Find your calling...

“It's taken my life to learn what not to play.” Dizzy Gillespie

 

It’s funny how it takes most of our lives to figure out what we’re good at. Early in my career I wanted to be in on everything, do everything, and be the best at everything; writing that now makes me remember an old poster in my father’s office that said: “too soon old, too late smart”. We all need to figure out what we’re best at, hopefully sooner rather than later. It took a while, but I eventually learned that I was good at telling stories and inspiring employees to get engaged. I always liked public speaking and the big hotels I opened gave me a great platform on which to practice. And I was fortunate to work with others who knew what they were good at: the master chefs whose passion for their profession was evident in every plate that left their kitchens, entertainers like Siegfried and Roy and Cirque du Soleil who were great at creating scenes of joy and wonder that made audiences smile, the engineers and technicians who built properties that worked really well and amazed everyone, and lots of employees who loved working in a company they loved.  The key to life is enjoying what you do: meaning you have to learn what that should be. Don’t let life pass by without learning what you should play… and not play. Find your calling today. 

 

John "Dizzy" Gillespie (1917 –199 3): American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer.

Look for those who often are unseen...

“You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them.” Malcolm S. Forbes

 

The world is filled with people who, in a sense, can do nothing for us: the challenge is whether or not we see them. My friend Bill Bracken is a chef in California: a really good chef who could work anywhere. But he chose to open a community kitchen to feed people in need. In good times or bad, that’s a pretty big group of people. Skillfully and creatively, he’s built a organization (https://www.brackenskitchen.org) that is “committed to recovering, re-purposing and restoring both food and lives”. Like one of my other friends, Jon Ponder, who founded Hope for Prisoners (https://hopeforprisoners.org), they are doing much for people who otherwise may have done nothing for them. But in helping, they have helped themselves and their communities. Giving back is always important; but in this pandemic-scarred world, it is a societal imperative that cries out for people like Bill and Jon. We all know people like them, just like we all know things we could be doing to alleviate the suffering of people who can do nothing for us. Maybe one of this pandemic’s lessons is to see them and do something for them anyway. Because when we see a need and do nothing, we diminish ourselves. Be mindful of family or colleagues or friends, or the countless others who we don’t know, that may be hurting… then take an extra moment to imagine what you could do to help them today.

 

Malcolm S. Forbes (1919 – 1990): American entrepreneur and Publisher

Stretching is good...

We all have comfort zones and rarely go beyond those borders. They’re comfortable and safe. But things rarely happen there that are much beyond the ordinary. I recently co-authored an article in Global Gaming Business magazine about the opening of the Mirage (https://ggbmagazine.com/article/the-mirage-the-casino-that-changed-everything/?fbclid=IwAR0bkqXUMfCWlIcS9Zb8M8CmjlFmX3g4KY1MiUD1L7IHjDePetQsFlJetWc) .  It and the flood of comments I’ve received from employees who were there have reminded me how far outside our comfort zones we went in making that project a success. We worked closely together, supporting each other’s new ideas, and launched something that changed Las Vegas and the gaming industry. We didn’t do the things we did with that goal in mind… we did them because they seemed like they’d be the right things to do and good for the enterprise. And in the end, it was the total of a lot of little things that made that new hotel so spectacular and impactful. If you have a good idea, think it through, work with others, be open to improvements, and see it to its conclusion. If it makes you nervous then you’re probably in the right place and doing good things. Don’t be reckless or frivolous, but also don’t let your fears stop you from stretching. You’ll never know whether the cave you fear to enter holds the treasures you seek until you try. That’s a good way to lead your life today.

 

Joseph Campbell (1904 – 1987): American professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College who worked in comparative mythology and comparative religion

Look for the light...

A year ago, I was at a client site just as the world started hearing about a new virus that had the potential to turn into a pandemic: big predictions for something so unknown and faraway. By the time I flew home two weeks later, there was a full-blown panic on the news and in the airports and from the Uber drivers. Fast forward through an unbelievable and unsettling year to yesterday and my appointment for the first of my two vaccination shots: with that, I now feel there is light at the farthest end of this long dark tunnel. As shocking as this pandemic has been, and there has definitely been some horrible s**t along the way, the people who developed, tested and produced these vaccines should hold a special place in our hearts: along with the medicine, they also inspired expectations and hope. And if there’s any chance that we will get over this and back to some kind of normal, it will be because we can start to begin to forget our fears and plan for the future. Greatness comes in all shapes and sizes, in forms as varied as beautiful resorts to life-saving medicines. The stories about the people who developed these vaccines are starting to come out – great work by regular people doing extraordinary things. Let these spark your excitement and hope today.

 

Annie Dillard (born 1945): American author and Pulitzer Prize winner

Be on the lookout for good character...

There are a lot of smart people – just ask any of them, and most will confirm the fact. But it’s been my experience that the ones that tell you are not the ones that matter. Smart comes from books and experience, the latter being the more important of the two. And in many cases, the most experienced aren’t always the smartest. Smart is a combination of a lot of things, the most important of which is the kind of person they are. They rarely brag… they mostly perform. They’re more humble than not. Their efforts often result in great things, the glory from which they gladly share with others. They’re proud of their work. When they talk about it, it’s not bragging so much as being used for instructing and coaching and mentoring. You know they’re someone worth listening to because you sense it. It’s character. That’s what matters. Quietly doing great things that stand the test of time. I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of people like that. The impressions they made and the lessons I learned were and are priceless. Make it your purpose to associate with people of good character today.

 

Brené Brown (born 1965): American Scholar, Author, and Public Speaker

Be mindful of others...

Whether you’re on a team, in a job, on a project, or out with friends, your best efforts are what you do for others. Especially managers: it’s all about supervising, instructing, coaching, mentoring and leading their employees to be as effective as they can be – in those roles, it’s all about them. Think about all the things that others have done for you, or the times you’ve needed something, and others came through for you.  Those kinds of things didn’t have to be big, or flashy, or spotlighted – it’s often the simple and anonymous acts of kindness and support that mean the most and are so greatly appreciated. So many of us have been homebound with family for most of these past 12 months and, while that hasn’t always been easy, it’s taught us to think less about ourselves and more about others. This is true in good times and even more important in times of uncertainly or stress. This past year has taught that we are all in this together… thus the need to look out for one another. Take a moment to think about what you can do for others today.

 

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 – 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English writer of children's fiction, notably Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 

Teamwork matters...

This is certainly true in sports, and in life the same can be said about some business and civic leaders. People like that are selfless, humble, altruistic and generous; they’re the kind of people others want to be around and follow. Those are qualities we want our children to learn, which means they need role models (past and present) to learn from and emulate. Think about all the people you’ve worked with or been supervised by; now remind yourself which of all of them were (or are) like that; and then recall what they did that made (or make) you put them in that category. Now you have a picture and definition of really good people and leaders. I suspect most of them had great teachers or coaches who were great role models. As you lead your life, try to remember who and what they were (or are), and how they made (or make) your feel. And then try to be like them today. 

 

John Robert Wooden (1910 - 2010): American basketball player and coach who was the first person ever inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach 

Build trust...

“I wouldn't ask anyone to do anything I wouldn't do myself.” Indra Nooyi

 

Yesterday I wrote about tolerance and the Golden Rule: today I’ve found a poignant variation of that rule. Businesses and their leaders have a unique opportunity to help heal the divisions that are festering in the US (and probably elsewhere too). As employees, we’re keen to fit into the cultural norms of the companies we work for (likewise for athletes and their teams). People generally want to get along and it’s a process that allows that to happen; it’s not blind acceptance or going along to get along, but rather it’s about being open and caring and willing, developing relationships based on shared goals and accomplishments, and learning to trust and respect each other.  These things don’t happen overnight, and often need support and nurturing by well-meaning and enlightened management. But when they do happen it just feels right. And that’s because you know your colleagues not only are treating you the way they want to be treated but also asking of you what they demand of themselves. I’ve often said we build some of the deepest and longest lasting relationships at work: much like when we’re in school or on teams together, those can be special. As my friend Johnny C. Taylor (Pres and CEO of SHRM) has said, “there is a positive role that open, honest conversations at work can play in addressing bias and political divisiveness”. Create the kind of environment where people can learn and honor the things that bring us together today.

 

Indra Nooyi (born 1955); Indian-American business executive and former chairperson and chief executive officer (CEO) of PepsiCo

 

Find a good place to heal...

In yesterday’s message, I wrote about the social and political issues that are currently polarizing society and the potential for those to show up in and disrupt the workplace.  Back when I started as an HR leader, racial, gender and age issues were new in the workplace and we had to educate managers how to navigate them. More recently, the multi-generational workforce represents a new set of diversity issues that managers are struggling to understand and manage, and training is most likely needed for that too. It’s probably safe to assume that communities and businesses are always going to be faced with issues relating to all kinds of diversity. That’s why tolerance and the Golden Rule are so important in religious and early childhood education, and why they need to be stressed in workplace hiring standards, policies and orientations, in new hire and management training programs, and in corporate communications and recognition practices. Companies rely on teamwork and can’t expect employees to leave their differences at the employee entrance – those need to be discussed and managed by supervisors and leaders who probably are feeling ill-prepared to deal with them. In these uncertain times, make diversity training a priority for your business and be prepared to explain the why behind that mission. Because the workplace, with its shared values and objectives, just might be the place where we can address our differences and begin to heal today.

 

Girish Pancha: CEO of StreamSets, a data integration company

Let's appreciate our diversity...

We used to let Mirage employees dress in western attire during the National Finals Rodeo week in Las Vegas. When the Chef came and asked how his kitchen staff could participate while also wearing their white uniforms, I came up with the idea of letting them all wear red or blue bandanas; when I started to pass them out, several employees objected to being given ones that apparently conflicted with their gang affiliations. Prior to that, these employees had worked well alongside one another in spite of what were unknown “bloods” and “crips” affiliations, but once these became known, tensions rose, and we had to intervene with trained gang specialists to get them to discuss and put their newly discovered differences aside while at work. And interestingly, once the issues were out in the open, these employees started to understand not only the things that separated them, but also appreciate the things they shared: in that moment, they began to see the value of diversity. Today, issues related to the political polarization found in countless communities may also exist in their workplaces. If so, rather than let these differences fester in the dark, businesses should seek to turn a light on how diversity is a strength for everyone. Everyone should start to again appreciate our rich diversity today.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 – 1968): American Baptist minister, activist and civil rights leader 

Be prepared...

Like most people, we’ve been waiting for information about our local vaccination plan and schedule. I’m kind of surprised that some people don’t want it or think it, like the pandemic itself, is a hoax. We’ve been patient as they roll it out to health care workers and seniors in nursing homes here, so you can imagine our surprise and delight when a website was posted to make appointments. The crush of people going online to sign up was, as could be expected, overwhelming. The site kept crashing and it took several tries to get registered and scheduled. And now more testing sites are online for scheduling.  We feel very lucky to have gotten an appointment, mostly I think because we were prepared for it. We had already decided to get the vaccine when it became available and researched when and how the county health department would roll these out when the time came. Many of these sites are again crashing and officials are unprepared for such a large response – if they want people to get vaccinated then the system has to work right. Testing is starting all over the country and leaders should talk to their employees about their thoughts and the benefits of this vaccine.  Be prepared to take this opportunity to get back to some degree of normal today.

 

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born 1954): American actor, director, and producer

 

Rise to the challenge...

We want our leaders to be optimistic, seeing the proverbial glass as half full rather than half empty. They’re the kind of supervisors that see the possibilities rather than the problems and are curious enough to go in search of the solutions they envision. Not saying you have to be a futurist or mathematics genius like Hawking, but it’s always good to remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Life is full of challenges – lord knows we learned that in so many ways this past year, but leaders have to help their peeps focus on the future. They have to be good listeners and empathetic so that they understand the needs of others. Not saying they have to whistle in the eye of a storm, but they have to be trusted enough to lead others out of harm’s way or tough times. And they’ve got to have sense enough to see, and help others see, what’s best in every kind of situation or project or environment. Effective supervisors understand the needs and challenges of their profession and use that knowledge and those skills to lead others. And remember, it’s not about you but rather all of those you supervise, manage and lead. Keep your eye on the stars today.

 

Stephen Hawking (1942 –2018): English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author, director of research and mathematics professor at the University of Cambridge 

Smile on your brother...

“Always be a little kinder than necessary.” J. M. Barrie

 

Being a supervisor or manager is a profession, one that needs to be studied and learned. There are courses to be taken, mentors to be followed, and coaches to be listened to. But the best leaders possess innate qualities that have been nurtured and developed throughout their lives: in today’s world of work – especially during these Covid-19 times, empathy is chief among them. The supervisor’s job and title come with a fair amount of authority that can be wielded in many different ways: again, the best of them lead with care and compassion, good communications, and a sense of fairness, and they’re usually a little kinder than necessary. Of course, that are some that like to rule with a heavy hand and strict demeaner, things most likely learned from a past boorish boss. It’s been widely studied, and thus well understood, that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar: that’s not just something mothers teach their kids, it’s a tried-and-true management practice found in successful organizations everywhere and it creates trust, respect and loyalty. Think back on the things you hated about some of the people you worked for in the past, and try never to do those things; conversely, recall what you liked best about your leaders and make it your purpose to practice those things today.

 

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

Never lower your standards...

Professionalism is a characteristic we look for in leaders, one that has to do with how they act and conduct themselves. As a long-time recruiter of corporate leaders, I looked for professionals that were honest, trustworthy, reliable, respectable, ethical, organized, accountable, focused, poised, positive, empathetic, and excellent communicators. That’s a lot to look for but it’s what we expect in the people we work for and follow. Leaders can only lead when people willingly follow them, and it’s been my experience that most followers aren’t blind – they have standards and expect to see those in their leaders. When interviewing for potential leaders we sometimes spend too much time on their experience rather than on these characteristics: that’s why I asked them and the references I talked to about them to give me examples of some or all of the characteristics listed above. And when I hired any of them, I told them explicitly that those were the things I’d be looking for in their behavior and performance. These are not hard to measure – just ask the people that report to them what they see and think. Leaders who lack professionalism – meaning all those things I listed above, fail to be as effective as we want and need them to be. Look for leaders who set high standards for themselves today.

 

Raymond Albert Kroc (1902 – 1984): American businessman, credited with making McDonalds a worldwide brand

Don't be afraid of the truth...

There’s nothing worse than learning you’re wrong: as bad as that is, it’s of some small comfort to know that it happens to all of us. When it happens, you shouldn’t fight it or let your pride deny it; rather you should listen and learn because there’s no shame in being wrong, only in denying or ignoring the facts. But it’s not always clear what the real facts are. That’s maybe because we’re often influenced by colleagues and environment and don’t have the time or ability to find out what’s really going on. That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with people that will tell you the truth even when you don’t want it, one’s who won’t enable you to be confused or wrong. And don’t feel bad if you got something wrong: most of what we’re dealing with is complicated and the best antidote for that is continuous learning – in classes, online, and from mentors. You should never look at the truth in terms of winners and losers: we all lose when the truth remains hidden, and we all win when it’s found.  Understand that we’re all in this together and we all win or lose together. So, don’t be afraid to learn that what you learned before was wrong.  And don’t ever be afraid to learn something new today.

 

William E. 'Bill' Vaughan (1915 – 1977): American columnist and author.

Let's get back to work...

Late Wednesday night, in what seemed like the first positive thing said during that eventful day, Vice President Pence declared “let’s get back to work”. It had the effect of focusing his Hill colleagues on moving forward. Whatever your political persuasion, Wednesday was a bad day, maybe the worst example of people resisting change. But whether it’s in politics or business or our personal lives, the secret of change is to focus everyone’s energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. Because in building the new, leaders have the opportunity to establish new objectives, find common ground, address the real and perceived gaps, examine roles and responsibilities, answer questions, create new baselines, and re-build relationships. I understand that most people don’t like change, and many have trouble articulating their concerns: effective leaders guide people through this emotional minefield by helping them to see that it’s nobody’s fault and there are no winners or losers… just a bunch of people trying to understand why and how they’re going to get through it. And I understand that we’d mostly like to whine about the change(s) we don’t like; there again is a role for leaders: to help us find the things that are good for everyone and mitigate those things anyone thinks are bad. But make no mistake – change is hard and constant. All the more reason that we need to focus on building the new today.

 

Dan Millman (born 1946): Author, Gymnastics World Champion, Lecturer in personal development; the movie Peaceful Warrior was based on his life

Words matter...

V.02.05

“In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power but carries the ultimate responsibility.” Norman Cousins

 

There is nothing else to say today.

 

Norman Cousins (1915 – 1990): American political journalist, author, professor, and world peace advocate.

Just get started...

V: C.02.04 

Even with all that’s going on, it’s time to start something new. Even with the pandemic continuing and surging worse than ever, it’s time to start anew. Even with all the uncertainty about when and how this (the pandemic and so many other things) will end, it’s time to start anew. That’s because starting anew starts with you. If you’re looking for something normal to latch onto, then the normal transition from one year to the next just might be the ticket you’re looking for to move forward. We do this every year, making resolutions, looking to the future with hope and optimism, and trying out course corrections. Don’t let 2020’s craziness stop you from starting 2021 the best you can. You may be worried and confused or focused and determined… but you know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings. You may not be able to follow through as much as you want yet, but you can make a plan. You may not know exactly when or how (or even if) things are going to play out, but you can start today on your 2021 journey. Don’t waste time or worry on what you can’t control: take what’s at your fingertips and get started. Because you know. The time is now. Trust the magic of beginnings today.

 

Meister Eckhart [Johannes Eckhart] (1260-1328): German theologian, philosopher and mystic

 

Resolve to live...

Volume: C.02.03

 

Today’s quote can be all one resolution, or three separate ones. Your choice. Learn from yesterday: since last March the experts have been telling us to protect ourselves with masks, good hygiene and social distancing – that is still the best advice to take to heart and learn from. Live for today: we have to live every day like the precious gift it is – filed with family and friends and all the good things life has to offer. Hope for tomorrow: and we have to hope and pray for tomorrow and the continued good health of those we care about. As the new vaccines start to become available, we all need to focus us on what’s really important, beginning with life itself. This latest surge of Covid-19 cases is the result of people losing that focus and the discipline to hold out a little longer. People are worn out and just want this pandemic to be over with and to be able to go out and be with family and friends. Leaders, coaches and parents should step up their efforts to encourage those we love and are responsible for to keep doing what the experts advise. Do that and we can maintain some semblance of normal life; don’t and we face the prospect of more illnesses and deaths and continued restrictions. After all this time, it still comes down to that. Take the lessons from yesterday and use them to live and have hope today.

 

Albert Einstein (1879-1955): Theoretical Physicist, Philosopher, and Nobel Prize Winner

Now is the time to redouble our efforts...

Volume: C.02.04

Today starts year thirteen of these daily messages. They started as a request for pre-shift conversation starters about a client’s company values and turned into these Arte of Motivation messages. They were interrupted March 17 last year by the Covid-19 lockdown – since that started, I’ve written 249 messages about how it has affected work and leadership practices. Last March, I wouldn’t have thought it would last this long, but it has; so, from today forward, until this pandemic is over and we’re back to some kind of normal, I’ll number them sequentially to mark the days until it’s over. Today, then, is number C (for Covid) 02 (for this second year of writing about the virus’ impact on employees and their leaders) 02 (the second message this year). So, let me begin this year by saying that what this new year brings to all of us depends a great deal on what we bring to the new year. Meaning: I’m going to bring my perspective on how leaders can help their teams get through these unprecedented times; what I hope the readers of these messages bring is a willingness to think outside the box when it comes to working and supervising and motivating. We should never overlook the importance of empathy when leading others: these past 259 days have proven that to be so true. As we begin 2021, reach out to your employees and make sure they know you care about what they’re going through and need. Let them know you’re there for them today.

 

Vernon McLellan (1929 – 2003): Author and violinist

Happy New Year...

Last year at this time we were all looking forward to the new year and things that had never been… and oh boy, weren’t we surprised. 2020 taught us how to take the good and the bad and hopefully, 2021 will be better. Here’s wishing that we all find abundant health and happiness in 2021.

 

           Happy New Year

 

René “Rainer” Maria Rilke (1875 – 1926): Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist