In life, we have only three choices for how we approach it.  We can live with our primary focus on the past, the present, or the future.  Let’s look at each and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of life-focus:

1. Focus on the past – I really enjoy music.  In fact, you could probably say that I am a huge music fan.  I like to listen to music really at any time.  When I do, I tend to like “The Oldies from the 60’s” or, more recently, classic country music from the 1960 to 1980 time period.  I also enjoy nostalgia, especially around sports and history.  I collect baseball memorabilia and enjoy recalling games and players from the “good old days.”  Many individuals I know around my age enjoy looking back to those days.  Those days were simpler, quieter, and, possibly, more peaceful.  However, there is a danger in over-emphasizing the past.  Some individuals continually look back to what they should have done, what they could have done, or what they wish they had done.  In fact, many individuals are so enslaved by the past that they have difficulty living in the present.
2. Focus on the future – Many individuals have an overwhelming focus in their lives on the future.  I believe there are two traps we can encounter when this future-focus becomes excessive:
   • You become caught up in the belief that things will get better when… you get out of debt, you finish school, you get your kids out of college, you get that promotion, you pay off your house, you retire, you get beyond your health issue, etc., etc.  Some focus so much on how life will be different then, that they fail to live for today.
   • The other trap is a fear of the future which brings about worry.  Nothing good comes from worry.  It cannot change a single situation of our future, yet it can rob us of the joy of today.  I heard a quote recently that hits the mark on this:

“Worry is when you use your imagination to create something or a situation you do not want.”

1. Focus on today – Yes, today is the only day we are promised.  We can plan or hope for tomorrow, but it may not come.  We can long for yesterday, but it is gone forever.  Today is our only chance to make a difference, to accomplish something of value, or to experience those things around us.  Our only focus that matters should be on today… this moment.  Certainly, we need to plan for the future.  I am not suggesting otherwise.  However, I do believe that planning and obsessing are completely different things.  We should plan for the future, but live for today.

The bottom line for today is this…  We need to live in the moment we have right now.  We need to stop and smell the roses.  We need to slow down enough to enjoy the good things happening all around us.  We should dance one more dance.  We can’t change what happened in the past, we must not worry about the future, so all we have left is to live in this moment.  Let’s give it a try today.

Have an awesome day!  And, find something good today that you might not have seen yesterday.

 

During early gold rushes, prospectors often were excited thinking they had “hit the jackpot” with veins of gold only to learn later that they had found pyrite, a brassy mineral otherwise known as fool’s gold.  Instead of being rich with a gold mine, they are fooled by the fake gold they had found.  The appearance was convincing, but the material was inauthentic.

Individuals today are also finding “fool’s gold” and, after the initial excitement and enthusiasm, discover that its real value is low or non-existent.  What is today’s “fool’s gold?”  Here are a few examples:

1. Seeking a title versus skills, influence, and job satisfaction – the luster of a new title will soon fade, but the other, more valuable items will last your entire career
2. Following a person instead of values – people may come and go, but our commitment to a set of values defines our character
3. Believing that form is more important than content – sure, some are overly impressed with form, but the content of your contributions should define your real value to the company
4. Serving yourself instead of the team – you might enhance your personal benefits by choosing yourself over team, but, in the end, when the team wins, we all win
5. Focusing on short-term gain instead of long-term value – we often seek that which brings immediate satisfaction rather than the greater value that comes through patience and diligence
6. Spin versus truth – most individuals value honesty and truth over spin designed to deflect questions and concern

How about you?  Are you a prospector searching for the world’s largest vein of fool’s gold?  Or, are you seeking true gold – that which has infinitely more value than its fake cousin?  Hopefully, most or all of us seek the true thing.  Please don’t be fooled – don’t settle for anything less than the best!

Have an awesome day!  Remember, any day could be your very best yet!  And, who knows, someone might even say to you, “It sure was a good day, wasn’t it?”

 

First of all, management of people is NOT the same as leadership. Leadership is a highly critical skill that will essentially define your success in the workplace and life.  However, many of us are also in positions that require that we lead people.  And, in many cases, we do so by managing the performance of people.  Much has been said and written about how best to manage these activities.  Today, I wanted to share my perspectives and thoughts developed over my 35+ years in the workplace.

To me, management of people can be condensed into three key, critical steps. Today, I share these steps:

1. Choose the right people for the right jobs – I believe that some individuals are capable of accomplishing almost anything. These individuals can do almost any job well, they represent you well, and they will get things done right and on time. Find these people! When you do find them, do whatever you can to get them into your organization – even if that means creating a position for them. Then, you need to match people to the right jobs. You cannot completely ignore matching skills to job requirements, but we often make the mistake of by-passing a very capable individual because we feel their skills match is not perfect. What I am saying here is that if you find the right person that can add value to your team, be creative in matching them to a position. I would rather have the right people on my team even if their skills were not a perfect match, than individuals with perfectly matching skills that were not those “magical” individuals I seek. Look for the magic and work out the rest! In my experience over all these years, when you find that special person with that “special sauce” that is hard the describe, they will accomplish more than an average individual many times over.
2. Clearly articulate everyone’s “box” of responsibility and expectations – I like to describe the scope of an individual’s job as a box. We all have a box within which we must work. However, most never fully understand what is in their box, how far their responsibilities go, and when they need to elevate issues or concerns. I think it is critical to be clear about the “box” given to an individual. For example, I like to outline:  exact responsibilities, how far the individual can go without coming to me, any limits on authority, financial responsibilities, goals and objectives to be successful, and examples of things “outside the box” that need my input before action.  Then, when this is clear, I communicate that everything in the box in that individual’s responsibility. They will be judged by how well they handle the items in their box.  And, they don’t need to come to me to ask about things in their box unless they are seeking my advice or input.  By doing this, you provide a level of freedom for the individual to use their own skills and reasoning abilities to manage the way they feel is best.  Plus, this gives you insight into their capabilities for future opportunities.  As they prove their capabilities with their box, you expand the box to include a larger scope or more responsibilities.  By providing ongoing input into the box and its contents, you help the individual understand their role and contributions they can make to the organization.
3. Get out of their way – Finally, once you have accomplished steps 1 and 2 above, you simply get out of the individual’s way. Don’t micromanage! Don’t hover! Don’t require constant updates or infer that they cannot make decisions within their box. Don’t provide conflicting signals, such as “this is your box, but don’t act without my input”. Let the individual operate freely within the box you have together outlined. When you stay out of their way, you do two things: 1) you ensure that they

Why you follow these three steps, you avoid many of the pitfalls of management that can cause poor performance, low morale, and frustration, such as:

• Micromanagement
• Stretching individuals too far
• Preventing personal development of your team members
• Mismatching of skills versus job expectations
• Inhibiting individuals the freedom to operate
• Second-guessing
• Hovering or doing the work yourself

So, there you have my simple list of the three keys to management: find the right people for the right jobs, clearly identify their box of responsibilities, then, get of their way.

Have a great day!

Today is another in our series of Tribute Fridays. Previously, we paid tribute to friends, veterans, mothers, great leaders, and teachers/coaches.  I am aware of many in our midst that either have or currently are dealing with adversity in their lives and thought we would recognize and encourage them today.

Adversity comes in many forms: health issues, marital problems, financial struggles, challenging children, legal issues, work stress, loss, etc., etc.  Each one of these can take a significant toll on the individual which could impact their health, happiness, or effectiveness on the job.  Anyone that has not dealt with such adversity should be thankful and prepare for that day when they must deal with it.

So, what do you say to a friend, neighbor, or coworker undergoing such adversity? How do you deal with it if you find yourself there today?  How can we help each other?  Not that I purport to have all the answers, but I can list a few things that have been helpful to me in the past.  Let’s look at a few:

1. Allow yourself to lean on a friend – One tendency when someone is in the midst of a life challenge is to isolate themselves from others. This is possibly the worst thing you could do. During difficult times, we need someone to lean on… someone that can lend a hand to pull us up… someone that can share the load or help share the load. When you face a challenge, find someone that you can share it with and allow them to help lighten the load.
2. Seek spiritual encouragement – For me, it has been helpful or even critical to seek spiritual encouragement when I undergo a difficult time.  God’s love has an amazing ability to soothe our hurts, if we will let Him.
3. Enhance your own resolve – My wife’s grandmother was a very loving woman, but she was pragmatic and tough, as well. She would say, when someone close died, “OK, you can mourn for three days, but then you have to pick yourself up and move on — not just for yourself, but for others that depend upon you.” Great advice! There are times when we simply have to stiffen our resolve and simply make ourselves go just one more step, take one more breath, or to just get through one more day. During difficult times, we cannot allow ourselves to remain sorrowful too long or it will be even more difficult picking ourselves up.
4. Divert your attention – One helpful technique for moving beyond a difficult situation is to divert our attention to something else. Finding a way to occupy our thoughts or turn unproductive time into productive time can help us out of our rut.
5. Encourage or serve someone else – I have personally found that when I am most burdened, it helps to simply seek a way to serve someone else. When you do something for another, it has a remarkable way of healing our own ills.
6. Seek someone that has successfully dealt with your situation in the past – Finding someone else that has walked where we walk is a great way to see that there is an end to our problem and we can deal with it successfully. Another individual might also have practical suggestions on what to do next.
7. Remember that through adversity, we reveal our character – Yes, adversity is difficult. However, when you undergo such a difficult life-event, you reveal the real you — you reveal the character that cannot be faked. So, remember that this challenge will pass and that you will be a better person at the end of this tunnel.

 

Finally, as friends, neighbors, and coworkers, we need to be alert for opportunities to encourage each other. If you know someone undergoing adversity now, take the extra time to be available, do something special or somehow, encourage that person with words or actions.  Sometimes, just a small gesture from a coworker or friend can make all the difference in a difficult situation.

Thanks to you all for making this journey a good one. This truly could be a great day… perhaps the best yet.  And, have a terrific weekend ahead!

 

 

I am in a transition process heading toward retirement at the end of the calendar year. I have read all the “expert” talk about the importance of getting ready for this chapter of life.  One of the key things they warn about is going from a job where you interact with others and “produce value” every day to very little interaction with others and minimizing that drive to accomplish something every day.  In fact, I have had concerns about that myself over the past few months.  My DNA says that we should be focusing on adding value in all we do.  So, when I think of moving to a lifestyle that perhaps doesn’t foster adding “business value,” I do understand that it may take a few months to make that personal shift.

Earlier this week, I had a day off and my wife and I took two of our grandchildren to the zoo. We left early and spent a glorious morning watching the animals and trying to corral 5- and 3-year olds in the crowds at the zoo.  We did have a great time.  Afterward, we stopped for lunch at one of those places with an indoor playground.  We just let the kids romp and play until they were done.   Back home, we spent some time outside on swings, picking and eating blueberries, and taking a golf cart ride.

At the end of the day when my son-in-law arrived to pick up the kids, Neely, our 5-year old granddaughter came over to me and hugged my neck like only a 5-year old can do — tight and close. Then, she said something that changed my entire perspective on that next chapter of mine.  She said, “It sure was a good day, Grandpa.  I love you.”  Then, she scampered off to get into the car.  Immediately, I realized that my time for adding “business value” might be close to an end, but, I will have even more time to pour my life into my seven grandchildren and my wife.  Life is good!

This also reminded me that we all need to be free to enjoy each day, especially those little things and those interactions we have with others. You never know when something you do or something you say might make a total life-difference to someone else.

So, I am more excited than ever for my next chapter. I don’t know all the things yet that I will be involved with, but I do know seven little lives that I will do my very best to cherish, enjoy, and positively influence.  Everyone should be as blessed as I am!

Have a great and enjoyable day! Thanks for what you do to make a difference for someone else!

Back in the 1990’s, one of the most popular singers of that time was Shania Twain.  One of her top songs was titled, “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”  The premise of the song is that there are some things that people do that are just the opposite of impressive — they actually become repulsive.  The song was fun, but the message of the song carries forward to us even today.  Let’s take a look at some things that are not impressive.  And, hopefully, if you are tempted to engage in these behaviors, you’ll be dissuaded.

Things that are not impressive:

1. Individuals that assume that form is more important that content – Many individuals are far more concerned with how things look – how they look – than with the work product they produce.  Their first question for nearly every situation is, “How will this affect me or what will others think?”  It can get so bad that this kind of individual might even do what is not best for the company rather than do something that might impact them.
2. Individuals that create problems simply to be the hero that solves that same problem – We have probably all seen examples of this… the person that created the crisis is eventually rewarded for “saving the day.” It is too bad that this kind of behavior likely continues because it is often rewarded and encouraged.
3. Individuals that become good at “fighting fires” instead of “preventing fires” – Wouldn’t you rather be known as the person that was always able to avoid a crisis than be good at navigating out of those you created?
4. Individuals that feel their own time is more valuable than anyone else’s – Some individuals are always five minutes late to everything.  Then, they want everyone else to wait again while “they get caught up.”  This is simply disrespectful.
5. Individuals that make everything “all about me” or “what’s in it for me” – Some individuals turn every conversation back to themselves or their own situation or their own desires.  Most often, you make others feel better about being around you or engaging with you when you encourage them to talk about subjects of interest to them.
6. Individuals that are not kind or that disrespect others – I have seen this quote many times recently, “You can tell a lot about a person that treats the cleaning crew the same way they would treat the CEO.”  Showing respect to others is just the right thing to do rather than treat only those well that might someday be able to do something for you.

Rather than focus on things not impressive, let’s consider how we can do what’s right, treat others right, and live in a way to models integrity.  Doing anything else is… well, in Shania’s words… not impressive. Thanks for making our company a terrific place to be.  Have an awesome day!

 

Twenty-five years can make a huge difference.  I recently saw an old Radio Shack advertisement from February 16, 1991 (see the link below).  The advertisement shows 15 technology-type items on sale for their big President’s Birthday Sale for that year.  Of the 15 items, we now carry 13 of those items in our pocket in one single device (the items include: phone, computer, still camera, video camera, clock/radio, phone answering machine, all-weather radio, calculator, CB radio, speed dial, CD player, desktop scanner, and voice recorder).  In just 25 years, technology has advanced to the point that instead of spending around $6000 in today’s dollars for these 13 items, we now have them all together in our smart phones that cost around 10% of that.  It makes you wonder what of today’s top technology will be obsolete within the next few years.

You will also notice that Radio Shack is no longer considered “America’s Technology Store” as they tout in that advertisement.  In fact, depending upon who you listen to, Radio Shack may not even survive as a company.  Even their name has not really kept up with today’s technology.

So, what does this have to do with us?  Technology, or skills, in the workplace must be kept current, as well.  The skills we used 5, 10, or 20 years ago may no longer be those needed by the company.  If we have not advanced our skills, today’s company may not even need us.  A couple examples, one old and one new…

• When I first started in the business world, there was a “secretary” to support every few individuals.  Because management individuals did not have computers, the secretary was required to type all letters, schedule meetings, retain paper copies of all documents, etc., etc.  Many of these same activities can be done today through Outlook e-mail or Microsoft Word programs.  The “secretary” role has evolved to focus more on projects, organizational activities, and helping those they support to be more productive.  The skills are completely different and more advanced.
• You have probably read that some fast food firms are planning to exchange people with machines for order-taking, order-prep, etc.  Again, if your only skills are fast-food order-taking, your job may be obsolete soon.

So, the questions for today are, “Have your own skills continued to evolve and advance in ways that keep you ahead of the competition?  Are you continuing to make yourself more valuable to the company and more marketable globally by continually advancing your skills?  What are you doing now to be ready for the significant technology changes that will occur in the next 5 or 10 years?”

There are many ways to keep advancing your skills:

• Education – coursework, advanced degrees, seminars, conferences, industry organizations, etc.
• New positions – taking risks by moving to positions outside your comfort zone
• Volunteering for challenging tasks – often times, taking on a new challenge is the best way to learn new skills or make yourself more prepared for expanded roles
• Working with or serving as a mentor – by interacting with others on a regular basis, you keep your skills sharp and learn new ones

We do not want to find ourselves someday trying to use our old technology skills in a new technology world.  Think about where you are today… are you a multi-skilled individual that can do many things or are you the individual devices featured in the old Radio Shack advertisement.  Now, what will I do to be ready for the next transformational change that is probably already starting to occur?

Today could be a “top ten” day — there is still a chance!  Have a wonderful, productive, and delightful day!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-cichon/radio-shack-ad_b_4612973.html

 

In earlier tributes, we recognized friends, mothers, great leaders, and veterans.   So, today on Tribute Friday, we pay tribute to those adult leaders that so greatly influenced our early years.  We are at the end of the school year for most and it reminds me of the thrill I experienced on the last day of school in my school days.  And, I remember the great restraint exhibited by our teachers that did not outwardly cheer, yell, and party to celebrate their own three months of freedom.

So many teachers, coaches, and leaders of my youthful years influenced me.  I can actually remember the names of every teacher I had through my early years… Murphy, Taylor, Cozad, Bronson, Briscoe, Martin, Wilson, Boles, etc.  There were others, as well… baseball and basketball coaches, band leaders, scout leaders, volunteers that made so much possible, etc.  The dedication and integrity of these individuals helped shape me.

So, it might be appropriate today for us to thank one of those key individuals that helped make us who we are today.  Or, at least, it might be good to thank one of our kids’ teachers.  Is there someone that greatly influenced you that comes to mind?  Why not take a few minutes to say thanks today? 

And, thanks to you for all you do!  Have a great day and terrific weekend ahead!

 

I was a Boy Scout in my youth.  I have many fond memories of times camping, hiking, earning merit badges, and on service projects.  Though that was nearly 50 years ago, I have remembered the Boy Scout Law all these years.  It is still applicable today as a set of rules to live by at home, at work, and in our daily journey through life.  Here it is (my brief definition of each in parentheses)

A Boy Scout is:

• Trustworthy (we do what we say we’ll do)
• Loyal (we stand by and support our friends)
• Helpful (we quickly jump in to serve others)
• Friendly (we make the first move to make others feel comfortable)
• Courteous (we behave appropriately to others)
• Kind (we exhibit self-control in how we treat others)
• Obedient (we realize that we are accountable to someone)
• Cheerful (we remain optimistic)
• Thrifty (we are good stewards of the resources in our control)
• Brave (we display courage to stand up for the right things)
• Clean (we keep ourselves and our areas orderly)
• Reverent (we are respectful to others and their views, even if different from our own)

Not a bad list, eh?  Thanks for all you do to make this a great place to live and work!  Have a spectacular day!

 

Today is a no-brainer day at The Porch.  Just read and enjoy what Mr. Anonymous has to say (that’s right… the original author of all of these is anonymous):

• I know the voices in my head aren’t real….. but sometimes their ideas are just absolutely awesome!

• I’m not clumsy! The floor just hates me, the table and chairs are bullies, and the walls get in my way.

• In the morning I can’t eat, I’m thinking of you. In the evening I can’t eat, I’m thinking of you. In the night I can’t sleep.. I’m so hungry!

• To make a mistake is human, but to blame it on someone else, that’s even more human.

• If you didn’t see it with your own eyes, or hear it with your own ears, don’t invent it with your small mind and share it with your big mouth!

• Stupidity is far more fascinating than intelligence, after all intelligence has its limits.

• The probability of meeting someone you know increases a hundredfold when you’re with someone you’re not supposed to be seen with.

• Taking a shower is awesome, it makes you feel nice and clean, makes you sound like a great singer, and helps you make all of life’s decisions.

• It may look like I’m doing nothing, but in my head I’m quite busy.

• Anything is possible if you don’t have to do it yourself.

 

Sometimes we overthink everything.  Often, it is good to simply read it for what it is, relax, smile, and move on.  Today is that day.

Have a splendid day!  There is still a chance that this could be the day you’ve been waiting for… your best day yet!