated with all of the above.  I didn't make a lot of money last week but I received more rewards and bonuses than I will ever earn running a business.  Where can you and I look to create our next fortune for ourselves and those around us?

Seizing is Believing

Many times in this forum I have referred to an anecdote my father has articulated to me perhaps more than any other.  Those of you that know him know he has a lot of them, many of which would be inappropriate to share publicly.  I am fairly sure he has used this one to inspire me to greater achievements although as those who know him will attest he has a way of saying things that make you really wonder what he's really thinking.  Anyway, the somewhat famous utterance "If it was easy, anyone could do it" comes to mind as I embark on this week's missive. 

All of that to set up the thought that in spite of all of the negativity in the media, bad economic news and the promise of a summer and early fall of political rhetoric that will numb all of our minds, opportunities exist all around us.  Everywhere you look in almost every situation there are opportunities.  Not just small, insignificant ones either.  In fact, I suggest there are HUGE opportunities all around us, all the time.

Indeed, many of the world's most admired companies were launched in the midst of an economic recession.  Microsoft, Amazon, MTV and Fed Ex are just a few examples of companies with indisputable success that were conceived and launched when many people were more focused on cutbacks and survival.  What are the differences between those who find opportunity in the midst of down times versus those who would rather bury their head in the sand and hope for better days ahead?  In a word vision.  They see the same things everyone does but they act and react differently than most.  Anyone can SEE an opportunity but very, very few are willing to SEIZE an opportunity.  To seize an opportunity you have to not only be creative but also a problem solver and most importantly make life easier for your customers, perhaps in ways they don't even know they need.

Let me say that if you are committed to doing things the way you have done them for (insert adjectives that describe a long period of time) then you might as well disregard the rest of this article.  Change is the new normal.  It isn't going away and it doesn't have to be scary.  I am willing to bet that whatever your job is the way you do it today is radically different than they way you did it even just a couple of years ago.  Why?  Because new products, processes and efficiencies have made it so.  More than that, game changing ideas have changed the way we live.  Who would have dreamed 25 years ago that we would stand in line and pay $5 for a cup of coffee and that a visit to the local mall would be more about buying the coolest new gadgets versus shopping for clothes which can much more easily be bought on those gadgets.

Study any of the companies and their leaders listed above and you see what separates them from the rest of us.  Herein lies the challenge for this week.  First, failure is a distinct possibility.  I addressed overcoming the fear of it in a recent post.  Next, discipline is a must.  Lack of it has led to many a failed dream or idea.  Next, realize that by deciding to seize your opportunity you are crossing the bridge from concerned to committed.  Commitment along with discipline will determine your outcome.  Finally, realize that along with the failures you will encounter, the discipline and determination you need to reach your dreams and seize your opportunity takes time.  Often times years instead of weeks or months.

In times like these there are opportunities to really seize your dreams.  Will you be one of those who believe in yourself enough to make a difference?  The older I get the smarter my dad gets.

Missing the Forest for the Trees

It's a battle we fight all day every day.  Replacing the important with the urgent, putting out fires, keeping all the parts of the machine moving, etc.  Whatever you want to call it just know that it is a dangerous game to play - especially in today's environment.  During the last 3-4 years it has been easy to keep your head down and just "work hard" until "things" get better.  The problem is while you're waiting for a sunny day the world (and the market you do business in) is being changed every day by people brave enough to plan for the future.

If you are a leader or an aspiring one of your organization and you aren't spending at least 20% of your time focusing on what's next for your organization then you and the person they hire to take your place are in a lot of trouble over the next few years.  If that sounds harsh, good!  Last week I talked about living and working to make a difference.  This week I'm encouraging you to actually do something about it!

It depends on what type of industry you work in but I recently read a study in the Harvard Business Review that suggests that many companies only invest around 10% of their resources on "game changing" products, services or initiatives.  The other 90% is spent on what's called core and adjacent projects.  In other words, almost every minute of every day is spent singularly focused on what is right in front of us with no thought about what the future needs let alone demands of our customers might be.

While these numbers may not shock you, if you have the same reaction I did when I saw the next set of data then consider this your wake up call.  For those companies that are considered high performance and are busy investing in all three types of projects their total distribution of returns looks like this:  Core 10%, Adjacent 20%, Game Changing 70%. 

In case these numbers are a little confusing for you let me give you a quick summary.  Are you spending 90% of your time chasing 30% returns or 10% of your time chasing 70% returns?  If you operate in a mature market that is looking and feeling more and more like a commodity market where the only difference in competitors is price then this should shake you out of your slumber.  The world is getting smaller every day and today's pricing efficiencies are tomorrow's fat.  If you want to spend the rest of your career figuring out how to cut more fat so you can sell on price not value then good luck to you.  If the status quo suits you then God's speed.  In reply I would offer the Italian author Machiavelli's quote:  I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it. 

I would much rather work in an environment where we are working to redefine the market and create ideas, projects and products that customers will gladly pay (more) for.  It's a lot more work and more effort than keeping the status quo.  It's also a lot more fun and also a good way to attract really great people to work with, associate with and do business with. 

We all need to open our eyes and our ears.  We need to use all of our senses and God-given abilities to determine what's next.  I suggest you start by getting out of the trees and getting a much clearer picture of what your forest looks like.  It's the most important thing you can do.  Your future depends on it. 

Falling Forward

Recently I read the difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that those who are unsuccessful fail 3 out 5 times they try something while the successful ones fail 2 out of 5.  This is a much narrower margin of success - or failure depending on your point of view - than most people would guess.  What do all of these people have in common, including you and I?  We and they ALL fail.  Every day, many times, perhaps.

If you are like me you want to live a life of meaning.  It is not my intention to try to define what success means to you.  I believe we each have our own definitions that are deeply rooted within that are as unique as we are.  I also think we all have a desire at the end of our career or of our lives to want people to remember us and think of us as someone who made a difference.  Just last week I read a quote Steve Jobs made to the Wall Street Journal in 1993 that says it wonderfully: Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me.  Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful...that's what matters to me.

For a long time in my life I have not done a lot of wonderful things.  Why?  Because I was afraid to make a mistake and mortified at the thought of appearing to be a failure.  With a little more wisdom to go along with my gray hair I am learning to embrace what is important to me and to work steadfastly to do some wonderful things with the rest of my life.  The more I do, the more I want to do.  Does this mean that everything I do turns to gold?  Of course not!  I have found that as I become more aware of the reasons why I fail I become more self-aware and less likely to repeat the same actions or attitudes that have held me back in the past.  I am stretching and learning and doing new things.  I can honestly say I have learned more in the first few months of this year than I have learned in a long, long time.

The reality is I am the same person I have always been, albeit more focused on achieving meaningful goals and objectives.  The difference between my mistakes of the past and my failures today is how I view them.  Instead of obstacles I am treating them as opportunities for growth.  Instead of making it the focal point of my day I make it a point to evaluate what I can improve next time and then move forward with more resolve to improve myself and my results next time.  I no longer view myself or others as a failure but rather as people with the courage to try something new and better and be willing to celebrate the victories and accept the failures that go along with it.

I encourage you to examine yourself and your mindset as it relates to getting outside your comfort zone to try to make yourself a better person.  It takes courage and it takes humility.  Much more than that it takes you beyond yourself and gives you the opportunity to live your life to the best of your ability.  Falling forward feels a lot better than doing nothing and hurts a lot less than knowing you haven't given life everything you've got.

One More Step

I am really proud of myself.  Except on those occasions where I disappoint myself.  I have spent a great deal of the last 20-30 years acquiring "head knowledge."  Not that I can't still learn new things every day but at this point in my life I know more than enough to be as wildly successful as I want to be according to my definitions of success.  I bet you do to.  Go ahead, give yourself credit.

If we know everything we need to know then it stands to reason that we should have all achieved most of our goals and objectives by now, right?  Neither have I.  Why?  It's a simple question with an even more simplistic answer.  Because we are unwilling to take the final step or two of faith and commitment that leads us to our desired outcomes.  Think about it.  How many times have you been within reach of a goal in your life only to stop short?  I do it all too frequently.  On the occasions where I am willing to pay the price and to venture out of my comfort zone in order to achieve my goal I feel like a million bucks.  You know the feeling too.  When you do something you weren't sure if you could do it inspires you to do more and try more the next time.  Success begets more success. 

I have been running a lot lately.  After many months of doing it at least 4-5 times per week I am running distances and for amounts of time that I never imagined I could do before.  It is exhausting.  And it is exhilarating.  So the end results and the ancillary benefits are well worth the time and effort I am putting in to living a more healthy lifestyle.  That's one of approximately 25 goals on my current radar that I need to work on to be a better.  It feels great to finally reach an important goal but I have a lot more work to do.

What would it take for you and me to pay the price to reach all of our goals?  None of set out to be mediocre.  There are hundreds if not thousands of presumably good reasons to veer off of one thing to spend time on another.  It is easy to justify in our minds why we can't or won't remain steadfast in our pursuit of better things for ourselves and others.  It is well said that the enemy of great is good.

My challenge to you this week is to evaluate your goals.  If you don't have any set aside some time to come up with 2 or 3 goals that if you could accomplish in the next 90 days would have a significant impact on your life.  But then you have to take one more step that most people aren't willing to take.  Commit to the goal.  Every day.  Do one thing that will take you one step closer to reaching your desired outcome.  Just one.  I can't promise you the steps along the way will be easy or without challenges.  I can promise you that you and those around you will be glad you did. 

Storm Troopers

We live in a time of great opportunity and great blessings all around us that we oft times take for granted.  Sometimes our fortunes are recognized when through crisis or concerns our routines become anything but.  Great health is something I have become especially grateful for because the older I get the more I see people who don't have it and realize how fortunate and/or lucky I am.  A couple of years ago spending ten days in a hospital has made me much more appreciative and determined to live a healthy(er) lifestyle and be grateful than I am a generally healthy person.

Which got me thinking this week, how do we handle the storms that come to us from time to time?  Some of you may be in the midst of a horrible storm and see no way out right now.  We've all been there and can sympathize with you.  I am always amazed in nature how a storm of incredible force can wreak havoc for a time but then when it's over the sun returns and the peace and calm is more evident than before the storm hit.  Isn't it true in our lives as well?  In fact, like a tree bent by the storm's fierce winds when it's over with we become stronger and more deeply rooted in ourselves and our resolve to see the storm through the next time it comes.

There are those who even in the midst of incredible challenges remain calm, cool and collected and others who flip out at the first sign of trouble.  My wife is and always has been a calming force in my life and able to accurately see things as they are whereas I have a tendency to worry and imagine things to be worse than they really are.  It's only taken me twenty-something years but I am realizing the need to imitate her more closely and try to become less of a worry wart every time something doesn't go my way. 

Not only does she see things and situations more clearly but she almost always makes better decisions and has more wisdom and peace about situations than I do.  I am starting to think that all of these character traits must work together to make something very good.  And I am starting to observe the things I need to do to become more even keeled every day.  I wonder if like me some of these character traits would be helpful for you.  Here is a list of things I am working on:

Be(come) a great listener:  This is a lost art but is absolutely necessary if you're going to accurately asses a situation and form accurate opinions about the best course of action.

Evaluate a decision from multiple points of view:  Instead of rushing in to a decision or conversation take time to evaluate the opportunities and obstacles from not only your perspective but those of others you trust.

When is as important as what:  Sometimes we have to make "gut decisions" based on present circumstances.  Many times it's better to step back from a storm and take time to make the right decision instead of the first thing that comes to mind.

Wisdom: If you don't have someone who challenges you to become a better person and always seems to have the answers, start looking for one.  There is incredible value in being able to have a sounding board to listen to you and challenge you to think in new and different ways.

Patience:  How many stories can we think of throughout history, business and even fictional stories where those who have rushed in to a storm didn't survive and were perceived as fools?  Conversely, those who perhaps dealt with great internal struggles yet perservered and solidified their ideas and plans of action are the ones who eventually won the victory.

In to every life a little rain must fall.  The person who is best prepared is the one who most easily weathers it and is often the person we admire the most. 

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

Many years ago I was an avid fan of the television show Cheers.  The characters in the show were a wonderful collection of bar mavens that America fell in love with.  If you asked me who my favorite character was on the show I would be hard pressed to name just one.  It would be easier for me to name a character I didn't like which was none.  I loved them all and I'm guessing you did too.  What was it that was so magical about a show that by my estimation was shot 75% in the same location, with the same characters in their same seats every week?  Ah, familiarity.

Who could forget the raucous "NORM!" cheers every time he walked in to the bar?  Or Cliff's postman witticisms that were simply hilarious.  The one I remember best is "It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear."  Genius.  I've had a few of those days myself, Cliff!  I think one of the reasons we all came to love the show and the characters was defined in the show's opening song. 

"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows your name."

If I were to ask you, where is your favorite place to eat, what is your favorite place to shop, which hotel chain do you prefer to stay in when you travel, I bet you have a favorite.  If you're like me, you go to the same place more times than not.  Why?  Because you like the way it feels when you go somewhere and people recognize you, acknowledge and affirm you and if they happen to greet you by name - WOW! what a great feeling.  Admit it, we all want to be Norm. 

So my question and challenge for this week is how do you treat your customers?  Are you grateful for their business?  Do they know you are?  Many, many companies have come up with customer loyalty programs to reward their best customers.  Most of them do an OK job at giving perks to the customers who they earn the most from but very few do a great job of making their customers feel truly valued and appreciated.  Those that do are the ones that draw the most customers and not surprisingly the best talent for employees. 

Our challenge is to make our customers brand fanatics.  When they think of buying what we're selling we immediately are the first company they think of.  If we'll take time to reach out to our customers, listen to them and then give them what they ask for we're well on our way.  Then add in a few unexpected surprises that really WOW! them and you've got them as customers for life. 

Sounds easy but only a few ever do it really well.  If your desire is to grow your business I can't think of a better place to start.  It will definitely put you in a place where you exceed the Norm!  Cheers!

A Sad Lost Art

I read recently that studies have shown that most people lie at least once during a 10 minute conversation. Worse yet, the research suggests when communication takes place by computer deception rises to an even greater level. For example, a recent study of undergraduate students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst revealed people conversing by email told FIVE TIMES as many lies as people speaking face to face. Further the study pointed out people are much more self-serving with their email lies than those told face to face. For those of us who read hundreds or thousands of emails a week ponder those facts and figures for a few minutes. I'd like to think that the people that I interact with don't fall in to this category but I wouldn't want to be caught lying either.

I fear this study has little to do with an isolated academic experiment and says more about the overall sad state of the moral fiber of this country and our lackadaisical approach to the truth. We are told by society that the truth is relative and that there are no moral absolutes (which in itself is a statement of such - think about it) and as long as no one gets hurt it's ok to bend the truth every now and then. I am convinced that this is not only a reason why buyer-seller relationships have become increasingly strained in recent years but I would argue there are a number of other unhealthy side effects such as stress and anxiety that plague society as a whole today as a result of "relative truth."

My dear grandfather passed away one year ago this week. He lived well in to his 90's and almost never had a bad day in his life. Seriously. He was a man's man and he was a devoted and loving husband to his wife and even though his little girls were both grandmothers themselves they still called him "daddy" until the day he died. There was much to admire, respect and love in that man and we could sure use a few more like him. If I used one or two words to try to describe the amazing man he was the first two words that come to mind are honesty and loyalty. His word was gold. Period. It was backed up by a loyalty to his family, his work, his friends (he never knew a stranger) and his Creator. In the 40 plus years that I had the privilege to be his grandson I can count on one hand the number of times I saw him get angry, raise his voice or show frustration or disappointment.

What does all of this have to do with us and to interacting with customers and co-workers? Everything. Think about people you know, work with or live with who you know always speak the truth. Even and especially if it hurts. I don't know about you but if I ever need help with anything these are the people I seek out first in my life. I bet you do to. I bet the people you work and do business with do too. Getting the picture? I would much rather do business with someone I trust and know that is going to put my goals and interests ahead of their own needs to tell me only what they want me to hear so they can serve their own interests.

So I am asking you the same question. Tell the truth. Would you want to do business with yourself? It's never too late to change and it's never too late to use the Golden Rule. I am thankful I had a shining example in my life to show me the way. Will you do the same? If so, someone may write about you after you're gone. Honestly.

Anti-Establishment

Just the name itself seems a little irreverent among the azaleas and the Georgia pines.  Bubba.  A kid from Florida who went to college in Georgia and has the most unorthodox skills in the world of golf is the King of it after an unbelievable Easter Sunday display in front of a national television audience.  If you have no idea who or what I'm talking about let me introduce you to the 2012 Masters champion, Bubba Watson.  If you didn't devote a good part of your Sunday afternoon to watching him and a slew of other golfers fight it out over 18 grueling holes with two additional sudden death holes for he and Louis Oosthuizen you missed some of the best drama television has to offer.

It's a great story of a 33 year old kid (I can actually call someone in their mid 30's a kid now since I am an "advanced" 40 year old) who had won three times previously on the pro tour.  His best finish at the Masters prior to this weekend was a tie for 20th in 2008.  I could write a long time about all the back and forth competition between he and his playing partner for the day and sudden death adversary Oosthuizen but there are some much more interesting anecdotes and lessons for all of us from Bubba.  The guy who has never taken a golf lesson in his life and who has a swing that sometimes looks like he could be a stunt double as one of the Three Stooges is the Masters Champion!
Like many professional athletes these days most golfers have a coach for everything from nutrition and exercise to a swing and meditation coach.  Not this guy.  This self taught guy steps up to the tee and puts a left-handed swing that looks like something you could see at the local municipal course from a guy destined to hit the ball a long way - to the right or the left.  Not only is it an unusual swing but it just so happens he is the number 1 ranked golfer in driving distance by a wide margin.  So why all the fuss over Gerry Lester "Bubba" Watson?

I learned at least three lessons watching Bubba play Sunday that apply to how I work and relate to other people that you should add to your skill set as well:

• Dance to your own music - Just because everyone else or "they" say it has to be done a certain way doesn't make it right.  Find a style that is all your own and then perfect it so that you become the best at what you do and other people notice you along the way.
• Go ahead and let them see you sweat - For some four hours on Sunday Bubba battled toe to to with Louis.  Realize that on the 4th hole Mr. Oosthuizen made arguably one of the greatest shots in Masters history - a double eagle 2 on a par 5 from over 200 yards away.  Bubba didn't blink but he did show every emotion in his bag during the day.  Pressure is a part of life and it's okay to tell other people what your challenges are and ask for help.  That's what "caddies" are for!  Who do you need to help carry your burdens?
• Victory is sweet - Frankly, I don't know how Bubba held it together long enough to sink the final 6 inch putt to win the tournament.  He broke in to tears before he was able to retrieve his ball from the cup and a good solid minute of raw emotion poured out in embraces with is caddie and subsequently his mother.  The guy poured himself 110% in to making his dream a reality.  Later he told the national television audience he hadn't dreamed far ahead enough to envision being a Masters champion.  The realization that he had reached the pinnacle brought a rush of emotion.  There is nothing better than preparing to win and then going out and doing it.  The best victories in life are best celebrated with those who have helped you get there.

My challenge to you is to look your challenges square in the eye and find your own unique way to overcome them.  Who knows how many people might be watching and cheering when you finally make it to the top of your field.

How is your Social Life?

No, I am not asking about what you do outside of work.  To the contrary, I am wondering how social you are at work?  If that seems like a strange question then this post is written for you.  I am talking about perhaps the greatest change and opportunity in business since the Internet.  Social Media. 

How connected are you?  How well are you using these fantastic tools and programs to enhance your sales, marketing and branding messages?  If you have to stop and think about it you're not doing enough.  If you think you're too old, technologically challenged or pressed for time to learn I would strongly encourage you to realign your priorities.  Social Media is here to stay and it is how business is getting done.  I am an admitted novice but I can give specific examples of how I have used different programs to increase the awareness and effectiveness of my brand on line. 

As with many new things the first step is the hardest.  Just like the Internet as its popularity increased exponentially at the end of the last century it can be overwhelming to try to figure out where and how to most effectively use and manage it.  Like any other important thing you attempt to do in business (or any other important area of your life) you better have a plan and you need to set some goals or how will you know if what you're doing is making a difference or is a colossal waste of time?  Without specific desired outcomes you can easily spend hours and days wandering in to a trance and getting caught up in all that is available. 

Once you've thought about specific plans the other thing that has to be evaluated is what information can you contribute that your customers really value?  Everyone, especially your customers has plenty to do without wasting their time about information that is neither useful nor profitable for them to read.  Therefore, we've all got to make sure we know what issues are important to our customers and how we can address them better than anyone else.  Answer these seemingly simple questions and you are well on your way to building a network of connections that can pay off in terms of reputation and respect, not to mention financial. 

The bad news is that this can be an overwhelming and daunting project to take on.  There are Social Media consultants popping up all over the place with promises to help you become Socially relevant.  I can't tell you the best or easiest way to take on this project.  I can tell you that if you do it and do it well that the rewards can be surprisingly significant.  I can also tell you if you don't figure it out you're going to be left behind no matter what your title or job description is. 

There is no such thing as a Social Media hobby when it comes to business.  Either you're Socially engaged or you aren't.  It's the new peer pressure.  Don't be a Social misfit!

Smile and the World Smiles with You

I want to thank everyone for your nice comments about my blog.  Many times when I am at industry events or with business associates they mention my blog to me.  This is very gratifying and humbling to me.  I'm just a guy with a keyboard and although I have always enjoyed writing I certainly do not profess any expertise or ability above anyone else.  It seems to me more and more that an attitude of gratitude is a great way to, borrowing from Mr. Carnegie, win friends and influence people.  If my weekly posts are helpful and inspirational, as some have said, then that affirmation gives me all the reason I need to keep writing this little post every week

I am privileged to work with people that have as great a passion for my business as I do.  I NEVER take this for granted.  Like most every other business in the world the last several years we have been through some challenging and difficult times.  It has made us question and question again whether we have what it takes to survive in the future.  This is still a work in progress but I am happy to say that we are emerging from the most challenging days our business has experienced in 34 years with a greater resolve and a more focused approach to the future than we've ever had.  Believe me, we still have a lot of work to do and we are by no means past all of the challenges that lie ahead.

What has forever changed as a result of these difficulties, however is our attitude towards the future and how we work each and every day.  We are determined to make every day a great day and in doing so give women more opportunities to feel fabulous.  This is why we come to work each day.  This is why we endure difficulties and celebrate victories.  It is a cause bigger than all of us individually but one that we have committed ourselves to each and every day.  Has it made a difference?  OH YEA!! 

It hasn't diminished the challenges, we are still far from perfect and we certainly haven't solved the world's problems.  We've just made significant strides in the one thing in this world we have control over individually and collectively as a company - our attitudes and the culture we choose to work in every day.  It really has made a difference that I believe is being played out not only within the walls of our office but in every touch point of our business. 

Let me give a quick example.  A few months ago we started answering our phones with an enthusiastic "it's a GREAT DAY at J. Renee'!"  The response from people on the other end of the phone has been enthusiastically positive, to say the least.  In some small way, whether the call is to ask a question about our business, complain about a mistake we may have made or (hopefully) to place an order, we have lightened the mood and made that customer feel better having called us.  We're having fun, they're having fun and we are fulfilling our mission to give women (and men) more opportunities to feel fabulous!

I wonder what small ways you can come up with to do the same thing for your customers would be?  We are thinking of them all the time.  And having a lot of fun doing it. 

Right is Wrong

Ever since I started helping my dad unpack and repack shoes to ship them to customers in our garage - almost 40 years ago - I have heard a saying that we have all heard thousands of times.  The customer is always right.  There's no denying the truth behind that statement or the wisdom to be heeded in hearing it again today.  Even if you know you're right, if your customers don't agree with you you're wrong.  Being wrong in today's marketplace is not good for your financial well being.  It is peculiar then that I see an increasing number of people so focused on being right all the time, even, or should I say especially, at the expense of making sure the other person is wrong.  It's a zero sum game that's getting far too much play - in the midst of an economic environment with enough challenges of its own.

Whatever happened to doing unto others, turning the other cheek and staying humble?  And for goodness sake where has customer service gone?  I think it all boils down to an attitude of "me first" and/or "looking out for number one."  I guess if your goal is to always be right and always be first then you can jump on the bandwagon.  I hear it's lonely at the top, though.

I believe the better answer is to continue to serve others and to help other people meet their needs.  I am convinced that this is the way to live a productive and happy life.  I can tell you first hand it is sorely needed in the business world and the society in general these days.  I find that the novelty and sincerity of it actually attract people and make them want to be your friend and/or to do business with you.  I wish I could come up with a better quote on my own but this is one that cannot be matched or duplicated.  Zig Ziglar said it many, many years ago:

"You can have EVERYTHING in life you want if you are willing to help enough other people get what THEY want."

Marinade on that one a while.  It is simplistic and yet it is very profound.  How might you use it today to positively impact your relationships at home?  At work?  With customers?  With strangers?  It is a line of thinking and a lifestyle worth pursuing and investing in. 

I spent a lot of time in my younger years trying to be right a lot (all the time).  Some of the adjectives that described my attitudes were: paranoia, jealousy, anger, moodiness.  You get the picture.  I want to be very clear that I have not "arrived" yet but where I am striving to get to is putting other people first more often.  On the occasions when I do, here's the adjectives that come to mind: compassion, kindness, selflessness, humility, patience, peace of mind, relaxed.  I like the way that sounds and feels a lot better. 

So, I am trying to devote more and more of my time to being less right and staying aware of opportunities to help and serve other people.  You can choose to stay focused on yourself - but that would be completely wrong. 

Trumping Tragedy

This week was a tough week for me.  A very dear employee, friend and woman left our company.  I wish I could take the blame or try to lay the blame for her departure but I can't.  I wish I could use this as a learning opportunity to evaluate what I did wrong so I can learn from it and do better next time.  Not in this case.  I wish that saying I wasn't going to concern myself with things that are out of my control were as easy to do as it is to say.  No matter what I think or do - no matter what anyone does or thinks, even she is powerless to undo the sad truth of the situation.  She has terminal cancer. 

As we go through life we see and hear many stories that break our hearts.  I don't think I've experienced one this close.  We also see stories that inspire us and make us better people having known about or of the person or situation.  Due to mine and everyone who called her a member of our Remac Family's incredible fortune we have seen both in the same person over the last several months since her diagnosis was confirmed.  My heart has been broken and touched - and my life will be better as a result of going through this situation with her.  I have only had the good fortune of knowing her for 4 years - and I am grateful I had that long.

I started writing the above post the middle of last month - and never finished it.  Since that time our Dear Friend sadly lost her brief struggle against the horrible disease we call cancer.  While we have mourned her loss we rejoice to know her struggles are over and her pain is gone.  The ones who are hurting are those of us she has left behind.  We miss her terribly and try to comfort ourselves knowing she is at rest and at peace.  Even though we don't completely understand it.

No one said life is easy.  We all deal with difficulties of all shapes and sizes.  Some are just daily bumps we need to move past and some are life changing.  With the grace and courage that we saw exhibited in our friend I have resolved to live every day this year in a way that makes others glad that they know me and leaves people, places and things better off than before I encountered them.  I can't recommend this lifestyle change enough.  Perhaps you know someone who elicits these feelings in your life - I hope we all know at least one.  Better yet, why not be that type of person?  Not a day goes by where I don't make mistakes and don't wish I had done things differently but I am determined to overcome those obstacles.  It seems rather minor in light of what some people have to deal with. 

I have more energy, determination and purpose that at any time in my life.  I know that I am much more productive and much more goal driven.  It is exhilarating and it is a lot of work.  I am happier than I have ever been and I am sleeping better than I have for as long as I can remember.  It seems to me I am living the life I was created to live.  Being who I am supposed to be is a great feeling. 

There have been many factors that have gone in to how and why I have arrived at this place.  Not the least of which is the impact that my friend had on my life.  Who, or should I ask how many, will be glad to say that they know you and that you are part of their lives?  That's something worth living for!  Today and every day that we are alive.