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.

Have no regrets...

Looking back, life was full of choices. I think I did pretty good, but... throughout life, there are countless intersections, beckoning one way or the other. At some, we’re thoughtful and planned, at others, opportunistic, and then there are those that make gamblers of us. Like with jobs - when asked what we do and how that came to pass, the answers, like the choices they describe, are often indirect. There’s that little voice saying the grass looks greener on the other side of the road – the remedy to that is nothing more than going all in at whatever you’re doing – so there are no unanswered questions. Where you’ve been engaged, participated fully, and gave it your best. You may not end up there forever, but if you’ve been diligent there’ll be no complaints if you move on – it’ll be seen as an honest effort. No lingering doubts. Otherwise, you’re apt to look back on your life and realize that you successfully managed to get the least out of it. That’s not a good feeling. Always give it your best. And have no regrets. Be in it at every stop on your journey today.

 

Robert Breault (born 1963) is an American operatic tenor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Breault

Don't ignore something that's worth doing...

If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing now. It’s best when the feeling is right, and the circumstances are right. 

·      Not tomorrow: What do you gain by waiting? To wait to see if you still feel that way. If you’re ready, trust your instincts.

·      Not some more convenient season: Waiting often diminishes momentum, enthusiasm, and support. A season may be a lifetime and good ideas won’t wait.

·      Now is the accepted time: The appropriate time. To get fully involved and make it happen.

·      Plan appropriately: communicate, consider options, build a model, test your theories, get feedback, take a last look, take a deep breath, and go.  

Every project I was involved in, we followed a plan. Any plan will do if you get everyone participating in its development and timeline. Everyone responsible for learning the ‘big’ plan, devising and perfecting their part of it, cross-communicating as the plan unfolds, adjusting in real time, keeping focus, and just keep communicating. Big or little:  opening a casino or preparing a presentation; getting ready for a new employee or inspiring an existing one; planning a new product or planning a trip. When ready, get to it.  No more reason to wait. Make it your best work. Today.

 

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868 – 1963): American sociologist, socialist, historian, and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._E._B._Du_Bois

Manage like your favorite sports' coach...

Lots of companies refer to their employees as “team members”, modeling their workplace cultures after sport’s concepts. By extension, they often refer to work colleagues as “teammates”. Given people’s infatuation with and support of their favorite teams, these metaphors drive the concepts of team identity, teamwork, and team spirit, all of which play well in the workplace. There are many correlations that support this theme. Like:

·      Managers and supervisors as coaches: Much like a coach’s presence on the sidelines, managers and supervisors can learn from the things their favorite coaches do - putting teams together, providing real-time instruction and follow-through, eyes-on-the-field supervision, and cheering excellence and success.

·      A team playbook: pertinent instruction to make sure each individual and the whole team know their parts. On-the-job training is every bit as important as a sport’s teams training. Employees, like players, need to know what’s expected, how to perform, and how it fits into the overall game plan.

·      Practice and preparation: Like spring training, new employees need an opportunity to learn and practice so they are well prepared to meet their department’s objectives. Teach your managers and supervisors to understand how best to support this.

·      Supporting each other’s moves: When employees are this well prepared, they start to put their personalities into their work, their thinking caps on about helping and supporting others, and hold themselves and their teammates accountable. That’s when performance is at its best.

Your job is to make this possible – by inspiring it, promoting it, supporting it, and celebrating it. Teamwork will make everything better today.

 

Joe Dumars III (born 1963): American professional basketball executive and former player who is the head of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans.[1]

---

[1] He could play either shooting guard or point guard on offense and was a highly effective defender. He played his entire 14-year career with the Detroit Pistons. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dumars and Isiah Thomas combined to form one of the best backcourts in NBA history, winning two championships together. Dumars was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Don't lose sight of who you should be...

Our stories usually emphasize the things we do. But those same stories are also shaped by what we do not do. We may be hard charging, but we don’t run roughshod over others. We may have positions of authority, but we don’t use that power to enrich ourselves. We may want to get the most out of what we do, but we don’t ignore the needs of others. We may care a lot about the people we’re close to, but we never take advantage of them. We may laugh about the absurdities of our lives, but we don’t make fun of others. We may be detail oriented, but we don’t look down on those who aren’t. We may receive tons of accolades, but we don’t let it go to our heads. It’s okay to be successful, but not at the expense of others. It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable. What we do is important, and so is what we do not do. Be aware of both as you walk through life today.  

 

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622 – 1673): French playwright, actor, and poet known by his stage name Moliere, who was widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world literature. [1]

---

[1] His extant works include comedies, farces, tragicomedies, comédie-ballets, and more. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed at the Comédie-Française more often than those of any other playwright today. His influence is such that the French language is often referred to as the "language of Molière".

 

Decide what you want me to know...

Yesterday’s message was about being responsible for writing your own story; today’s is about telling it. Both are ultimately made up of a composite of what you do every day. While growing up and attending school – your scholastic record and extracurricular activities say a lot about you; good or bad; it’s reflected in the pictures and comments found in your yearbook. The jobs you have define your professional interests and the record reflected in your file describes your commitment and attention to detail (or not). Where and how you live is reflected in the comments friends and neighbors make about you. Your home and family life paints a picture for all to see – either stability and dedication or their opposites are on display. Each independently and all collectively tell everything about you. No one needs Facebook, Instagram or TikTok to know all they need to know about you – the life you live is on display, spotlighted by what you do every day. Your actions, punctuated by talk, body language, attitude, and personality say it all. It’s easy to just go with the flow and not spend much energy, but that too tells a lot about you. Whatever it is, it’s what others see. And judge. Look and listen carefully to what you’re telling the world today.

 

Jerry Fernandez (born 1982): American former Marine and current Police enforcement officer and Captain.

Make the most of what's in your control: that's what people will remember about you...

Whatever you are, it’s mostly on you. You own it. Although there are many external forces at play in our lives, dealing with them, handling them, and shaping how they affect you is pretty much within your control. You mustn’t ignore them – there’s something to be learned from everything. You can’t really change them – they are what they are, so take the time to understand them. You shouldn’t try to embellish them – take them for what they are. And try to make the most (or least) of them – after all, they are part of your story. Emphasis on your. Whether it’s your career, your life, your hopes, your fears, your wishes. The more you own the more you can get the most out of them. And your life. Take this just past summer – was it what you wanted it to be? Yes or no: it’s yours. Your health – it’s yours. I could go on and on, but you get the gist of this. Take control. Own it. Write your story and it's ending today.

 

Casandra Brené Brown (born 1965): American social worker, academic, and podcaster.[1]

 

---

[1] She is the Huffington Foundation's Brené Brown Endowed Chair at the University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work and a visiting professor in management at the McCombs School of Business in the University of Texas at Austin. Brown is known for her work on shame, vulnerability, and leadership, and for her widely viewed 2010 TEDx talk. She has written six number-one New York Times bestselling books and hosted two podcasts on Spotify.

 

Find ways to love your job...

On this Labor Day, make it your purpose to find a job you love. As is often the case, it’s the one you have. Your challenge is to make it the one you love. Starting today.

 

Helena Rubinstein (1872 – 1965): Polish and American businesswoman, art collector, and philanthropist.[1]

---

[1] A cosmetics entrepreneur, she was the founder and eponym of Helena Rubinstein Incorporated cosmetics company, which made her one of the world's richest women.

 

It's good to be prepared...

I think leaders should be reliable – to me that means you know what to expect, that their approach and approachability won’t change with conditions or moods. So that you have confidence going in that the conversation will be about facts, not personalities. I was talking to someone last night about this as it related to my working with Bobby Baldwin – he made it his business to know the business of those that reported to him so he could add value to discussions with them. That part was predictable. What wasn’t predictable were the questions he asked – those were based on his deep knowledge and understanding of whatever each of his direct reports were working on. Meaning we had to work extra hard to be prepared for them. Forcing us to be better. I loved the challenge – it motivated me to work harder to be prepared enough to be able to answer him. The good news: he never thought less of us if we didn’t know something, knowing that would inspire and motivate us to work harder to be more prepared the next time. He knew that if everyone was a prepared as they could be it improved the overall performance and effectiveness of the organization. It wasn’t a game; it was his way of motivating us. Try that approach with your peeps today.

 

Michael William Krzyzewski (born 1947): American former college basketball coach nicknamed Coach K.[1]

---

[1] He served as the head coach at Duke University from 1980 to 2022, during which he led the Blue Devils to five national titles, 13 Final Four appearances, 15 ACC tournament championships, and 13 ACC regular season titles. Among men's college basketball coaches, only UCLA's John Wooden has won more NCAA championships (10). Krzyzewski is widely regarded as one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time