Make up new rules...

Imagine designing something that changed the world – in the 60s, music and miniskirts epitomized that kind of change.

 

·      Good ideas

·      Can be catalysts

·      For changes, big and small.

·      Thinking for yourself supports

·      Creating things both good and great.

 

I was talking to my sister-in-law recently about the changes brought about by the opening of The Mirage: one of the biggest was the new Siegfried and Roy show. There were big acts in Las Vegas before that – Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Wayne Newton and shows like Jubilee and Lido de Paris – but none of them had custom showrooms like the one built for those two magicians. It was the beginning of mechanized sets and props and high-tech stages, lighting, and sound. And it was the first Vegas showroom where theatergoers could buy a ticket for a specific seat instead of trying to tip their way to good ones from the Maitre D’s. 10-years later came the Cirque du Soleil shows and showrooms, but in 1989 the S&R show stood out as a beacon of what was to come. Taking the ordinary to extraordinary heights was what those visionaries did, and they inspired others to make changes big and small to everything else in Vegas. Rules for them were meant to be broken. Encourage your employees to think for themselves and make up newer and better rules. That’s the best way for tomorrow’s changes to begin happening today.

 

Dame Barbara Mary Quant (1930 – 2023): British fashion designer instrumental in the 1960s London-based Mod and youth fashion movements that introduced the miniskirt and hotpants. 

Compliment as often as you correct...

Life can sometimes feel unfair. Adding up the accomplishments and setbacks often doesn’t seem balanced. 

 

·      Compliments and

·      Constructive advice

·      Should go hand in hand.

·      It often feels like they don’t.

 

Managers too often are encouraged to focus only on documenting poor performance: they seem primed to catch errors, to act like McGruff the Crime Dog. For most employees, simple reminders and coaching are enough to get them back on track. But here’s a better idea: encourage managers to balance correcting errors with catching employees doing things right: by doing that, managers will be seen as fair and balanced in their approach to supervision.  My company encouraged managers to give out multiple commendations for every time they had to take corrective action – again, showing employees that they were attentive to the good and bad. We recognized the managers who did that the most, showing our support for fair, balanced, and effective employee relations. All feedback from supervisors is good, especially when it’s objective balanced. As always, commend publicly and correct privately. Make sure your employees feel your commendations as deeply as they feel your corrective actions today.

 

James Clear is an author, blogger, speaker, and noted expert on habits and decision making. He wrote the NY Times bestselling book Atomic Habits.

Take things one step at a time...

Success, at anything, is hard work. The problem is that, in today’s culture, that kind of work isn’t sexy or cool. It’s just hard.

 

·      Big or little,

·      Success is hard.

·      Working together 

·      Is the way to succeed. 

 

The Mirage was opened to rave reviews and much acclaim. By all accounts, it was successful. But as I look back on the nearly 3 years of our planning and working on that opening, it’s fair to say it was a collection of problems solved. That many square feet, that many rooms, that many palm trees, that many different integrated resort elements, that many employees, that many restaurants, that Volcano, and so much more: nothing in any of those was simple or easy. Mostly because nobody’d ever tried to do all of them together before. But we approached every one of those complex problems as challenges to be overcome and solve… and that made it seem manageable. We put our heads together and addressed each of those smaller pieces of the overall problems and collectively and collaboratively worked our way through them all. We supported each other. And learned the universal truth that the only way to be successful at anything is to work together. And that is still true today.

 

Ieoh Ming (I. M.) Pei (1917 – 2019): Chinese American architect – read about him here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I._M._Pei

Discover your way to greatness...

Our greatest achievements are not so much created as they are discovered. That provides the fuel for your journey.

 

·      Our great achievements

·      Are the result of teamwork

·      And a commitment to excellence.

 

I recently had the opportunity to list the things we did while opening new casinos. The list from the Mirage was extensive, but it changed as we discovered new and improved ways to open Bellagio and Wynn. That original list was the result of talking to others who graciously shared their experiences with us. In addition to talking about what they did, they discussed what worked, what didn’t, and what they would do differently the next time. Those reflections help people discover the good, bad, and ugly of their efforts – that’s why conducting a debrief of your projects is so important. Experience combined with reflective hindsight are great teachers – make sure you include your whole team when discussing how best to complete your tasks. That shared discovery process will give your team the energy they need to do great things. Make discovery part of your plan today.

 

Ahmad Jamal (1930 – 2023): American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator, Jazz Master and winner of a Lifetime Achievement Grammy for his contributions to music history.

Be the solution, not the problem...

Creating anything takes great planning. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned.

 

·      The best plans

·      Often go awry.

·      Our job is to get

·      Them back on track.

 

You can’t let minor problems and unexpected delays stop you from finishing what you started. Every project I ever worked on was replete with plans, some of which didn’t go as expected. When things fail, trick is to stop, study the problem, get input from everyone involved, collaborate on solving the problem, communicate the new plan clearly, and get restarted as quickly as possible. Don’t stand there with your finger in your ear – someone’s got to lean in and start this and it might as well be you. Because time is critical – the longer you delay the more momentum you lose. Don’t be hasty, but don’t waste any time. Stepping into this kind of crack is a sign of leadership and that’s what everyone looks for in moments like this. Getting people going again stops them from losing focus, and taking small steps is better than doing nothing. Failure doesn’t mean anyone’s bad, only that someone or something wasn’t as good as it should have been. In business, as in life, pointing fingers doesn’t solve problems – people do. If something’s broken, just lean into the crack and fix it today.

 

Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born 1965): Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress, noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona.

Find what you were meant to do...

It’s great to find what you’re meant to do. It’s even better to use it wisely and generously.

 

·      Your life’s journey can

·      Help find why you’re here.

·      What you do with that knowledge

·      Creates the legacy you’ll leave behind.

 

I talk to people all the time about what they would like to do next. They often get around to stating they’d like to “give back”. I tell them that’s something they can do at any time by finding groups of like-minded people to affiliate with to share knowledge, contacting local schools to teach, coach, and mentor students, and looking within your current company to see if there are coaching and mentoring opportunities. There are so many ways in addition to these – start by deciding what you want to do, then identifying all the possibilities, and keeping at it until you find what best fits you. I taught at several colleges and community colleges where students wanted to learn more about hospitality and leadership – there’s no set formula, it just takes a little research. Everyone has something to share – experiences, expertise, skills, and abilities and we all know others who’ve found ways to share their gifts. Find ways to give your gift away today.

 

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973): Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, theater designer, founder of the cubist movement, and one of the most influential artists of the 20^th century.

 

Get it together...

Being a productive member of a team or society at large means knowing yourself. You may not like who you are, but you always can fix that.

 

·      Our inner selves

·      Are always on display,

·      Whether we like it or not.

·      Talk to the owner about that.

 

We get thrust into the public every day and must be prepared to do and be our best. Don’t show up without being honest with yourself, knowing what’s needed, and doing what it takes to be ready to effectively play your part. Don’t put others in a situation where you’re not supporting them as much as you want and need them to support you. Whether it’s rushing to finish your homework on Sunday night or taking the time to ground yourself for your challenges at work, you owe it to yourself and others to be on time and in the moment.  Don’t settle for being less than prepared and trying to ‘wing it’ – others will notice and while they may not say anything then, they won’t forget it later. Wrestle with whatever needs to be wrestled with and give your angels a reason to sing. Don’t be any less prepared than you hope and expect others will be today.

 

August Wilson (1945 – 2005): American playwright often referred to as the "theater's poet of Black America" and best known for a series of ten plays collectively called The Pittsburgh Cycle.