Happy New Year...

“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.” Robin Sharma

 

I’ll be turning 75 later this year and I can say very few of my years have been the same. Sure, I worked for companies for several years at a time, but as I’ve written here in the past, projects that I took on while at any one of them made each year seem uniquely challenging and rewarding. My choice. As we begin another new year, choose to make the year ahead one that will be a unique contribution to your life, starting today.

 

    Happy New Year!

 

Robin Sharma (born 1965):  Canadian lawyer, public speaker, and writer, best known for his The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari book series.[1]

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[1] Photo by Alexis Hunter

Get ready to ring in the new...

reinvent

verb

re·​in·​vent ˌrē-ən-ˈvent 

1

: to make as if for the first time something already invented

2

: to remake or redo completely

3

: to bring into use again

 

Wait no longer: now is the time to make your New Year’s resolutions, setting goals for the coming year. These run the gamut – from fitness and health, to learning and growing, they are whatever you think you should do to become whatever you can be. Many fall by the wayside – either too ambitious or unimportant. People young and old make resolutions big and small. Combined with the coming of a new year, these can be a motivational launch pad for things you’ve always wanted to be. And because you are never too old to reinvent yourself, this nearly universal practice is a big part of ringing in with the new year, the new opportunities, the new possibilities, the new you. And as we look back one last time on the year just passed, be mindful of all you’ve accomplished, be grateful for all that you have, be optimistic about all that you can do, and be thankful for all the people who helped you to get here. So, set your goals and get ready to start the journey to achieve them. Take time to finalize your New Year’s resolutions today.

 

Broderick Stephen “Steve” Harvey Sr. (born 1957): American comedian, television host (Family Feud), actor, writer, and producer.

Make sure you know how to work and play well with others...

As I look back on my career, the biggest and best things I did were done as part of a team. I recently participated in a webinar and the host asked me about the applicant tracking system I developed for the Wynn Las Vegas project. After conducting the large-scale recruiting projects for Mirage, Treasure Island, and Bellagio, I found that the computer industry and the internet were finally able to create the things I had been dreaming of for 15 years. It took a team of people to articulate the plan, create the specifications for development, code, test, and launch the system we needed to effectively and efficiently collect and process 125,000 applications, conduct and document that many 1^st interviews, do the same for 55,000 second interviews, and onboard 11,000 new employees. Complete with calendaring, notifications, complex reporting, paperless capture and storage of all data on facsimile forms, and an employee intranet. In hindsight, it was easy to come up with the vision for all that –a few of us did that relatively easily. But getting from thought to a finished and functioning system was akin to what a professional sports team does from spring training to celebrating a championship. Both take incredible teamwork – complete with all the challenges associated with working effectively with others. And therein is the key skill needed for successful teams – the ability to work and play well with others. If you are good at that, you’ll go far. If you are lacking – make that one of your New Year’s resolutions today.

 

Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha (born 1980-ish): Nigerian thought leader, human capacity developer, writer and transformational leader with interest in youth, human and community betterment.

Spend your time wisely...

                                            ·      Live your values.

                                            ·      Know your values.

                                            ·      Support your values.

                                            ·      Recognize them in others.

 

You can’t be unclear or passive if you want your employees to act with professionalism. Tell them what that means, explain your expectations, give them roles models to emulate, coaches to help them discover their options, mentors to talk to, and a culture that supports and recognizes the expected behaviors. Talking about a culture of excellence is easy but nothing will come of that – you must work at it, make sure your team is aligned with it, and each of them know what to do to reinforce it. This is the real talk the talk and walk the walk challenge – do it with sincerity and purpose or your employees will see that it’s only talk. Same with your company’s values – putting them on the wall is nowhere as effective as living them in everything you do. Over and over. Everyday. Teach them and them show how they count. There’s no magic to this – it’s just disciplined behavior. Say what you mean. Do what you say. And mean it. That’s what will count the most today.

 

Bob Talbert (1936-2014): American newspaper columnist, author, and all-around Detroit booster.

Always point your arrow in the right direction...

As the year counts down to a close, I am again thinking about the future of writing these daily messages. Not so much whether I’ll continue – if I can, I will, but rather, among other things, of continuing the process of collecting topical and pertinent quotes. Ones that inspire. I’ve often used quotes by today’s author as his are timeless and inspiring, just like today’s. Ones that make you think. Because whatever we each do, approaching work with professionalism is the basis of excellence and effectiveness. Tyger’s many talents included writing a weekly column that regularly ended with this: "May today be the start of a wonderful week for you." My goal has always been to provide a message that might be the start of a wonderful day for you – whether that’s provided by my message, one that your boss starts you off with, or something you find, getting off on the right foot is so important. Along with rest, exercise, and a healthy diet, these are the things you can do to approach each day with the right mindset and sense of purpose. Give yourself the tools you need to make the most of today.

 

Frank Tyger (1929 – 20110: American editorial cartoonist (Trenton Times) for 34 years; during that he was also a Production Manager, wrote a weekly column and continued to pursue his lifelong interest in authoring quotes and puns which were published nationally in magazines such as Reader's Digest, Forbes, Editor and Publisher and the Saturday Evening Post.

Have a Happy Holiday...

Take a moment to put yourself in a Christmas (and Hanukkah) state of mind and make every day one where you remember and act on the feelings you have today.

 

                                                Happy Holidays!

 

Calvin Coolidge (1872 – 1933): American politician who served as he 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929.

Get ready to celebrate...

We talk about and anxiously await December’s holidays all year long. Young and old rejoice and revel in this joyous time of year, remembering again what life, family, friends, colleagues, communities, and memories all are about. While couched in religious events, these holidays have taken on a whole other set of customs and meanings: 

·   Gathering and giving are intertwined with remembering that life is about others more than ourselves. 

·      This year, Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah are on the same day - over the last 100 years, it's happened four times: in 2005, 1959, 1921 and 1910. Even more reason to celebrate our happy associations. 

Here’s wishing you all a wonderful Christmas Eve and Erev Hanukkah today.

 

Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870): English novelist, journalist, short story writer and social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.

Learn more about Dickens: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens

Set a daily goal...

Every year around this time, I start to muse about how long I’ve been writing these daily messages – 5 days a week for 16 years (this coming April). I find and think about a quote in the evening, quickly write approximately 200 words about something I’ve experienced related to it and post it to my blogsite (https://thearteofmotivation.blogspot.com). In the beginning, I did it at the request of a client and then it became a part of my life ever since. I’ll admit that there have been days when I didn’t feel like it, but in the end I write because it’s part of who I am and the reflections from each motivates me to try to be better with each passing day. I tell the story often that when this started, we lived next to a 90-year-old woman who drove to church early each morning as part of her daily devotional – her personal attempt at staying true to the important things in life. That influenced me (and this) and after nearly 4000 messages, I can’t stop. Or I should say I won’t stop, because (1) it helps keep me centered on the important values I believe we all should adhere to and (2) if we don’t have something to aspire to each day, then what’s the point. The professional in all of us demands we aspire to something and work towards it, even when we don’t feel like it. Set a goal– big or small and use it as a guidepost today.

 

Alistair Cooke (1908 – 2004): British-American writer whose work as a journalist, television personality (host of PBS’ Masterpiece Theater) and radio broadcaster (Letter from America) was done primarily in the United States.

No matter what, it's all good...

Tomorrow morning when you look in the mirror, think back to all the days of your career. However long you’ve been working, there are sure to have been both ups and downs. Like many of us, you probably had a few jobs that left you wondering where it was going – but those probably spurred you on to find something better.  Even in the best of jobs, there were probably times when you struggled and others when you soared – like everything in life, it’s the struggles that put the good times into perspective. As I look back on the many years of my career, even the worst jobs seemed to have taught me something that I’ve used in the best ones. Like the time I worked on an assembly line making air conditioners – I was the new kid and the ‘lifers’ taunted me with mis-directions and jokes; to this day it always reminds me about the importance of good onboarding practices and bosses who walk the floor. And an industrial accident that left me disabled was a tough pill to swallow (no pun intended) – but it ultimately led me to being such a staunch supporter of providing second chances. Let the memories of where you’ve been help you feel pride for all you’ve achieved today.

 

Avijit Das (born 1986): Indian Kuchipudi (dance) performer, teacher, choreographer, and vocalist.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avijit_DasNo matter

Don't be afraid to ask for help...

Most managers tell their employees to ask for help when needed – not surprisingly, many employees don’t. I suppose it’s because they’re fearful of looking weak. We all want our bosses to think we can do anything, but the risks involved with doing things wrong outweigh the false pride associated with that silence. But I don’t blame the employees – that worry is built into the hierarchy at many companies, and that must be pro-actively addressed by leaders. That starts with onboarding – building relationships based on openness and trust; it continues through job training and coaching – always being there so that employees feel safe in being honest; and it continues every day when managers continuously interact with and coach their employees – reinforcing that trust so that employees know that it’s a safe environment for open discussion. Meaning leaders must use the skills associated with emotional intelligence and servant leadership, showing that openness, honesty, trust, and humility are woven into the workplace culture. Only then will employees open up and humbly ask for help when it’s needed. When that happens, remember it’s all about the person asking for help – leave yourself and your ego out of it. Then, both you and your employee will get what you each need and be proud to work there. Create a safe and trusting workplace today. 

 

Pauline Joyce Meyer (born 1943): American Charismatic Christian author, speaker, and president of Joyce Meyer Ministries.

Stand up straight...

I bet your mother always told you to ‘stand up straight’, ‘comb your hair’, ‘tuck in your shirt’, pick up your feet’, and so many more things related to your overall appearance – mine did. But back then those things weren’t cool… frankly, I just thought that was just a mother’s way. Then I started hiring people and immediately saw the correlation between sitting up straight during an interview and one’s approach to taking care of business. Those were the people who took pride in their personal appearance and presentation, showed up on time every time, looked people in the eye, were the most interested and attentive to what was going on around them, took personal initiative and then volunteered to do more, were curious and thoughtful, smiled a lot and were great at taking care of others (customers, other employees, and the workplace). They were the ones who knew that their posture reflects more than just your physical alignment; it projects a positive attitude and pride in what you do. That realization hit me right between the eyes: first, that mothers know best and should be listened to, second, how foolish I was to have generally ignored her precious advice, and third, how much I now miss her (and her advice). Think about all the things your mother told you and how spot on her advice was, both personally and professionally. Then remember to stand up straight today.

 

Dr. Steven Weiniger is a world leader in the field of posture improvement and author of the book Stand Taller Live Longer; he’s known internationally as “the posture expert”. 

https://standtallerlivelonger.com/dr-steven-weiniger/

Practice positive reinforcement...

Early in my gaming career I wanted to find ways to create a positive workplace culture at the Golden Nugget. After much study and debate we settled on promoting the concept of ‘catching people doing things right’. We had lots of rules and a habit of disciplining people for every infraction – managers reveled in writing employees up. But then, while studying the causes for high turnover, employees in the housekeeping department told me that supervisors never seemed to recognize any of the things they did right. So, we ran a pilot program in that department, asking those same supervisors to give 2 commendations for every disciplinary write-up.  Managers thought this was crazy but within 6 months turnover was down by 33% and employee morale was noticeably increased. All because those supervisors learned the importance of saying ‘good job’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘I am proud of you’. We extended that program to all departments and saw turnover drop throughout the company, a testament to the power of positive reinforcement and recognition. Most companies have lots of rules about what employees shouldn’t do – try listing what they should do and thank them each time they follow those rules. Let your employees know you are proud of them today.

 

Denis E. Waitley (born 1933): American motivational speaker, writer, and consultant.

Don't be afraid to try something new...

Sometimes the most fun you have at work are the times you’re out there trying something new. Whether it’s a project, giving a speech, or starting a new job, there’s always the anxiety of not knowing exactly what you’re doing. But that’s no reason to quit or not even try. The team I worked with on the Mirage really didn’t have the experience to do that project – but we were given the time to do research, talk to others who’d opened things, and learn what worked or didn’t in the past. We were scared, for sure, but not to the point of bailing out. We took that nervous feeling and turned it into working and studying harder. Or like the managers I used to ask to get up and present their employee of the month nominees – for some it was the first time they’d ever spoken in front of a crowd, and they were noticeably nervous. But we gave them time to practice and encouraged them when they finally stood up to do it; and with a little assistance they did well and learned to do better the next time. The moral of this story – don’t let the fear of something stop you from discovering the excitement and joy of succeeding at it today.

 

Robert Toru Kiyosaki (born 1947): American businessman and author, known for the Rich Dad Poor Dad series of personal finance books.

What are you passionate about...

People today tend not to want to talk about where they stand – mostly, they don’t want to get in an argument. But I think that if you have a well-thought-out belief, you should stand and be passionate about it. Here’s mine:

·      I’ve thought long and hard about the importance of helping those who’ve earned and want a second chance to be able to get it; and I’ve worked at and advocated for that for 30 years. This helps people transitioning from the judicial system to regain a productive place – in their families, in their communities, and in society.

·      Now I’ve recently been introduced to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), run by District Courts in every state –organizations of volunteer advocates assisting foster kids to get what they need to make it through the challenging times in their young lives. This gives foster kids in their formative years a boost to help their potential for success and not fall into the judicial and penal systems.

·      Both are equally important. They represent attempts to help improve both ends of this extended issue. Professionals involved in each of these programs need help – they need volunteer advocates, role models, mentors, job coaches, and donors … and things (read: jobs) for the individuals they’re helping to do (because, as you mother probably told you: “idle hands make mischief”). 

Everyone who has enough of what they need should consider giving something back. Something that they’re passionate about. I’m passionate about this. Stand and be passionate about something and help move it in the right direction today.  [1]

 

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841 – 1935): American jurist who served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1902 to 1932.

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[1] If the goals of either of these programs interest you, contact me – I’d love to chat. (arte808@gmail.com)

Don't work at something you're not passionate about...

I can’t imagine working at something you’re not passionate about - because when you do what you love, success will follow. That’s why I think it’s so important to try to discern what people are passionate about during job interviews. Not that you can come right out and ask what it is they’re passionate about – most will either not know how to articulate it, or they’ll make something up. Rather, ask them what they’ve liked most about the jobs they’ve had – the answer isn’t as important as the body language and look in their faces when they’re describing it. If the passion is there, you’ll see it in their gestures and the look in their eyes – it can’t be masked. So, ask the question and then sit back and watch everything about the answer – if you don’t feel it then it isn’t there. But if you do, hire them, and then support that passion by being curious about their work, talking to them about it, listening to what they love, and being the kind of supportive boss that makes people feel good about being passionate about their work. Don’t do anything to dampen that kind of passion today.

 

Margaret “Meg” Whitman (born 1956): American business executive (eBay, Hewlitt Packard), diplomat (US Ambassador to Kenya), and politician. 

Inspire passionate work...

You can’t force anyone to do anything – if you try, their efforts might be mediocre at best. The key to effectively managing people and an organization is to inspire people to want to do great work. With the proper motivation, people become passionate about their work and about the company they work for. It starts with a clear organizational set up, where everyone knows how their work fits into the overall effort. That’s followed by clear job descriptions that contain the results that are expected. Add to that training that shows what to do and why. With that three-legged foundation, employees have what’s needed to be competent and confident. After that, it’s about effective communication and recognition – when they know what’s going on and that someone sees and cares, they’re ready to be inspired – by the stories of their colleagues’ efforts, by the dreams and visions of their leaders, by the feedback from their customers, and by the overall results that they’ve helped produce. Inspiration is more than a speech – it’s the result of a culture of excellence. People like to be part of something great – with that there is self-direction, self-motivation, and passion in everything they do. Make a plan to make that happen today.

 

Sheryl Kara Sandberg (born 1969): American technology executive (Google, Facebook, Meta), philanthropist (Leanin.org), and writer (Lean In).

Continuous learning is a great way to keep old age at bay…

I was born in 1950 and from the time I learned to read and tell time I was always fixed on the fact that I’d be 50 at the turn of the century. In those early and formative years, that was my north star: to be 50 but that was a long time. But that came quickly: it was my Y2K moment, learning about personal preparedness and excellence. I never really thought about 2025 – that was a longer time into the future, and I would then be an age I never thought possible. But here it comes, and I now realize that as long as you’re learning, you’re not old – the excitement of learning separates youth from old age. Truth is, I’m learning more now about the science of behavior, the wonders of AI, the impact of micro-learning, and the importance of continuous learning. And the more I learn, the more alive I feel. If you’re just getting started on your career, commit to continuous learning – it’s a habit that pays continuous dividends throughout your life. If you’re older and wiser, use what you’ve learned (and keep learning) to be a mentor and coach. And at any age, keep using what you keep learning to keep growing – and let the excitement of learning keep old age at bay today.

 

Rosalyn Sussman Yalow (1921 –2011): American medical physicist, and a co-winner of the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (the first American-born woman in this category).

Find the courage to follow your passions...

cour·age

/ˈkərij/

noun

1.     the ability to do something that frightens one.

2.     strength in the face of pain or grief.

 

 

 

 

fear

/fir/noun

1.     an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

verb

1.     be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.

 

I believe that people are born with the concept of fear embedded in them; courage, however, is a learned behavior. I’ll have to check this notion with my consulting partner – he’s a clinical psychologist who studies these things. Either way, courage and fear in the workplace are generated and controlled by supervisory behaviors:

·      If your boss comes down hard on you for taking risks, you most likely won’t be courageous or passionate about taking chances. 

·      While he or she may or may not have policies that guide this type of behavior or training programs to prepare you for handling all kinds of situations, it can be a Catch 22 when dealing with customers. 

·      If your boss is uncomfortable with you using your own judgment in those situations, then he or she should engage in more training and coaching because, no matter what, they won’t be between you and the customer at that moment of service.

·      And it’s in those situations that you shouldn’t be afraid to act (as trained) nor do so with confidence (which is a lot like courage).

Best case scenario: have clear policies and even clearer communications, provide training and coaching guidelines within which your peeps can act, support them when they do a good job, and don’t micromanage or second-guess them. Without fear of trite reactions, your peeps will have the courage and passion to try and do great work today.

 

Orrin Woodward: American systems engineer and multiple patent holder turned author (Launching a Leadership Revolution, and RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE)