Set your mind to finding what you love to do....

You can become whatever you want if you set your mind to it and believe you can. One of the other year-round residents I know here in the Adirondacks services boats: he keeps them running all summer and stores them the rest of the year. But winters are long so he expanded into servicing snowmobiles too. He started a snowmobile club and helped organize the effort to groom the more than 1000 miles of trails in this area: he showed me the impressive new machine they use nearly every winter night to clear and maintain the trails. This is another example of the wonderful and interesting things people do to be able to live here all year: these folks don’t limit themselves to what they think they can do – they follow their interests and believe they can achieve anything. It’s hard to find what you love doing but that shouldn’t stop you from trying. Believe in yourself and find out how far you can go today.

Mary Kay Ash (1918 – 2001): American businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

Do all that you can with what you have....

I admire the people who live full time in the Adirondacks: the weather-based tourism economy here forces them to be creative, industrious, and committed to doing whatever it takes. Over the years we’ve gotten to know a family that lives here year-round: they have a farm stand that’s been through lots of ups and downs: they originally planned to include things made by other local crafts people but found that to be more than they could handle. They could have given up like so many others, but instead they scaled back, slowly built greenhouses and rented farmland to grow many of the staples they sell, and outfitted an industrial kitchen to use up all of the fruits and vegetables that don’t: nothing goes to waste and they’ve slowly built a nice business. We all know people who talk a lot but accomplish little; these folks have a more modest plan: nothing fancy, but they do well. Right-size your plans and do all that you can to make them successful today.

Gugu Mona:  South African born author, poet, song writer, composer, musical arranger, philanthropist, environmentalist, inspirational speaker and thought leader

Team building is hard work that's worth the effort....

“There are five fundamental qualities that make every team great: communication, trust, collective responsibility, caring and pride. I like to think of each as a separate finger on the fist. Any one individually is important. But all of them together are unbeatable.”Mike Krzyzewski

This past week I’ve written a lot about the value of teamwork and team spirit: building both is hard work that’s definitely worth the effort. The road to successful team building starts at the top: it takes skilled and caring leadership to make this journey. Leaders must communicate clearly and continually that this key to the organization’s mission, build trust by saying what they mean and meaning what they say, take personal responsibility for its success and hold others to that same standard, showing that they care in all that they do, and being proud of everyone’s efforts in making it a reality. Doing any of these is important to successful teambuilding; doing all of these together can make your team unbeatable.  Your role is to be a leader, mentor, coach, active participant and cheerleader of the teamwork in your organization.  That’s how to create team spirit today.

Mike Krzyzewski (b. 1947): American college basketball coach (Duke University) and former player; nicknamed Coach K

Good parents make good managers....

I’ve often talked here about the benefits of giving people a second chance, and now that concept is being extended to those who fail pre-employment drug tests. A company in Indiana is apparently the first on record to offer programs to applicants who have completed a company-funded treatment program: it’s an acknowledgement of both the severity of the drug problem and the difficulty of finding qualified workers. In many ways this makes sense – it also creates an added challenge to figure out how to effectively merge all applicants into a cohesive team. In truth, it’s generally difficult to create workplace cohesion and effectiveness: the key to this is to carefully select the kinds of people who will appreciate and make the most of the opportunity you offer to them. This takes planning, flawless execution, real transparency, and a commitment to working with your employees to find real solutions to difficult problems. If this idea appeals to you, look for companies and people with training and experience to help you figure it out. Find the best ways to create team spirit and get the most out of all of your employees today.

Alan Shearer (b. 1970): English retired footballer 

Share what you know....

This quote is most often attributed to the mothers the world over who never fail to suggest this maxim. But its’ true derivation goes back to 1546 when Heywood included it in “A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue”: it lends credence to all those parents, coaches, and bosses who continually remind us of its value and importance. So, if you have a tough problem: seek help from others who may know more; if you have an important decision to make: talk to trusted advisors and tutors; and if you are on a team, combine all of your efforts to leverage the group’s talents and expertise. An example: I have a large dying Hemlock tree right next to my summer cabin – an unplanned demise could be catastrophic and a planned one is way beyond my expertise. Solution: there are countless woodsmen in these mountains, most of whom could climb, cut and lower its branches and trunk without thinking twice. Moral of this story: two heads are better than one. Join forces and increase your team’s effectiveness today.

John Heywood (1497 – 1580): English writer known for his plays, poems, and collection of proverbs

Choose wisely....

Selecting the right people is everything when putting together a team, but I think that Jennings’ list of priorities (in the quote) is in reverse order.  Most companies train new employees: some do it well, others very little, but that’s a topic for another day. Having the right values is the same as having the right attitude: so many companies are afraid of the challenges of trying to screen for these, but once you figure that out it’s easy.  Making sure that others share and embrace your purpose should be pretty straight forward: it starts with telling applicants what that is in all of the recruiting materials you generate, discussing it openly during interviews, writing it out and sharing it as part of the job offer, including it in new-hire orientation, and communicating it regularly throughout their career with you. Don’t leave this vital piece of information to chance: talk about your team’s mission and vision today. 

Ken Jennings III (b. 1974): American game show contestant, author, and holder of the record for the longest winning streak on Jeopardy! 

Take advantage of those around you....

“I've been fortunate to meet and work with a lot of really smart people. The thing that strikes me most about them is how they continue to explore and learn every day.” Bill Russell

Inever know what chord these messages might strike: yesterday’s, seems to have rung a bell or two. I heard from someone who used to belong to the Ridgewood Raiders, a name given to 30-odd years of sports teams from the neighborhood where I grew up. We were kids playing baseball and football – from local pick-up games to city-wide competitive ones.  We played because we liked it and were proud and learned a lot from the older players. Someone from that old gang organized a reunion a few years ago - some 40 years after the last game was played – the people that attended showed that the kids we grew up and played with were a lot of really smart people who explored and learned a lot between then and now.  The chemistry in the neighborhood back then was a mix of playful and purposeful, school and street smarts - the same as any of us would like to see in our current groups of friends and colleagues. Continue to explore and learn and bring your best to whatever ‘team’ you’re playing with today. 

William Felton “Bill” Russell (b. 1934): American retired professional basketball player

Look for the harmonies in life....

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.”Halford Luccock

I’m back from a week of visiting with the friends I sang with in college. We’ve stayed in contact all these years and each time we get together the old songs and harmonies come back easily and the new ones seem to fit right into our familiar patterns.  I’ve been playing guitar for 55 years and there’s a difference in approach and results when playing with others rather than alone: the energy one gets from playing with others pushes the combined creativity to levels hard to achieve singly. Because I played with others, I often hear their notes, riffs and harmonies in my mind when I play songs by myself: that same dynamic happens in life and at work.  We can’t whistle symphonies or optimally complete projects alone – it takes a whole orchestra or work team to produce a finished product. Get into the spirit of working effectively and successfully with your colleagues and discover how much better your efforts can be today.

Halford Luccock (1885 – 1960): American Methodist minister and professor of Homiletics at Yale Divinity School.

Let your actions define you....

The term ‘professional’ is often used to describe people who are engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime, and ‘professionalism’ as the competence or skill expected of a professional. In these contexts, it matters what someone does and how rather than who and what they are. For example, many of the people who compete in the World Series of Poker are often referred to as professional Poker players, not unlike the winners of this past week’s World Cup being called professional soccer players. Not that you have to be a player – people who work in all walks of life (like chefs, waitresses, Uber drivers and so many others) can also be referred to as professionals: again, it’s more about how they act than what they do and less what you say about yourself than how others describe you. Set your sights on being so good at what you do that people will refer to you in these kinds of terms. Let your good work define who and what you are today.

David Maister (b. 1947): American writer, former Harvard professor, and expert on business management practices and the management of professional service firms

Mind your manners....

One of the more difficult responsibilities of a professional is to remain calm: sometimes that’s not so easy. It’s okay to be emotional or engaged – those are natural behaviors in humans – but efforts should promote solutions rather than uncertainty. The Thai cave rescue is an extreme but good example of what’s needed: strong opinions and determined efforts have to be matched with good listening skills and a demonstration of shared purpose; a determination to get things done paired with an understanding of the human spirit. People work hard to get things done correctly and leaders need to recognize those efforts: celebrate when things go right and coach when improvement is needed. And when things are finally done, good manners, soft words, supportive gestures and sincere thanks help difficult things to pass. Hopefully nothing as scary or dangerous as that cave situation will ever happen to you, but if or when it might, the best qualities of true professionals are recognized and appreciated. Remember your manners today.

Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726): English Architect and Dramatist

Make time to be positive....

“Until you take your profession as passion, each and every activity looks as a headache.” Vignesh S.V.

Managers have a lot to do with the state of their employees’ attitudes: if the boss is enthusiastic, motivated and happy then their employees will be too. I went into a store in a little town in Maine yesterday and asked for a T-shirt: the employee there told me that part of the store was closed because they were short staffed. The manager overhead this and suggested to the employee they could open up that area and take care of the request together: the manager’s enthusiastic approach turned a negative situation into a great lesson in customer service. Positive starts with you: if you’re passionate to be there and do things, see the glass as being half full (rather than half empty), and focus on the things that are good and right, you’ll influence your employees to begin to see things and act that way too.  The best professionals know they have to watch for and deal with negative behavior ANDalso make sure they spend time being positive and catching employees doing things right: until they do, everything at work looks like a headache.  Be a positive and professional supervisor today.

Vignesh S.V. (b. 1991): Indian software engineer and writer

Do what you do with all that you have....

I usually advise people seeking career advice to stick to something they will do with passion, love and honesty. I went to college for human resources (better known as personnel administration back then) and it turned out to be a profession and career I loved. On the day I began at Cornell (all those years ago) I met some individuals who joined with me to start a folk-singing band that performed the entire 4 years we were there – people who were passionate about singing songs that encouraged others to care, in love with making harmonies, and honest with each other about how and why the music mattered. I’m having a reunion with them this week and it’s great to see that the passion, love, honesty, and harmonies are still there. Make sure you bring that same kind of gusto, commitment and professionalism to whatever you do.  That’s what makes life worth living today.

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner – aka Sting (b. 1951): English megastar singer, songwriter, and actor.

Get the most out of your people....

This week I met a Culinarian who just got a job in a large university dining operation: after only a few months on the job he’s noted the staff’s lack of commitment and engagement. He told me about his frustration with people not showing up for work or being less than productive when they do: I asked if he’d thought about asking these employees what it would take to get them to have better attendance, work hard and care a lot - he wasn’t sure if that was allowed.  The fact is, new supervisors in that kind of operation need to be proficient in so many things: managingschedules, productivity, menu planning, food costs and more, and leadingpeople to want to achieve (emphasis on want). Professionals need to learn and practice the most effective leadership techniques, not the least of which is motivating employees to do what’s needed and learning to coach them effectively. What kind of professionals do you like working for? And what kind of professional are you? Be the kind of professional that’s great at leading people today.

Grace Brewster Murray Hopper (1906 – 1992): American computer scientist and United States Navy rear admiral

What's in your photos....

“Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend.”Jules Renard

Modesty (mod·es·ty): noun

The quality or state of being unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one's abilities.

Selfie(sel·fie): noun

An informal photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media.

So, how does one modestly take a selfie: they’re certainly not unassumingand seem to shout ‘look at me’.  But before showing my age, I should say I think the smartphone generation seems to have discovered (and are teaching the rest of us) new ways to spotlight people, places and things in ways that are changing the notion of modesty (and possibly propriety) in the workplace.  Like storytelling, these tell what’s important to the speaker or picture taker, and point out why social media and smartphone usage policies are becoming so necessary. And maybe more importantly, it shows why open communications at work between the multiple generations employed there are so critical to understanding how to display pride without offending others.  Engage those around you in discussions about how to be most productive and effective, and keep an open mind about the changing nature of best practices. Show your pride and let other do the same today.

Jean Renard (b. 1933): French photographer, author, film score composer, and producer

Love what you do....

It’s been my experience that most applicants are full of pride and hope, and sometimes they even have what recruiters are looking for. But whether you hire them or not, remember that they’ll talk about their experience.  Hiring is tough: variables like the style of the resume, the words that are used, and the mindset of the reader affect the recruiter’s thinking. Every applicant is proud of who they are and what they do; they have hope and feelings and anxiously await an answer of some sort. That’s why you should always remember the common courtesy of sending a response: it’s a small thing, but it says much about your company. During my career I hired 125,000 of the nearly 4 million candidates that applied: meaning I had to send lots of rejection letters. I made sure to say something meaningful and constructive: after all, I knew many of them could become customers.  Remember that everyone you deal with has feelings and hopes: treat them with the respect they deserve. That’s good advice for being proud of what you do today.

Hosea Ballou (1771 – 1852): American Universalist clergyman and theological writer

What do you want to be when you grow up....

“It is not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness.”James Barrie

Peter Pan is a tale about a free spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up: but unlike that tale, eventually we all do grow up. In life, just like in that story, there comes a time when all children learn about the responsibilities associated with being grown – and one of those has to do with finding what you love to do and being proud of it. Grown-ups at work often participate in employee surveys, and these often find that they like what they do and are proud of where they work. Some may not like one or more things about their jobs, but most are proud of their efforts and those they work with and for. You can help make that true by being humble, listening, giving straight answers, keeping promises, acting fairly, and treating people the way you want to be treated. Be the responsible and thoughtful kind of grown-up that you and others can be proud of today. 

Sir James Matthew Barrie (1860 – 1937): Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan.

Find the fire in your belly....

“We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”Marie Curie

There are times when things don’t go exactly as planned: circumstances change and priorities shift, but we must have a fire in the belly to go on. That’s easier said than done. Most people try to overcome obstacles, both natural and man-made, looking for a quote or example that will motivate us to continue on. I read books and articles all the time about this, and yet it rarely gets any easier: then the other day while walking in the woods I saw a tree that had died and fallen – one of many in the forest.  But on closer observation there was a sapling growing up out of that stump: fiercely determined, proud of its progress, and determinedly overcoming significant odds. In that forest was a metaphor for life: don’t give up, believe in yourself, organize your strengths, work on your weaknesses, ignore the odds and be proud of what you can achieve. That’s what it takes to attain your goals today.

Marie Curie (1867 – 1934): Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize

Be proud without being vain....

One of the virtues I write about here is pride: the kind found when good people do things for good reasons. In excess, it can become perverted and can be seen as selfishly putting one's own desires before the welfare of others: in this latter example, pride is often described as being one of the Seven Deadly Sins. But as a virtue, pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves and the things we do; too much misguided pride can become vanity and be overly focused on what we want others think of us and the things we have. Managers sometimes think they’re better than the people that report to them rather than making their employees feel good about themselves - that’s when pride becomes a bad thing.  Be proud without being vain today.

Jane Austen (1775 – 1817): English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which focus on the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century

Find something you're passionate about.....

People have great ideas all the time: many, however, never follow through with them. That’s not the case with one of my former college roommates - earlier this year he celebrated his semi-retirement and announced his intentions to bike across America with a friend. Yesterday marked the 19^thday of that journey and the completion of their first 1000 miles. They’ve made it to Montana and celebrated by taking a half day off before starting on the next 1000 miles: I know this because he’s posting a blog every day about their progress. This is one of those burning ideas that they were passionate enough about from the start and they’re sticking to it.  I love reading about their exploits and observations and am inspired to see if there’s something I could be so passionate about. The discovery of our own passions is something we should all try to find today.

Steve Jobs (1955 – 2011): American entrepreneur and business magnate. widely recognized as a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s

Add color to your everyday commentary....

I do a fair amount of corporate training for clients that want to develop and sustain high output organizations. My training partner is a clinical psychologist and the workshops we conduct cover both the behavioral science behind the subjects we teach and the practical business examples that relate to them: this approach gives participants the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ needed to produce each program’s desired changes. We’ve found that professionals and leaders learn best when the materials are presented with authenticity and passion: this format is often referred to as ‘entertainment with a message’.  Stories are a powerful way to convey information and this presentation style mimics the way we talk to one another in everyday life: the messages are full of the color and commentary that make them meaningful and memorable. Learn to teach, mentor and coach your team effectively by including stories that punctuate the information you wish to convey.  That’s the best way to help others learn something new today.

Deepak Chopra (b. 1946): Indian-born American author, public speaker, alternative medicine advocate, and a prominent figure in the New Age movement

Happy 4th of July....

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."Harriet Tubman

In honor of the brave men and women who 242 years ago had strength, patience, and passion to reach for the stars to change the world: Happy 4^thof July!

Harriet Tubman (1822 – 1913): American abolitionist, political and antislavery activist, and leader in the struggle for women's suffrage.

Don't be afraid to be passionate about the work you do....

"It is obvious that we can no more explain a passion to a person who has never experienced it than we can explain light to the blind." T. S. Eliot

Ever wonder why more people are not passionate about their work? Maybe it’s because we don’t talk enough about its importance when recruiting - look at your interview questions: you can ask if they have a passion for the job they’re applying for, or what they were most passionate about in their last job; and watch their body language when they’re answering: do you see the light in their eyes to match the words they use? Or maybe it’s because we don’t recognize passionate performance enough: do you measure it, nurture it, coach it, celebrate it; employee surveys often reveal that managers don’t understand and pay attention to their efforts and commitment. So, if you want passionate employees, be passionate yourself; and if you see passionate employees, tell them how much you appreciate that. Remember: inspect what you expect, and comment on it. And remember to explore the importance of passion for work with recruits and employees today.

Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888 – 1965): American-born English essayist, publisher, playwright, literary and social critic, and "one of the twentieth century's major poets"

Look for this when looking to hire great employees....

I am again vacationing for the summer in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York: the weather here is beautiful and the solitude good for the soul. These are remote areas and the local businesses have difficulty finding employees: one newly purchased restaurant remains closed for lack of staff. But one we found open last night had a waitress that the proprietor referred to as a ‘gift from heaven’: smiling, engaged, proficient and fun. When I asked where he found her he told me she was a friend of a friend who was referred by another friend: meaning she wasn’t hired because of some complex assessment process. She was, in a word, wonderful: you couldn’t fake or train the passion she had for being a genuine service professional. Which goes back to my theory about hiring for attitude and training for skill.  Focus on hiring employees like this by learning how to discover what comes naturally in each of your applicants. It’s the only way to successfully operate your business today.

Barbara Ann Corcoran (b. 1949): American businesswoman, investor, speaker, consultant, syndicated columnist, author, and television personality (on Shark Tank).