It’s Hot 

Ever notice that people  talk about the weather a lot?  Weather reports and the Weather Channel are the most watched parts of the news; but here in Las Vegas it’s pretty much always the same: sunny and warm.

Because the summer is especially hot in the desert, it’s the only time of the year that people here even comment on the weather.  During the rest of the year we never think about sun or clouds, rain and umbrellas, cold and coats, or snow and shovels.  And the absence of weather-related banter takes some getting used to; but since the Weather Channel forecasts and tells all we often commiserate with friends and family back home about……their weather.

Think about all the time you spend talking about the weather…. more than current events, interpersonal relationships, and the economy.  Now think about all the time you could save if you just stopped talking about it….after all, nothing’s going to change it.  But I guess we like to stick to simple things that affect us all, and weather, like traffic, seems to fill that space.  This is another of life’s habits that start simply and easily, and die hard.  

So the next time someone asks “what’s doing”, give them an honest non weather-related answer: how you feel, what’s making you happy or sad, how things are in your world, and whether there’s anything you can do for them.  Those are the kinds of things people really want to know about us; the things that are really going on in our lives besides…….the weather.

My message this week is about what you’re really interested in and committed to:

“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses - only results.”  Ken Blanchard

What are you interested in?  Probably getting to work on time and doing what’s expected, because that’s how and why you get paid.  But what you’re committed to is more important to the people you work for and with, and the customers you serve. The truth is, you’re expected to be at work on time, and to do the things you’re assigned, but that’s not how you or your company win and retain customers and business. In these very competitive times you need to have a can-do attitude, a sense of urgency, a never-quit work ethic, a commitment to excellence, and a smile on your face.  So, if you’re going to participate in something today, be interested AND committed!

Stay Well!