A couple quotes today:

“Sometimes, you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss

“Someday, when you hang up the phone, they will be gone.” – Anonymous 

These are so true! I often try to remind myself when I’m in one of those moments.  I tell myself, “Please carve this into the deepest parts of my memory, so, on that day when the memory starts to fade, this one will still be there.”  I recall thinking that at each of our kids’ weddings.  I also tried to etch those memories when seeing each of my seven grandchildren for the first time.  But, I don’t think I do this with everyday events that I later try to recall.  For instance, good times with friends are fun at the time, but the details fade in a few months.  My wife and I were recently having dinner with some of my very best friends at an outside table next to a beautiful waterway.  I took a moment that evening to try to add that moment to my personal memory card.  Seemingly ordinary moments later become those great memories we discuss later on or we talk of them as “the good old days.”

What “ordinary moments” are slipping by in your life that you look back on as great times? Are you failing to realize the value of these seemingly ordinary moments?  The day you start looking at the special events of our everyday lives as moments you will hope to remember later is the day you start truly valuing life and everything it brings.  Don’t look back with regret someday.

Have an awesome “ordinary day!” Something will happen today that you will want to remember someday.  Be sure to capture it.

 

Yesterday, my friend and colleague, Jeff Wiegers, had an experience that needs to be shared with all of you. I’ll get out of the way and let him tell the story in his own words:

I wanted to share an experience I had today that was one of the most amazing conversations I have ever had! 

As many of you know, I have had a number of issues with Corneal erosions over the past 12 months, and today I was meeting with my Specialist at Washington University in Siteman Center for Advanced Medicine.  I got there at 7:45am, and they always have to check vision, and eye pressure before they take you in to see the Eye Specialist.  Today, there was a nice young tike in a Cubs jersey sitting in the waiting room when I got there, so I asked him how he felt about the Cubs being down 2-1.  He was of course, the most articulate 10 year old I have ever met, and immediately went on to tell me all of Kris Bryant’s statistics in the playoffs.  He said that he and his Dad believe he is pulling off the outside pitches and trying too hard to pull the ball, when he needs to stay behind the ball and try hitting the lefties to whatever field the ball is pitched!

I was immediately impressed, and thought about taking the rest of the day off to talk some ball!  When they called my name, I told the young man good luck, and went in to get the initial check.  That was fine, and I just happened to mention to the nurse that the young guy about to come in was tremendous, and she knew exactly who I was talking about!

As I returned to the waiting area to then see the Doctor, I asked his Mom what are they here for.  It turns out that he, unfortunately, is a regular at the Eye Institute.  This young man was diagnosed at a very young age with a rare form of cancer in the cornea that affects young children, and only affects 200-300 kids a year.  In photographs as a baby, the pictures never had red eye, they always showed up as silver, so when they mentioned that to a Dr., they immediately saw what was feared, but removed the eye before anything had spread,  and he  was Cancer free from the age of 6 months until a few days ago when they noted it again in his other eye.  Today, he was going to do all of the prep work for the removal of the eye on Thursday.  I almost fainted! 

Robby insisted on telling the story from there and his mom did not stop him.  According to Robby, he wants to lose his sight so that he can show people that he is tough!  He wants others with eyesight issues to see that you can use your other senses and find creative ways to not only SURVIVE, but THRIVE! (his exact words at age 10)!  He said he will play baseball with his friends someday, but  his goal is to throw a first pitch at a Cubs game from the mound, and it will be a strike!  He knows the Cubs will win the World Series someday soon, and he will not miss a single pitch, even if he can only listen.

I could not stop him to get a word in edgewise, and for me that is an obvious challenge, but I could also not look directly at him because I was crying and in total amazement at how utterly courageous this young man has become at such a young age!  I asked his mom for a contact number to be able to send an email or a card someday for encouragement, but I wanted to know if he could call me and give the same pep talk again whenever I am down!

His story is a great example of how the right attitude, courage and will can get us all through any of life’s challenges.  I am forever thankful for having met Rob, and I thought I would share his story as it was very powerful to me!

I hope you all have a great day, and Go CUBS!

What an inspiration! What challenge are you facing today?  And, perhaps more importantly, how are you handling it?  Are you facing your challenges in a manner that would inspire others around you?  Are you seeing the positives in your life, even though you don’t understand why you experience challenges?  Seeing the courage that little Robby has and his desire to inspire others is enough to make even the most die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan root for the Cubs.  Has your life touched anyone lately the way that Robby obviously touches those around him?  Take the time today to “see” the positives that might result from those challenges you face.

Thanks, Jeff, for sharing. I’m not sure how you could even type this great message for us.  Everyone, have a great day!  And, if prayer is a part of your life, you might pause to say a prayer for Robby today.

I recently was able to view an Ansel Adams exhibit. Adams is considered one of the greatest photographers in American history.  He focused on artistic photographs of the American west.  He is known for his fantastic use of light and panoramic composition.  His work is fantastic!  It has been said that Adams real mastery was in the darkroom.  His ability to create the special lighting effects of his photos was impacted as much by his darkroom work as it was his creativity with the camera.  Adams once said,

“The negative is comparable to the composer’s score and the print to its performance. Each performance differs in subtle ways.”

Adams was equally masterful with the camera and in the darkroom.

In many ways, the same analogy can be used with our lives in that our values compare to the composer’s score and our behaviors to its performance. Our values are those beliefs that are etched into our being that define who we really are.  For instance, an individual with a value of service will naturally see things from the view of others.  He/She will be aware of the needs of those around them.  A person with an innate value of family will seek to put family above everything else.  A person with a value of money will do anything to gain more.  Those things we value, define what kind of person we become.  Our values are our own musical score.

However, no matter how wonderful the score, the performance is what we remember. How many of you recall attending the first band or orchestra concert for one of your children or a nephew or niece?  Even the most wonderful musical score sounds squeaky, out-of-rhythm, and awkward.  The performance makes the difference.  The same holds true for our lives.  We can have great values, but if our execution or performance of these values is amiss, the life others see is inauthentic.  For example, you can say all day long that you value your family more than anything else.  However, if you never attend a child’s school or sporting event, rarely have dinner with your family, and put work always before family, your life doesn’t reflect that value.

So, the challenge today is to ask yourself, “Does my visible life reflect what I say is most important to me?” In other words, can others say about you, “What you see is what you get.”

Today might be your very best yet… there is still a chance. Enjoy those special and common moments that come your way today.

 

Maybe work is not supposed to be fun. After all, perhaps that is why it is called “work.”  However, I take the view that work can be fulfilling and, at times, even fun.  It doesn’t always seem like fun, though.  You might even awaken excited for what will occur that day, walk into work in a cheery, optimistic mood and, before 8am, something happens to destroy that feeling.  What are those things that rob work of the fun and fulfillment that it should bring.  How can we eliminate or, at least manage, those things?  Let take a look at a few of those things that rob work of fun:

1. The feeling that you are adding no value – When you feel that the things you do have no real value to the company, to the ultimate customer, or anyone else, you tend to feel that your work is useless. You begin wondering what purpose you fulfill. And, you begin looking at your work as a job, not a career… as a paycheck, not as one that benefits others. The converse, of course, is work that you know matters to coworkers and customers. Knowing that someone is depending upon you makes a huge difference in your attitude and, frankly, the fulfillment you get from your work. By looking for how your work ties to others and the ultimate customer, you may find value in your work that you did not know existed. Or, by shifting what you do from less value adding to something more so, you will certainly regain some of the fun that you deserve to feel.
2. Being excluded – Everyone feels better about their work when they feel they have input into what is done and how it is done. When you are excluded, you lose confidence and interest. As a leader, it is important to ensure that every employee has some part in the process and input into their job. Allowing this input also ensures that there is buy-in and personal attachment to the work, its quality, and its impact on the business.
3. Bosses that micromanage – In my personal history, I was always the least motivated and least fulfilled when my boss micromanaged my work. When you are fully capable of doing a job and a manager insists on managing every detail of the job, the employee simply feels inadequate and disengaged. Allowing employees adequate freedom to perform their job instills a sense a pride in the work that makes the work more fun.
4. Lack of relationships or connections – When an individual feels all alone in a job, they tend to derive less enjoyment out of that job. Having comrades that share challenges and victories makes the work much more satisfying. And, relationships tend to help you stay grounded, realistic, and true to your values.
5. Petty rules and requirements – Nothing sucks the enjoyment out of a job more than the presence of petty, ridiculous rules and requirements. Elimination of these non-valued added rules can visibly improve the morale and improve productivity within days.
6. Lack of autonomy – Employees gain fulfillment from being able to utilize their skills and abilities to make contributions. When they lose the ability to operate with some independence, they quickly lose interest altogether. Freeing employees to have appropriate autonomy is an overnight success regarding employee satisfaction and engagement.
7. Unreasonable expectations – When employees feel that their job is impossible or that they are given unreasonable demands of performance, they quickly lose interest. I once worked with an individual in R&D that was given around 60 different development projects to accomplish in one year. This was simply impossible and everyone knew it. The management theory was to give an impossible number of projects and hope that even half or more were accomplished. Thus, 30 projects completed would be better than simply targeting 20 or 25, a reasonable target. However, the employee was disheartened by this impossible demand and soon left the company for a job more reasonable and predictable. Setting achievable, but challenging, targets are usually seen as a motivator, but an unattainable target extinguishes enthusiasm quickly.
8. Unfair treatment or being disrespected – Everyone expects to be treated fairly or with respect in the workplace. When this does not happen, the joy of the job quickly dissipates. Bosses that have “favorites” or employees that always get the most difficult tasks rob individuals of their enthusiasm for their work.
9. Lack of connection of your work to the big picture – When your work has no connection to the company strategy, it is easy to feel that your work has no value. Knowing that you are part of something bigger than your own job or own work helps motivate you to achieve more and enjoy it more. Finding a way to connect your job to the customer is usually a strong motivator and improves the quality and service of the work performed.
10. Friendly fire – When employees are mistreated, disrespected, or their work is denounced by others, they quickly lose the will to continue. Knowing that you have the respect of those around you can spur you to success greater than otherwise believed. Leaders must quickly identify and extinguish internal conflict and “friendly fire” to avoid demotivating the team.

We don’t have to be locked into a situation in which we have no joy in the work we do. And, as leaders, we need to ensure that these situations do not exist for our team members.  When employees are engaged and enjoy what they do, I guarantee they will produce more results, faster, and with greater quality.

Have a “top ten” day! Find something good in the work you do today.

 

Today’s thought is a simple quote spoken over 150 years ago. This quote is perhaps more true today than it was then.

“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”  – Soren Kirkegaard 1813 – 1855

Believing that is not true is the classical way that individuals are fooled. There have always been individuals intent on selling us something that isn’t genuine, valid, or of value.  There are individuals that cheat.  There are liars.  There are hackers, scam artists, and deceivers that attempt to fool us with untruths.  However, the other way to be fooled is just as bad and as destructive.  Failing to believe what is clearly true is more discreet, but is also more personal.  When we know the truth or at least have access to the truth, yet ignore it, we are only deceiving ourselves.  Seeking the truth, no matter how painful or disappointing, is what an individual with character would do.

So, think about what situations you encounter or what you may face today. Is the real truth available or obvious, but you choose to not believe it?  Are you ignoring the truth because it makes things more difficult for you personally.  An individual with character always seeks the truth.

Thanks for all you do to make this a better world and better place. Have a fabulous day!

On March 6, 1836, the Mexican army of Santa Anna was finally able to overcome the brave and resilient army of 189 men of the Texas army at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas (see photo above). All of the men holed up in the Alamo died that day.  But, their 13-day fight against extreme odds was the source of the cry “Remember the Alamo” that spurred on the ultimate victory of the Texas army.

Why do we still “Remember the Alamo” today? There are several reasons historians say the Alamo still inspires individuals today.  Let’s look at these and consider how they might inspire us today:

The men of the Alamo are worth remembering because of their:

1. Self-sacrifice – It is said that the men of the Alamo knew their situation was precarious. They knew defending the Alamo was a challenge and that the Mexican army of Santa Anna would likely have no trouble defeating them there. They knew that trying to stay and defend the Alamo and the land in Texas it represented would likely result in their death. Nonetheless, they loved their homeland and believe it was worth fighting to save. And, in staying to fight, they assumed they would die. Their sacrifice ultimately inspired victory by the Texas army and saved their homeland from falling to Santa Anna.
2. Devotion – Many of the men defending the Alamo had families. Thus, they believed they were ultimately fighting for the sanctity of their own homeland for their children and grandchildren. They were devoted to Texas and believed it was worth dying to save.
3. Bravery – The men of the Alamo were facing certain death. Yet, they faced it and their invaders bravely and with the courage of men expecting to win. None of us will likely ever be placed in a position in which we face death defending something we believe in. We are fortunate. However, the bravery of these men is an amazing example to us today and should inspire us to face the challenges that come our way.
4. Honor – The men of the Alamo embody honor. They faced their fate solely to defend the sanctity and honor of their homeland. These men still deserve our honor today.

Yes, the values exhibited by these men deserve remembering. Similarly today, I believe those individuals that serve their country in the military or as police officers or as firemen or as first responders deserve a similar honor.  I personally try to thank these individuals for their service when I encounter one.  I believe that most of them also exhibit the values displayed by the men of the Alamo… self-sacrifice, devotion, bravery, and honor.  In a way, when we honor the those that died that day in the Alamo, we, in a small way, honor these heroes of today.

Yes, we need to “Remember the Alamo” and the values that made those individuals worth remembering and honoring today.

Thanks to any of you that has served in the military or in civilian service. And, thanks to any of you with family members serving in these ways.  You are true heroes to me!

Have a fabulous day! And, let’s face our own adversaries today with courage.

Think of the best moments of your life, thus far. Do you think of the time you hit the game winning home run?  Or, when your first child was born?  Or, when you were married?  Or, when you bought your first house, first car, or first dog?  Or, was it possibly an occasion or award for you or one of  your children?  Or, when you had that last chemo treatment?  Was it a day you spent with a friend or your spouse?  Was your best moment spend on the beach or at the Eiffel Tower or Yellowstone National Park?  Was your best moment the time you first heard those special words from someone you love?

I would tend to bet that your best moments were spent with someone else. I recently ran across this quote that speaks to this topic:

“None of the best moments in your life will occur while you are looking at a screen.” – Bernard Marr

Despite what we might think, our best moments are not those times at work or looking at a phone/computer screen or a television. Our best moments are spent with others or in the beauty of nature.  So, this begs the question… how are you spending your time?  Are you even giving life a chance to gift you with a “best moment” today?  How many best moments have you already missed because you were consumed with that smartphone you carry?  So, today, just think about setting aside that phone or computer long enough to truly interact with someone else.  You never know when one of those “best moments” might come.

Have a wonderful day! It might be your very best yet!

 

You have probably heard the statement, “The end justifies the means.” This essentially means that, though the process may not have gone as you might expect or hope, the end result was a good one.  You can imagine that you are on a long road trip and run into road construction that requires a detour.  Finally, you make it to your destination and can say, “it wasn’t exactly the route we hoped to take, but we made it here… the end of the journey was worth it, so the detour we took didn’t matter.” In other words, the end justified the means to get there.

However, there are times when you must say, “The end does NOT justify the means.” What are those times?  To me, there are two significant times when the end simply does not or cannot justify the means.  Let’s take a look at both:

The end does NOT justify the means when…..

You have to cheat to achieve the end result 

 

Yes, there are times when you think that cutting a corner or taking a shortcut makes the end result worth it. I disagree. When you have not earned it, the end result, even when favorable, is tainted. Let’s look at a few specific examples of cheating to achieve a tainted end result:

• Deception or lying – When an individual cheats to pass a test or uses deception to realize gain, the result is not earned and cannot be justified.
• Doing something illegal – Failing to pay your legally-required fair share of taxes is a form of cheating that cannot be justified. Likewise, in the pharmaceutical industry, failing to follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) means that the product is unacceptable even though it might fulfill product testing specifications. (GMP’s state that product is unacceptable even if it meets all final product specifications if you do not follow the specific “how to” requirements of the regulations, for example. See 21 CFR 210.1 (b) for more information on this.)
• Failing to keep your commitments – When a contractor completes the job, but two months beyond the committed deadline, the end result is tainted. If you perform a task for another, but charge twice the agreed upon price, you have not fulfilled your end of the bargain and the end result is tainted.

You hurt someone else to achieve the end result 

A successful end result is also not achieved when you have hurt or injured another individual to realize that result. For example:

 

• Not giving due credit to others – No “good” result is ever earned by an individual that did not actually do the work or that did not appropriately share credit for the work. Failing to give credit harms the other individual and is never justified.
• Directly injuring another physically, emotionally, or by hampering their career – Any result attained by harming another individual physically, emotionally, or by any means that hampers their career is, in essence, ill-gotten gain. When you harm another individual, your “victory” is forfeited, at least in my book.
• Abusing trust – Letting someone down to achieve your personal aspirations is not defined as success.

It is great to win! It is great to be successful!  It is great that you can overcome obstacles and still accomplish the ultimate goal!  But, let’s do it the right way.  Let’s earn it and let’s not walk over others to achieve it.

Thanks for all you do! Have one of those “top ten” days today!

 

Wouldn’t life be much more simple if everything was clear, everyone knew who was doing what, and no surprises ever occurred? No one has such a life, of course.  It seems there is always something happening to make the simple, more complex.  I kid my wife that no matter what project I try to do around the house, something always makes it harder than it seems, it takes longer than it should, and I never have the right tool to do it in the first place.

Projects in the workplace are much the same. Though we spend significant time upfront planning the many activities in finite detail, things happen that require mid-course corrections and skills we never knew we had to navigate the obstacles that arise.  There are also jobs that are hard to define.  Though you have a general outline of the job duties, it seems the actual duties and responsibilities change day-by-day and you never know what you’ll face when you walk into the office any day.  This is called ambiguity.

Ambiguity can be defined as:

“Not knowing the outcome. Having less information or less time than desired to make a decision.  Confusing information; lack of clarity; lack of precedent.”

Lominger (you can find more on Lominger competencies through Google) says of ambiguity:

According to studies, 90% of the problems of middle managers and above are ambiguous—it’s neither clear what the problem is nor what the solution is. The higher you go, the more ambiguous things get. Most people with a brain, given unlimited time and 100% of the information, could make accurate and good decisions. Most people, given access to how this specific problem has been solved hundreds of times before, could repeat the right decision. The real rewards go to those who can comfortably make more good decisions than bad with less than all of the information, in less time, with few or no precedents on how it was solved before.

So, what is the secret to dealing with ambiguity? Can you ever get comfortable operating in ambiguous situations?  Here are some helpful hints:

1. Recognize that change is simply a part of life – Those that struggle the most with ambiguity are those that want everything in its place, on time, and on schedule. When you understand and accept that change is a natural part of life, you’ll be better able to deal with those times that things don’t stay the same.
2. Get organized – One reason many struggle with ambiguity is because they themselves are not organized. When your own life is in chaos, the feeling of stress you feel is simply magnified when you have to deal with ambiguity in the workplace. Try creating a “to do” list that simply highlights the three most important things you need to accomplish each day. Focus on these three things. Getting them done with give you a sense of achievement and accomplishment that can override other ambiguity you face.
3. Ask more questions – We often get the feeling of chaos or stress from ambiguity because we don’t have enough information. When you don’t know, ask questions. Make it a habit to ask more questions than you might feel are necessary. Each answer to a question should reveal more information and provide even more clarity.
4. Stop striving for perfection – I have heard it said, “Perfection is the enemy of better.” You could also say, “Perfection is the friend of ambiguity.” When everything in your life must be just right, little things that do not go as you hope tend to stress you. Simply realizing that we cannot control everything and understanding that your primary focus should be on the “major things” can help you manage the ambiguity you often face.
5. Be free about getting others involved – Don’t be afraid — or too proud — to ask for help. Allowing others to share the problem or collaborate in the issues you face can help balance your own sense of chaos… or control
6. Be reasonable about success – You can’t control everything. And, everything you do will not be perfectly successful. Achieving a rational approach to success can help you realize that you relish the victories you do get and forget your defeats. Learning to balance these victories and defeats can help you see more clearly where you should focus your time, energy, and emotions.
7. Just do something – Too often, individuals caught in the fog of ambiguity become paralyzed by too many choices. In many cases, the best approach is simply to “do something… anything.” Most decisions you make can be modified or corrected later. Understand the risks posed by a situation and charge forward. Doing nothing can be just as harmful and waiting, wondering, and watching.

Of course, there is no formula that can help us deal with everything that comes our way. But, being reasonable and calm can help clear the fog.

Have a splendid day! It could still be our very best yet!

 

My sister-in-law’s family (her husband, daughters, grandkids, etc.) had planned the trip for over a year. They would all carve out vacation time in October 2016, take the granddaughter out of school for a couple days, and take two cars to drive the 15 hour drive to the “world’s happiest place” — Disney World.  Everything seemed perfect… that is, until Hurricane Matthew messed up their plans.  Not knowing how accurate the forecasts were, they left on schedule, but as they neared Florida, the forecasts became more and more ominous.  Finally, after evacuation orders were made to Central Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, they made the gut-wrenching decision to cancel their vacation and return home.  My niece commented, “I just had my hardest parenting moment yet… telling my 8-year-old daughter that we were not going to the Magic Kingdom after all.  She just couldn’t understand how some wind and rain could ruin our plans for the most fun vacation ever!”

Life does have storms and disappointments. We recently heard from some very good friends that their son and his wife were separated.  It seems that almost daily now we hear of another public servant dying in the line of duty and their children wondering why Mommy or Daddy won’t be coming home.  We read often of companies closing businesses or plants and leaving hundreds of employees out of work.  Life’s storms reveal much about our own resilience and character.

Joel Ruth found some significant treasure after Hurricane Jeanne in 2004. In the aftermath of the hurricane, Ruth found 180 coins from a shipwreck that occurred in 1715.  It took the hurricane to reveal the treasure that Ruth was able to find.  Ruth was not a casual beachcomber, but he is an active and proactive treasure-hunter.  His find was intentional and lucrative.  Joel Ruth found treasure after a storm that caused devastation along the Florida coast.

There may be treasure in our own storms, as well. In my own case, I have uncovered invaluable treasure in the people in my life after storms.  I also found my way into the pharmaceutical industry after a personal storm.  I know many others that have discovered true treasure in their own storms.  The one common factor in all these “discoveries” has been that you have to be seeking this treasure.  You can’t just be a casual observer walking along the beach.  You need to be intentional and truly seek the treasure yet to be revealed.  Despite the devastation that can result from life’s storms, seeking those nuggets of gold to be uncovered in the aftermath can be life-changing.  So, if you are currently in one of those storms or whether that storm is hovering on the horizon, remember that it will reveal treasure… but, only if you seek it in the aftermath.  Plan now to seek and to recover that treasure when the next storm abates.

Have a fabulous day today! This could honestly be the day you have waited years to see.  And, who knows, you might just find the treasure of a lifetime today.