Do not evade the obvious...

In a listening exercise I often use in workshops, I ask attendees to “try to stand” – invariably they all stand and are chagrined when we point out the instruction was simply to “try”. Cute, but instructive when discussing the importance of listening carefully. My former company’s Interview Policy instructs hiring managers to select ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ only; in this, there isn’t a maybe option – it forces clear thinking which in turn lead to decisions. These are examples of a do, or do not mindset where we must learn to think and decide rather than waffle or prevaricate, defined as an ambiguous or evasive way to avoid committing oneself. My point here is that managers must learn to be unambiguous in their communications and able to commit to definitive actions when supervising. Employees deserve that and, in fact, members of Gen Z (18% of today’s workforce, projected to be 30% in 2030) demand it. It’s good management practice to think in yes or no terms – not in all cases, like those where negotiation and compromise are appropriate, but certainly where and when it’s appropriate. Like in policy definitions, forced-choice decisions, and those times when clarity is important. Start thinking along these lines, practice where appropriate, and discuss the concept with your peeps. When try is not an option, do or do not today.

 

Yoda: A fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a small, green, elderly humanoid alien who is powerful with the Force and typically speaks in an inverted phrase order. He first appeared in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back.

Work hard: prove why excellence wins...

For more than 40 years, I’ve seen the best jobs go to the hardest workers. The ones who put everything they’ve got into proving their abilities. Along the way, I’ve heard people complain about how others must have “juice”. In my experience that’s rarely the case, sometimes it happen, but as a former manager I know that people usually get a big job by outgrowing the small one, by showing they’re ready, and diligently proving that to be true by their subsequent performance. Hiring and promoting people isn’t a perfect science – that said, it’s enhanced by a hiring manager training, coaching, and supporting the people they select. That’s teamwork and a commitment to making your peeps successful – what you do after someone’s hired is critically important.  Know what you’re looking for – experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Ask good technical, situational, and behavioral questions. Assess for fit and attitude. Make an honest and objective decision. And support them as they get started. If you go into selecting someone with good intentions and back that up with good support, everyone wins. Put the right people into the right jobs and help them be successful today.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882):  essayist, lecturer, philosopher, minister, abolitionist, and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century.

Don't pass things up...

Every successful person will tell you to keep trying – failure comes mostly when you quit. And a big part of their success is learning from everything they’ve done. Conversely, you learn nothing from the things you haven’t done. I haven’t had many jobs throughout my career, but I don’t regret any of them; just as importantly I probably would have regretted it if I didn’t take each of them. Same is true of the projects I tackled in those jobs – some were scary, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t dive in with both feet. I’ve often said that the Mirage was probably beyond my capability when I started on it, but I never regretted the hard work and all that it taught me. A lot of that learning came from listening closely to what others had to say – it was clear that without that help I probably would have failed. And I certainly would have regretted that. Life, and the work we do, is supposed to be hard – that’s what’s challenging and ultimately fulfilling. Take a chance on the opportunities that present themselves to you. You don’t want to look back and regret that you didn’t. That’s the best way to live life today.

 

Lucille "Lucy" Ball (1911 – 1989): American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive.

Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucille_Ball

 

Help others help themselves...

If you want to be something you must actively go out and make that happen. It’s not going to happen by itself. Sure, there are people who they say were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but unless their success is earned, nobody will respect it. No matter how hard they try to bluff it. Same is true with criticism – active, goal-oriented people may rub people the wrong way, or take stands that, while ethical and appropriate, may invite critical reactions. The easy way to avoid that is by doing or saying nothing. But not the best way. I have experience with this – HR leaders are often criticized because they must ensure compliance with policies and procedures. If they want to avoid it, they can go with the flow and let things happen, or they can adopt a business partner mentality and help others discover and learn what they must do to make those kinds of critical decisions relative to their own departments and employees. By being a coach rather than a perceived know-it-all. By making sure that others are successful. That same concept applies to all leaders – partnering rather telling, coaching rather than trying to do it themselves, listening rather than preaching. It may not always be the easiest way. But it’s the right way to lead today.

 

Aristotle (384–322 BC): Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath.[1]

---

[1] His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts. As the founder of the Peripatetic school of philosophy in the Lyceum in Athens, he began the wider Aristotelian tradition that followed, which set the groundwork for the development of modern science.

 

Strive to be your best...

This is the time of year in the US when sporting events seem to take on a larger focus – with football in the midst of its annual season and the baseball championships marching towards the World Series. We love quotes from athletes because their exploits seem larger than life (thanks to television) and they become metaphors for work. As we watch them, it’s clear they demand excellence – mostly of themselves, so that it sets the tone for their teammates.  It’s much the same for employees at work – we must inspire them to pursue a continuous drive for personal excellence so that their efforts support the work of their colleagues and work teams. We do that by making sure they each have the training that allows them to strive to be their best, by providing the tools they need, by being aware their efforts, by coaching them when needed, and by giving them feedback and recognition. Great organizations achieve that status one employee at a time. Making them feel part of the overall effort. By helping them see and appreciate how their individual effort supports the whole.  To me, that was always the most exciting part of work. As I’ve often said here, I was a singer, not an athlete – but the harmonies I achieved in the bands I was in were as rewarding as the winning a sporting championship as a team. Those kinds of excellence are the result of lots of individual excellence. Demand excellence of yourself today.

 

Emmitt James Smith III (born 1969): American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. He is the league's all-time leading rusher.

Learn from everything that happens...

In his prime, Jack Welch was one of the most admired CEOs in the US – tough and successful businessman and inspiring leader. And it’s quotes like this one that made him so good. In today’s world where leaders won’t admit mistakes, this is a lesson worth listening to and learning.  Everything we do is an opportunity to learn something – when we fail to achieve our objectives, a review with colleagues makes the whole team better in the future, and when we do achieve them, that same review can confirm what’s good and keep the momentum going. And there’s no shame in that. Nothing to avoid. And everything to gain. Taking responsibility. And being a professional role model. That’s leadership. On a team, in a family, for a community, or just for yourself. Because everyone’s aware of what leaders do and watching how they react to the good and bad things that happen. Do everyone a favor and learn from everything that happens today.

 

John Francis “Jack” Welch Jr. (1935 – 2020) was an American business executive. He was Chairman and CEO of General Electric (GE) between 1981 and 2001.

Don't hold back...

I’m not sure today’s quote is clear in its meaning and intent. I suspect Land meant that collaboration needs honest and open communications and that participants must speak their minds. To suggest that politeness should be abandoned is a bit much – people working together must still be respectful and professional, but they should never hold back for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. Work team members must have thick skins, able to give and take and learn from honest feedback, positive or negative. Because projects end best when everyone contributes their best efforts and thinking.  Leaders of work teams must establish and clearly communicate rules and expectations and facilitate discussions that examine everything and surface all ideas. When selecting team members, leaders should make it clear they want them to speak up if they disagree or see something that’s wrong, and when leading them they should foster the kinds of challenging cross communications that support achieving the best results. Participants in group efforts must stay focused on the project’s objectives and add their expertise and comments in good faith and real time.  Any form of politeness that limits the free and open exchange of thoughts and ideas should be discouraged. That’s how to get the most out of your work teams today.

 

Edwin Herbert Land (1909 – 1991): American scientist and inventor, best known as the inventor of the Polaroid Land Camera which could take a picture and develop it in 60 seconds or less.

Work together to succeed together...

I’m often lauded for opening so many successful casinos, but in all honesty, the teams associated with those openings are the reasons for their success. That’s why so many of those individuals tell of the excitement and experience of being part of those teams. Working long hours, creating things they never thought possible, growing close to people they only recently met, and developing friendships that last a lifetime. Working without offices, in open bullpens that promoted interaction and teamwork, learning stuff about each other’s roles that gave them a deeper understanding of the whole company. Feeling a sense of individual and collective ownership and pride that drove performance and excellence and created memories that have lasted a lifetime. Any time people work on a project together – big or small, a team spirit develops that inspires teamwork and a deep feeling of ownership. I often see the people who worked on those teams, and they always reference back to those times as some of the most fulfilling parts of their careers. Whatever you do, wherever you work, find ways to create work teams – they’ll spark morale and excellence in anything you do. They’ll make you better and more successful. Get yourself on a team today.

 

Alan George "A. G." Lafley (born 1947): American businessman who led consumer goods maker Procter & Gamble (P&G).

Listen with all of your senses...

Listening may be the most important part of communications. Words, tone, gestures, and inflections can affect its overall message, adding nuances and emphases that should be noted. Body language adds another dimension – sometimes adding to, limiting, or altering the overall message. Listeners must be astute enough to note what’s not said – this can add further meaning or context to a message. This last element is often missed in the rush to either complete an interaction or move on to what’s next. It can be helpful for the listener to silently think “but” at the end of a conversation – helping to imagine what might not have been said. Also helpful is to say to the speaker “that’s interesting” or “tell me more” – this may prompt the speaker to add what was initially unspoken.  That said (no pun intended), sports and work teams often develop a sixth sense about reading or sensing unspoken messages that enhances teamwork, something that can be extremely useful. Either way, participants in communications should listen with all their senses and take time to process all that occurs in and around a conversation to ensure getting everything. Interestingly, I worked with two colleagues who previously had been poker champions – both spoke carefully, clearly, and completely and I learned that with them, nothing intended was left unsaid nor did their communications include gestures or body language. But communications with nearly everyone else requires hearing what ins't being said. Listen carefully and pay close attention to any communications you’re involved in today.

 

Peter Drucker (1909 – 2005): Austrian American management consultant, educator, and author, whose writings contributed to the philosophical and practical foundations of modern management theory.

Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Drucker

Focus on being effective...

One of the primary roles of any leader is to make sure their people are effective. In sports, that leader is responsible for making sure their players are effective at their positions. In business, it’s much the same – making sure their employees are effective at achieving the objectives of their jobs and department. By being clear in their communications, following up with their employees, coaching their employees to be their best, and inspiring them to want to. It’s a role that never ends, is always focused, and must nurture trust and respect. In sports, that’s focused on winning; in business, it’s focused on effectiveness. In both, you play by the rules, support your colleagues, and always do your best. Every team – from youth leagues to the majors, and every business – big and small, succeeds or fails by the effectiveness of its leader and the people they manage. Make a plan, follow thru on it, listen closely, adjust as needed, stay close to your peeps, and be there for them. That’s a good formula for making an impact today.

 

James R. Stengel (born 1955): American businessman, author, professor, and public speaker. He served as the global marketing officer of Procter & Gamble from 2001 to 2008.

Still crazy after all these years...

This will be a short message today. It’s my birthday and I want to live, work, and act today. Thankful to still be getting the most out of life. It’s been another wonderful summer in the Adirondack Mountains – seeing family, friends, familiar places, and another year of Fall colors. Feeling engaged at work with two new start-ups and a few interesting consulting gigs. And getting up every day and doing stuff that excites me. In the back of my mind, I’d always thought of 75 as old… but now that I’m looking through the lens of a 75-year-old, it’s just more of the same. Nothing to brood about. Everything to be thankful for. And thrilled to still be at it today.

 

Henrik Johan Ibsen (1828 – 1906): Norwegian playwright. He is considered one of the world's pre-eminent writers of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama.

Practice continuous self-improvement...

Today is Yom Kippur, considered the holiest of the Jewish holidays. On this day, we reflect on who we are and what we’ve been this past year, and what we aspire to be in the next. To contemplate how we might be better by learning from what we’ve been. Like a commitment to continuous personal improvement. Because it’s never too late to be what we might have been. All major religions have a regular practice of self-reflection and repentance, but in Judaism it’s an annual event during the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur, which is called the Day of Atonement. On which we don’t eat or drink, waiting to be given a sign that we’ve been absolved by God. A common phrase for Jewish people to say to one another during this time is, “May you be inscribed in the book of life.” The notion is that by the end of Yom Kippur, G-d will have decided who gets to live another year. As a child, that seemed rather harsh, but all these years later it is a fervent wish.  May you be inscribed in the Book of Life today.  

 

Mary Ann Evans (1819 – 1880): Known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era.

Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Eliot

Spark someone's enthusiasm...

We assume highly successful people like today’s author are an inspiration to others. But the fact is, any of us can be an inspiration to those around us. Especially if you’re a manager or supervisor – employees look up to those positions and are always watching and listening and that presents opportunities to add motivation and inspiration to you regular management duties. Start by talking about what’s on their minds, bring them into the loop by discussing business issues relevant to them, coach them to discover how they can get the most out of their jobs, and be an example of expected behaviors.  Inspire them to think about the stars they can reach for in their jobs and beyond. These kinds of interactions boost commitment, enthusiasm, and productivity. They help build a great workplace culture. Add this kind of out-of-the-office and ‘on-the-floor’ time to your calendar every day. Then leverage that to inspire your employees to reach for the stars today. 

 

Ellen Ochoa (born 1958): American engineer, former astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center.

It takes one to know one...

This quote sounds to me like a roundabout way of saying you need to be engaged to get others to be engaged. And since engagement is one of the big issues in the workplace these days, management – leaders, managers, and supervisors, must be more engaged with their business and employees. Actively. In plain sight. Modeling engaged behavior like being interested, asking questions, encouraging communications, coaching to improve understanding and performance, building consensus and teams, and reinforcing it with feedback and recognition. Looking at all that, it seems like a bit much; but it’s really what you want your employees doing among themselves, discovering opportunities to improve process, performance, and productivity. And seeing how their engagement helps the business reach its objectives and be more successful. That’s a leadership challenge: to embed this stuff in the workplace culture so it becomes self-motivating and -sustaining. Start small – walking around, engaging in conversations, feeding your curiosity. And let this grow and build interest and acceptance from there. Getting everyone bought in and engaged.  It’ll take a plan. Get your peeps engaged in developing that too. It’s how successful companies remain competitive. So, at the risk of sounding overly simplistic, get engaged in getting this started today.

 

Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867 – 1944): American composer and pianist. She was the first successful American female composer of large-scale art music.

Read her story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Beach

Use your head...

When asked about how to be successful at something, my grandfather would point to his head and say the Yiddish work “sachel”. A derivative of the Hebrew word “sakal”, that roughly meant “use your head”. Or use common sense and good judgment. On reflection, I think those two things should be included in every job description. For line employees, that could mean using common sense when performing a job, applying what you know and adjusting when you should. For managers and professionals, it could mean using common sense when supervising employees and servicing customers, being aware of what is happening and needed, and why. While every company has policies, they should teach those to employees along with how and when to be situationally aware. When it’s black and white, go by the book, but when something is in a grey zone, it often calls for judgment and prudence. A leader’s job is to actively teach others how to behave and perform professionally and effectively, while supporting their prerogative to apply common sense. Guidance in these areas should be actively provided by coaching, mentoring, and role modeling. Allow your peeps to practice and learn; don’t be too hard on them, let them know your expectations, be around to answer questions and give feedback, and nurture a safe learning environment. Because it takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently. Help your employees to act intelligently today.

 

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821 – 1881): Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist.[1]

---

[1] He is regarded as one of the greatest novelists in both Russian and world literature,[3] and many of his works are considered highly influential masterpieces.[4][5] Dostoevsky's literary works explore the human condition in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century Russia, and engage with a variety of philosophical and religious themes. His most acclaimed novels include Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), Demons (1872), The Adolescent (1875) and The Brothers Karamazov (1880). His Notes from Underground, a novella published in 1864, is considered one of the first works of existentialist literature.

 

Just be a good person...

You can be proud of yourself and what you do, but you shouldn’t let it go to your head. Artificially swelling your ego causing you to strut around like you’re better than others. The media – print, TV, movies, and social, like to make you think that some people are larger than life when in fact everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time. That you’re only cool if you have a personal brand or are some kind of an influencer. But there was a time, not so long ago, when the cool cats were the ones who didn’t think they were better than everyone else and were known to hold the door for others and say please and thank you. The ones who were appreciative and humble. It’s okay to be proud and humble. It’s not okay to make yourself feel big by making others feel small. It’s nice to be great but better to be a good person. Caring more about and doing more for others than you do for yourself. That’s what leaders and role models do. That’s what the people you want to be around do. Be proud and humble today.

 

Thomas Merton (1915 – 1968): American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist, and scholar of comparative religion. 

Learn more about this cool cat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton

Support self-confidence...

It’s good to be passionate about the things you do and to believe in yourself. Self-confidence is greatly admired by family, friends, and employers. Especially employers. But that doesn’t mean anyone should take that for granted. And because it can be shaken by the kinds of uncertainty that often exist at work, people’s self-confidence should be nurtured with lots of open, two-way communication, timely feedback, and fostering a sense of inclusion. Make it a point to show them the link between their efforts and the overall status of the things they work on. And never take it for granted they know what you’re thinking – be pro-active, over communicate, catch them doing things right, and always be available to listen and respond to their questions. Because in this, what you as their leader do also makes a difference. Creating a positive, communicative, and engaging environment lifts peoples’ sprits, improves their performance, directly affects customer experiences, and impacts the bottom line. Make it a point to let your peeps know that they do make a difference today.

 

William James (1842 – 1910): American philosopher and psychologist.”[1]

---

[1] The first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States, he is considered to be one of the leading thinkers of the late 19th century, one of the most influential philosophers and is often dubbed the "father of American psychology.

 

Steer yourself in the right direction...

Many grew up with these Dr. Seuss books, filling children’s hearts with great stories on which they can easily get hooked. Books from a decidedly different time which were built around a decidedly different kind of rhyme. Trying to write in this unique kind of style is challenging for me, especially when my message is meant to be simple to see. The point I am trying to make here today is that each of us is responsible for deciding about the direction from which we can each make our way. Those decisions can be hard because so much is at stake, and it can be confusing to know which decision is to make. But because you have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose. Now you’re on your own, and know what you know, so you are the one who’ll decide where to go. Suffice it to say it’s important to fashion a personal decision that’s filled with interest, commitment, and a whole lot of passion. Forgive me for attempting to write like the good Dr. Seuss, but in staying in style with the way that he writes I am hoping to ignite your personal insights. So choose the way where you want to go today.

 

Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991): Writer, Cartoonist, Animator known as Dr. Seuss – from the book “Oh the Places You’ll Go”

L’Shana Tova – a wish for a year of good fortune, health, and happiness.

Today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year - it begins the Ten Days of Repentance culminating in Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. These holidays are dedicated to reflecting on one’s behavior during the past year and seeking to make amends for our behavior. In this, mistakes are forgivable if one has the courage to admit them. Most world religions feature principles related to atonement, reconciliation, and mitigating negative consequences: Judaism and Islam, emphasize repentance and seeking God's forgiveness, while Christianity centers forgiveness around the redemptive act of Jesus Christ. While it seems like most would ascribe to these principles, the divisiveness and animosity in the world suggest otherwise. On this holiday, let’s pray that all will be more open to the true principles of their religious beliefs. Let’s start by admitting our shortcomings and being more forgiving today.

 

Bruce Lee (1940-1973): Hong Kong-American martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher.

Pay attention to the little things...

Most of us working on opening the Mirage were overwhelmed – there was so much to learn to do what we had to do. Every day we tackled challenging projects and fought hard to complete them on time. I frequently write here about our philosophy to ‘hire for attitude and train for skill’ – when we first adopted this, it was just one of so many new things we were implementing back then that it nearly got lost in the shuffle. We were so heavily involved in researching which attitude to hire for that this overall concept seemed small by comparison. Forgetting for the moment that we decided to test for general optimism, the concept of placing more emphasis on attitude than education, skills, and experience was terribly challenging for our hiring managers. They’d always looked only at experience as the determining factor in hiring and were resistant to change. It's been nearly 40 years since we started down that road and I still find hiring managers who still hire only for experience and are likewise resistant to changing to hiring for attitude. But every time – then and now, I explain the benefit and am proud when they come around. And after all this time, I am amazed that what seemed like just one more thing in that large group of things has endured and become a relatively big thing in the world of hiring. The moral of this story: pay attention to the little things today.

 

Robert Brault (born 1938):  American author known for his insightful, concise observations on life, love, and the human experience.

Be considerate...

It’s hard to be excited and humble at the same time. When I get excited about something, it’s all I can think and talk about, almost to the point of being overbearing. Case in point: after I cut the tips of my fingers off, all I could think and talk about was how it was going to affect things I did. Like typing, buttoning, holding things, and playing the guitar. That focus (near obsession) led me to discover one prosthetic to grip things and another to play the guitar; I got so excited that I told everyone, many of whom were probably only being polite. I could see that in their eyes. And it was a good reminder: everyone’s got something going on in their lives, a lot of which needn’t be shared, or shared sparingly when answering a polite “how are you doing” question. Staying excited and humble is a way to temper enthusiasm with respect for others. There will be enough times when sharing between participants can be exciting and enthusiastic. But when the issues are mostly personal, be aware and considerate of others. When you need to share, do it enthusiastically and humbly. Do that and good things will come today.

 

Mark Lee McMorris (born 1993): Canadian professional snowboarder and three-time Olympic bronze medalist who specializes in slopestyle and big air events. 

Find what you're looking for...

Several years ago, I was inspired to come up with a better way to train mid-level management. I got excited because what we’d always been doing wasn’t effective and I suspected there were ways to improve on the model. The biggest problem was that the trainee’s manager rarely took the courses and workshops their employees were forced to take. That resulted in mixed signals because the manager was unaware of what the training focused upon. What was needed was a way for the manager to know what was learned so he or she could discuss it with their employee, coaching them when needed, answering questions that arose, and overseeing the practicing of the new ideas and techniques. Without that focused supervision, there was no way to note if the employee learned anything, or if their behaviors changed because of the training. The training I developed included a guide for the manager to use – it included a summary of the course materials, discussion points they could utilize in their regular meetings with those employees to see if they understood and were using them appropriately. The kinds of things supervisors are already doing. And it didn’t hurt that the video courses were only 60 minutes in length and came in easy to grasp 10-minute chapters. That inspiration led to some exciting ideas and the development of Tiny Classroom Training. Now I can’t wait to see what I’ll come up with next. Look for ways to improve the things you’re already doing today.

 

Dolly Rebecca Parton (born 1946): American singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman.

Learn more about her: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Parton

Stay true to your vision...

When Wynn bought the Desert Inn from Caesars, it came with PeopleSoft as it’s HR system. They thought the system would be adequate when in fact its version was so old it had to be totally updated. We went back and forth with them and became frustrated when they were unwilling to make the kinds of upgrades needed to satisfy my paperless and self-service expectations. I didn’t want to abandon my vision for HR and they were unbending – I worried I might have to abandon my dream. But I found some PeopleSoft program developers interested in making that system do what the PeopleSoft execs didn’t want it to do. Opening all of Wynn’s casinos presented many challenges and this one was my biggest; and that’s when I realized that to strive with difficulties and conquer them was the highest form of professional contentment. Made more so by working with really smart and committed people, giving them the space to do what they do best, and having the patience to let ideas develop. Don’t abandon your good ideas just because someone tells you it can’t be done. Collaborate, communicate, commiserate, and stay true to your vision. Good things happen to those who have the courage of their convictions today.

 

Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784) English writer, poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography calls him "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history".

Drink water and take breaks...

Exhaustion can be the enemy of progress. The excitement of being involved in exciting things starts at the beginning and, unless managed, can drain a team and its members of the strength and will to go on. This was one thing we learned when studying other openings as we prepared for the Mirage project. Giving breaks and insisting on days off and vacations was written into our plan, but then we succumbed to the stress to get things done and weren’t as vigilant as we should have been. The result was people working long days, struggling to get more than one day off at a time, and ignoring vacations – the pressure to be on time with things clouded our plans. And it wasn’t just our employees – their families didn’t get the full benefit of their mother or father or spouse. Kids started acting up, doing poorly in school, and the strain on families showed in our employees and their performance. We started allowing parents to bring their children to work for supervised study halls so they could see their parents and what they did; and we started enforcing days off and vacations. Companies must clearly show their active support for whatever work-life balance techniques support their employees and their families. It’s good business – employees with a balanced life are happier and more productive. Don’t let exhaustion steal your employees’ morale and productivity today.

 

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 – 1821):. He led the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804, then ruled the French Empire as Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1814, and briefly again in 1815. He was King of Italy from 1805 to 1814 and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine from 1806 to 1813.

Look before you leap...

Life is full of opportunities, some planned, others serendipitous. Either way, we must have the courage to consider them. The courage to consider is as importance as the courage to seize them because that’s the first step, and those are usually the hardest. Do your research, talk to others, make it your business to know the facts. And because not all opportunities will be right – timing, interest, and abilities must be weighed where you are versus where you want to be. Some just may not be right for you and you must have the courage to accept that and wait for more appropriate ones. And then have the courage to grab the one that fits you, your interests, and skills. If it’s something that’s only for you, don’t bother looking at what others might do – their reasons apply only to them and shouldn’t concern you. That describes my decision to join the Golden Nugget. If it’s something that involves your whole team, group dynamics kick in and that’s more complicated, meaning lots of discussions and giving everyone their say. It can’t be forced – if it’s right, it’ll happen. That’s how my team decided to get into the paperless HR project. When opportunities happen in real time, it’s often hard to know what to do. But as I get on in age, I can look back and see how my life shrunk or expanded by whether I had the courage to do things. On balance, I think I grew more than not. What do you see when you look back? My advice: keep your eyes peeled for opportunities today.

 

Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell (1903 – 1977): French-born American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica.

Learn what you need to change what you do,,,

Everybody says they like change. In my experience, however, people almost universally dislike change. Because most are creatures of habit, comfortable in what they know, in the things they do, and the places they go. For this message, I’ll focus on one aspect of change – taking a new job. That’s almost always a leap of faith – for both parties. 

·      The company’s hiring process and hiring managers look at what candidates have done, hoping they’ll be good at doing the same thing in the future. I don’t think that’s enough – they really need to know if the candidate has the right attitude – are they optimistic, flexible, and resilient, and do they have enough grit to see their way through the learning and growing process of a new job. Get those things right and almost anyone can learn to do the job. 

·      And the employee knows little or nothing of the company’s values or the style of their prospective boss. Some of that information could and should be provided on the company’s website and during the interview process. And there should be a lot more if they are hired – that’s what onboarding should be all about, giving both parties the information needed to learn if they made the right choice.

In both cases, if they want to be successful at the change then they’re going to have to get involved. As in doing research (online and in person), asking good questions, taking time to process all the new information, then asking more questions, and continually processing all of it. The more you know, the more successful each side will be during the job-changing process today.

 

Cindy Lou McCain (born 1954): American diplomat, businesswoman, and humanitarian who is the executive director of the World Food Programme (https://www.wfp.org). 

There should be no partisanship in patriotism...

                      Put your country ahead of your politics today.

 

Be cheerful...

Here’s something to think about: when you’re feeling blue, smile at someone and their return smile will light up your day. Making eye contact and smiling is a sure-fire way to light up a room. Practice these simple techniques at work and light up your whole department. And get everyone doing it and you’ll light up your customer service. That’s how work should be. I’ve been reviewing job descriptions for a client this month and they were surprised when I added a section called Post Hire Expectations, among which I listed: 

·      Ability to: Maintain a positive attitude, be flexible and resilient, be dependable and flexible, and smile and make eye contact. 

We talk about these things but often forget to call them out in our company policies and practices. Look at your company handbook – anything in there about that? Look in your performance evaluations – do you talk about these. When you conduct an interview – do you practice these and see if the candidates will then practice them too? Like most leaders, you get engaged with your employees for all kinds of reasons – in those moments, be cheerful. Make smiling a part of your job today.

 

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835 – 1910): American writer, humorist, and essayist known by the pen name Mark Twain. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced", with William Faulkner calling him "the father of American literature.