Barking Up a Tree.
My dogs have two very different world views on their fellow canines. Bella (on the left) could care less about dogs that happen to appear on the television. But get her out in the real world, and she becomes crazy. She knows where every dog on our walk lives; thinks there’s a dog in every car that drives by (based on seeing one once); and makes it her quest to bark maniacally at them. Captain Jack on the other hand doesn’t seem to be overly concerned with other dogs on his walk. He can pretty much take them or leave them. But, if he spies them on TV, he goes crazy. He attacks the television, searches behind it for those dastardly dogs, and now even recognizes the tunes in commercials where they pop up. Bella doesn’t care. In the end, neither cares about the others difference of opinion.
We all have different world views. Our own personal experiences and biases lead us to form political, religious, and economic notions. That doesn’t mean the other person with a different opinion is damaged.
During this political season leading up to a presidential election in November, social media has fueled the firestorm of conjecture and opinion. Everywhere I read, people are voicing their opinions louder and with more gusto than Captain Jack assailing my TV. Unfortunately, with it often comes boorish behavior. It’s not enough to have one’s opinion, but castigating those who think differently has become not only commonplace, but encouraged.
Don’t do this in business or you won’t last long. In fact, if you choose to do this in your social media platforms beware. You never know who is reading. Having an opinion is terrific and applauded. Tacking on foul language, degradation, and inappropriate humor may lose you business and friends. Always remember that the cyberspace curtain we hide behind is pretty transparent. Next time you bark, know that the entire neighborhood is listening…
This week’s quote – “If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.” Muhammad Ali
The Journey.
Whitney Houston
I went into my iTunes Store on Sunday to purchase a couple of songs by Whitney Houston. I’ve always loved her voice, and with her tragic death on Saturday, I figured it was about time to add her to my library.
Back when I was a kid, I remember buying records in music stores. This was when vinyl was still in style and cassettes were cutting edge. I loved taking my time strolling along the aisles and flipping through LPs and reading the jackets. (I’m certain my daughters think of something completely different when they read jacket). The purchasing of my music was more expensive, took more time, and quite frankly was more enjoyable. Today, it took me a total of about 3 minutes to locate two Whitney Houston songs, pay less than $2 for them, and download them into my phone. (just as foreign language to someone living in 1975, right?)
The journey is almost always more fun than finally hitting that destination. My journey in the music store about 40 years ago was an event, normally done with friends, that I still hold as a fond memory. I can’t remember all the records I bought, but I do remember the journey.
That’s a lot like your life. Don’t blast through each day like you’re downloading music into your iPhone. Enjoy the journey. It’s what you’ll remember anyway…
This week’s quote – “Things that hurt, instruct.” Benjamin Franklin
Decision Making.
Saturday at about 3 pm Pacific. I’m driving home with my wife and our daughter Mindy is on the speakerphone with us. The radio is tuned to ESPN and we are listening live to the NFL Hall of Fame announcement of the 2012 class. We are collectively holding our breath for former Seattle Seahawks legend, Cortez Kennedy. The announcement is made…Tez is in! We all let out a big yell of joy. Fifteen minutes later, through a variety of texts and calls, I’m logged on to the Hall of Fame web site and ready to click on “Buy Tickets” for August 4 enshrinement. Click.
This wasn’t a small or grand decision. It was just a decision to gather our family together and make the trek to Canton to cheer on our hero. Four people involved; a fair chunk of change for the entire weekend; and commitments to be made. The decision took 15 minutes, not 15 hours or days.
Successful people are decisive. Yes, there are bigger and more important decisions in business and life. But too often, I see executives and business owners fall into analysis paralysis. It impacts organizations and families; it wastes time; and quite frankly it’s dysfunctional. Once you’re 80% there, jump. The remaining 20% is just wasting time, energy, and money.
Make the call and commit to it. More often that not, it was the right one!
This week’s quote – “Be miserable, or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.” Wayne Dyer
Change Management.
On Saturday, I hurt my right hand when I was moving some things out of my parent’s home. A pick axe fell on the back of my hand and I think just bruised it. The pain only lasted a short time and I forgot about it. Until Sunday morning. At church, I shook the hand of a friend who is easily 6’7 and has one of the strongest grips I’ve ever felt. Especially on Sunday! Even though I think I hid it well, I thought I was going to start crying. The pain was worse than the original. Then it subsided again. I went that afternoon to a legislative meeting in my role as school board director. A plethora of hands to shake. Of course, I again forgot and OUCH on the first shake. I had to make a quick adjustment to the left-hand shake for the rest of the meeting! I escaped unscathed from any further pain…
Life and business often sneak up and causes you pain, and forces you to make sudden changes. Things go along swimmingly and then you run into an episode that forces you to adjust quickly to avoid further “pain.” Unfortunately, many of us wait too long before shifting because we push back on “change.” What happens is you keep shaking hands and getting “squeezed.” Life and business is all about being nimble; shrewd, creative, and able to make decisions quickly. Sometimes (like with a hurt hand), it’s a simple shift. More often, it’s harder to see and the decisions are tougher. Those that are slow to change miss the boat; those that are decisive and savvy, find other opportunities.
Which one are you?
This week’s quote – “One of the greatest discoveries a man makes; one of his greatest surprises; is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.” Henry Ford
Perspective on Life.
Joe Paterno
Legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno passed away over the weekend at the age of 85. Paterno was the head man at Penn State for over 40 years and built a legacy of greatness on and off the football field at Happy Valley over the years.
For many, especially without a lot of football history, they know Paterno as the coach fired abruptly in disgrace last November when it was revealed that a former assistant coach had allegedly abused children. There are still questions on what Paterno knew, when he knew, and what actions he took. On one of his final interviews, he acknowledges he felt he did the right thing, but in retrospect, he should have done more.
There are many ways people will view the life and legend of Paterno. I think I will choose to remember him as a man who had great impact on the lives of countless young men. Yes, I believe he made mistakes in the Jerry Sandusky situation. Yes, he should have done more. But in the end, when you take a look at the entire body of work, the final few pages of the last chapter should be viewed in perspective of the whole book.
How often do we judge people or issues based on a small sample set, rather than the entire body of work? The next time you have to, I hope you consider perspective in your decision.
This week’s quote – “Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.” Joe Paterno
© 2012 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved
Next Play.
I coach freshman boys basketball. One of the tendencies of 14-year old boys is when they make a mistake, they drop their shoulders, throw a pity party, and stop playing. Unfortunately for them, the game goes on. It’s one thing to make a mental mistake and throw away the ball, or miss a lay-up. It only exacerbates the problem if you allow that mistake to continue on for multiple plays.
The key to sports is that you have a short memory. You make a mistake, but then you go to the next play. Doing this keeps you focused, positive, and successful.
This “tendency” isn’t unique to 14-year old boys. Many of us in business can on occasion fall victim to pouting and pity parties. In the business game (just like in a basketball game), momentum an good fortune ebbs and flows. You have to be able to take a “punch in the mouth” and move on to the next play. Otherwise, that bad play becomes toxic to success. Make sure you have a short memory, keep fighting through adversity, and keep your eyes focused on the next play!
This week’s quote:
“Fear is an obstacle for some people, but it is an illusion to me.” Michael Jordan
This week’s focus point -
Consistency.
Early last year, I purchased one of those Nike monitors that you stick in your running shoe and teams up with your iPhone to track your miles run and calories burned while listening to your favorite music. I’ve never been a consistent runner and figured this would be my “accountability partner.” It was and the proof is in the fact that I stuck with it for the entire year.
Last week, Nike sent me my 2011 report card. You see, the iPhone downloads your stats after every run into Nike and they keep track for you. Turns out I ran 236 miles; burned 31,812 calories; and listened to a gazillion songs (give or take a few). I was stunned. Basically, I run 2-3 times a week at a distance of between 3-5 miles. Not much, but I worked hard at being consistent and persistent. In the end, I exceeded my expectations.
Most of business is about being consistent and persistent. Doing the small things every day, even if it’s just 15 minutes, will accumulate in your favor. Examples include marketing, calling on clients and prospects, returning e-mails and phone calls, cleaning out your Inbox, and completing projects. It also helps to keep metrics to know that you’re on track. Too many of us procrastinate because we are waiting for the “right time” to do whatever it is we need to do. Understand that small steps taken daily will not only help you reach your goal, but exceed your expectations by the end of the year!
This week’s quote – “Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Feeding Forward.
Cactus flower found only in Colombia
Marshall Goldsmith is one of the premier executive coaches in the world. One of his concepts is the “feed forward” process of thinking. “Feedback” is looking back at things that happened good or bad to judge what you do in the future. Feed forward is simply not dwelling on what “should” have happened and focuses on what needs to happen to improve. January is a great time to feed forward on changing the behavior that you feel needs to happen to catapult your year.
I have been negligent in the past about finishing a book. I’ve not been focused or disciplined in this process (feedback). Here is what my feed forward language is…
Carve out 45 minutes every other day / review what you’ve already written and re-purpose your past work / eliminate distractions / leave your office and find a quiet place to focus / ask for help / make it fun
These are all positive, forward thinking phrases focusing on action, not on past failures. What behaviors do you want to change that can benefit from this exercise? Consider what you need to do and find colleagues, friends, and family who are willing to give you feed forward suggestions. You will be surprised what great advise you get! Then, go do it!
This week’s quote -Eighteen holes of match or medal play will teach you more about your foe than will 18 years of dealing with him across a desk. ~Grantland Rice
This week’s focus point -
Tom Brady
Vision.
When I played quarterback on my junior high football team, my role on the team was clear. As the backup, I played behind the second-string (and sometimes third-string) offensive line against the first-string defense. I spent most of my time running for my life, eating dirt, and wondering if this was how Roger Staubach started out. The reason I was a backup QB was because I had terrible “vision.” I had 20/20 eyesight, but I couldn’t see the field in slow motion. As chaos rained around me, I couldn’t do what the great ones do and see the field.
Tom Brady may be the best quarterback in the NFL. He has an incredible ability to slow down the game, see the field through huge men’s flailing arms, escape disaster, and make the big play. He does this well because in addition to being talented, he has excellent coaches, practices countless hours, done film study on his opponent, and has tremendous confidence.
What kind of vision do you have for your business or career? Do you employ excellent coaches? Do you spend countless hours improving your skills? Do you study your competition? How strong is your confidence? These are questions you should ask yourself as the 2011 game clock ticks down and a new game is on. Tom Brady has tremendous vision, but he hasn’t become the best on purely talent. To become a rock star in your career, you need to do what Brady does…be visionary, get help, never stop learning, and develop a high confidence level. That’s how you end up throwing a lot of tuchdowns in your career and your life.
Game on.
This week’s quote – “My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living.” – Anais Nin
Close Calls.
I think I broke my wife’s toe.
Last Friday morning, the alarm went off and Barb got out of bed first. Her meeting was before mine, so I got to stay in bed longer. Until I heard the crash. Seems I left my running shoes in the direct path between our bed and the bathroom. In the dark, Barb “encountered” them and went down. Ouch!
The good news is, she didn’t sock me (which I deserved). The bad news is she is now hobbling. The lesson learned is that I have to put my shoes away. But, wait! There’s more!
This isn’t the first time in my life (including my adult life) that I have left my shoes out. I’ve almost “encountered” them myself on many occasions. I ignored these close calls and the end result is Barb got hurt. How many things do we overlook in both our personal and professional lives? What shoes do we have sitting in the middle of the floor waiting to be tripped over?
Close calls offer us opportunities to improve and avoid crisis. When crisis happens, we should not let it go to waste, but find the opportunity in it. My wayward shoes taught me both those lessons. What close calls and crisis can you improve, grow, and thrive out of?
This week’s quote – “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.” Dorie Walker from Miracle on 34th Street
