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.
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
Benjamin Franklin (1707 - 1790): American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher.[1]
[1] Among the most influential intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general.
One of the things I’ve learned is that no matter how much I’m hurting, someone is hurting worse. The challenges I face sometimes seem insurmountable, but others have a bigger hill to climb. When I cut the tips of my fingers off, the surgeon assured me that it could have been so much worse; at that moment I couldn’t imagine that anything could be worse than what happened to me. But since then, the people I met at physical therapy and in online groups have shown me what so much worse looks like. No matter where you are on a spectrum of good to bad, it’s less about how you compare and more about how you approach it. Because no matter what, things get better. Same with the work you do – it’s not about the ups and downs but rather how you approach them. Whatever challenges you face can be overcome if you look closely and think clearly. You never want to throw your hands up and walk away – it’ll be there when you get back so you might as well put on your thinking cap and take care of it. Look for a way, not a way out today.
D.L. Weatherford: American author, speaker, and podcast show host.
a·bil·i·ty
/əˈbilədē/
noun
1. possession of the means or skill to do something.
2. talent, skill, or proficiency in a particular area.
de·pend·a·bil·i·ty
/dəˌpendəˈbilədē/
noun
1. the quality of being trustworthy and reliable.
Throughout my career in hospitality HR, attendance was the #1 cause of progressive discipline and reason for termination. Given that, most hospitality managers would agree with today’s quote. Because an employee’s performance – their talent, skill, or proficiency, is either enhanced or diminished by how trustworthy and reliable they are. So, while it’s good to assess a candidate’s skills and abilities during an interview process, it’s equally, if not more, important to assess their attitude – like optimism, flexibility, and resilience. The ones that predict whether they are trustworthy and reliable. Whether they’ll come to work and diligently approach their duties and responsibilities every day. That, I suggest, is possibly more important that if they can perform as expected. Why? Because you can’t teach attitude – people either have it or they don’t. If they do, you can teach and coach what’s needed technically. If they don’t, you’re apt to be disappointed. You’ve just got to learn what to ask and look for. That’s what I did for the more than 125,000 employees we hired during my tenure and it’s one of the main reasons our annualized turnover was under 10%. I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again: hire for attitude and train for skills today.[1]
Robert Anson Heinlein (1907 – 1988): American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer.
We’re judged by our promises. Not so much by the things we say – that’s why ‘talk is cheap’. But a promise is a personal commitment no different than a contract – in that light, we must be careful what we promise. That said,
· “It is OK to say 'no': you may be questioned why so it’s always good to have a reason.
· It is OK to say 'I will think about it': just don’t forget to do that and always get back to the one to whom you made the commitment.
· It’s OK to say ‘I’ll try’: make sure to follow through and keep everyone updated.
But once you promise something, do it. If you subsequently can’t follow through, make that known immediately to everyone concerned. But it’s not just actual promises that this applies to – if you say you’re going to do something, promise or not, the person to whom you said that thinks it’s a commitment – and most people consider them the same. Maybe it’s a gray area, but to the people relying on you, it’s not gray at all. It’s all about being dependable – if you say you’ll do something, do it. If you subsequently can’t, speak up immediately. And it’s all about common courtesy – someone is relying on you and others may be relying on their reliance on you. Stay in touch with them, provide updates, make sure there are no surprises. This is one of those areas where talk is NOT cheap – so don’t be cavalier when someone is relying on you and your word. More than many other things in life, this is the stuff of reputations: don’t blow something off if someone is relying on your word. Keep your promises today.
Izey 'Victoria' Odiase: Self-Care & Personal Development Advocate.
Leaders must earn the respect of those they lead. And even though bullies and some new supervisors think respect comes with their title, that’s never the case. They can demand respect and delude themselves into thinking they have it, but it is only an illusion. Because those being led will know that their leaders don’t respect them, that they don’t respect their leaders, and that the environment of disrespect will eat away at their self-esteem, morale, performance, and the quality of their work. That’s why parents teach their children to be respectful, why every religion preaches tolerance and respect, and why you should make respect – genuine, two-way respect, a cornerstone of your policies and culture. You might consider getting rid of all the other rules and policies in yo9ur handbook and replace them with The Golden Rule – to treat others the way you want them to treat you, and to respect others as you want them to respect you. Anything positive or negative about someone’s performance and behavior can be defined in those terms. And even if you don’t want to go that far, just start talking about respect with your team, show them respect, and ask for it in return. Start catching people being respectful today.
Paulo Coelho de Souza (born 1947): Brazilian lyricist and novelist and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters since 2002. His 1988 novel The Alchemist became an international best-seller.
In this quote, Einstein was referring to how he acted towards people he worked with at a university. That same philosophy should be applied by all of us towards others where we work, especially as we get higher up in the organization. Think how you felt when executives spoke to you, or remembered your name, or asked what you thought. Like you were a big deal. Probably told your family about it around the dinner table that night. A leader’s actions and words – positive and negative, often have greater impact than they realize. Simple recognition or a pat on the back will be remembered. Empathy and interest are hugely motivating. A little coaching goes a long way. Conversely, the leader who walks past employees without paying any attention or speaks down can have a negative effect on morale and overall positivity. It’s important to be seen, but it’s more important to be engaging; one without the other is a lost opportunity. Together they set a tone of caring, concern, and team that are at the heart of trust, respect, and ethical leadership. And it sets the model for leadership at all levels. Speak to everyone in the same way today.
Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955): German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Too many good line employees get promoted to supervisor or manager without receiving the training they need to be effective. Absent that training, they may have difficulty making the transition, often using inappropriate or ineffective techniques to establish their authority over their former colleagues. It’s a recipe for failure. They need to learn and practice soft skills like communications, coaching, and handling difficult conversations; they also need to be schooled in the ‘what and why’ of the policies they need to manage and enforce; in this, whoever promoted them must be required to a coach and mentor them for at least 6 months as they find their new footing. Without these strategies, you run the risk of losing a good employee and alienating the people they need to work with and supervise. All because you lacked the kind of plan that can make this a successful transition. You most likely remember when you first got promoted and the things you wanted and needed to be successful – now craft a training program to give them what you know they need. Otherwise, you run the risk of your new supervisor trying to force his or her authority the wrong way – through missteps, potential arguments, and an environment of animosity. Give your new managers and supervisors the training, tools, and support they need to be successful today.
Albert Camus (1913 – 1960): French philosopher, author, dramatist, journalist, world federalist, and political activist.[1]
[1] He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall and The Rebel.
“Integrity is the seed for achievement. It is the principle that never fails.” Earl Nightingale
Someone with integrity is known for their honesty, trustworthiness, and strong moral principles. Everyone understands the first two – honesty and trustworthiness, but maybe it would be helpful to list some generally agreed upon moral principles:
· Respect: Treating others with consideration and valuing their dignity, regardless of differences in background or beliefs.
· Responsibility: Taking ownership of your actions and being accountable for their consequences.
· Compassion: Showing empathy and concern for the well-being of others, particularly those in need.
· Kindness: Being helpful, considerate, and generous towards others.
· Fairness: Treating everyone equitably and justly, without bias or favoritism.
· Loyalty: Being faithful and supportive to those who are close to you, including family, friends, and colleagues.
· Integrity: Acting in accordance with these principles even when faced with difficult situations and choices.
Many companies include one or more of these in their value statement(s), using them as guideposts for expected employee behavior. You want to be around people like this. In life and at work. Make it known: (1) include these principles in your recruitment, training, and employee relation’s policies; (2) make them a part of your regular discussions and reviews; (3) embed them in every aspect of the time your employees are at work. In my experience, employees who live by these kinds of principles have a positive attitude and good overall performance and attendance. Reinforce the importance of integrity today.
Earl Nightingale (1921 – 1989) was an American radio speaker and author, dealing mostly with the subjects of human character development, motivation, and meaningful existence. [1]
[1] He was the voice during the early 1950s of Sky King, the hero of a radio adventure series, and was a WGN radio program host from 1950 to 1956. Nightingale was the author of The Strangest Secret, which economist Terry Savage has termed "…one of the great motivational books of all time." During his lifetime, Nightingale wrote and recorded more than 7,000 radio programs, 250 audio programs as well as television programs and videos.
· Attitude is a choice: decide whether you want to see the glass as half full or half empty. Too many see it as half empty and, surprisingly, don’t seem to understand why. Choose to find ways to fill it.
· Happiness is a choice: A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that it takes an average of 12 muscles to smile and 50 muscles to frown. Why waste the energy?
· Optimism is a choice: Optimists see that glass as half full and can’t wait to find ways to fill it further – the opportunities are endless.
· Kindness is a choice: I bet you don’t like it when someone is unkind to you – remember that.
· Giving is a choice: It’s a shame that it takes so long to learn this simple truth – it’s better to give than to receive. But don’t worry, the more you give the more you get.
· Respect is a choice: It’s right there in the Bible, the Torah, and the Koran – they each urge believers to show respect to all people, regardless of their status or background.
· Integrity is a choice: Do what’s right, even when nobody is looking.
Choose wisely today.
Roy T. Bennett (born 1963): American author of The Light in the Heart.
If you’ve ever had rabbits, you know exactly what this is like. But we don’t often think the same about ideas – coming up with one is tough. For me, it wasn’t that I had to work hard to think one up – once I focused on the need to improve things like collecting and tracking applications, ideas jumped out at me. Like they say: necessity is the mother of invention. During my professional career, these solutions came from the constant technological improvements that were occurring. At first, I was intimidated by computers, but my needs plus a genuine curiosity about how they worked spurred me on. I realized that (1) change can be good, (2) learning new things was important, (3) failure is the flip side of opportunity, and (4) you never know if you can unless you try. The same is being said about the explosive growth of AI and the challenges and opportunities associated with it. We must fight the urge to say “NO” to anything new – once you get beyond that, curiosity, creativity, and the thrill of finding ways to improve whatever it is you’re doing will start to happen. Get your employees engaged in this kind of discovery process – the benefits can include improved job satisfaction, career fulfillment, and sense of accomplishment. Establish a creative mindset in your department and watch individual performance and morale, customer satisfaction and loyalty, and overall profitability begin to improve today.
John Steinbeck (1902 – 1968): American writer who won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature.
I know too many managers who sit in their offices doing paperwork, expecting (but not hoping) that people bring questions to them. From my experience as an HR manager, people tend to think of management offices as something akin to the principal’s office from their schooldays. Rule #1 for all managers is to spend more than half their time out of their offices, walking around, getting to know their employees and the work they do, and cementing the impression they are approachable. Rule #2 is to make sure that they answer every inquiry, establishing an environment where employees know they can ask whatever’s on their minds. They’ll naturally be wary, and often subjected to ridicule by co-workers, but you must keep walking until those two obstacles are removed. Even if initial comments and questions are meaningless or perfunctory. Because the dumbest question is the one never asked, and while those who do ask may be a fool for a minute, those who don’t remain a fool forever. Effective managers create and maintain a dialogue with their employees and establish the kind of rapport that creates two-way trust and respect. Then employees begin to act like colleagues and collaborators rather than merely direct reports on an organizational chart. Then they become actively engaged in the success of your business. That’s when your work and theirs becomes fun. Everyday. Start that process today.
pro·verb
/ˈpräˌvərb/
1. A proverb is a short, well-known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice, often based on common sense or experience. They are typically metaphorical and part of a culture's oral tradition.
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine something new and innovative. We’re often blinded by habit, an acceptance of the status quo, and a fear of change. We get comfortable and complacent. A way out of this malaise is to make it a part of your employees’ jobs to make suggestions for continuous improvement – this will challenge their thinking and get them engaged in the effectiveness of their efforts and the company’s overall performance. Start during on-boarding – review their job description and tell them this is only a starting point . At the end of their new hire training, ask for feedback about the way things are set up currently – let them know you may not always accept their recommendations, but they’ll always be considered. In some cases, creating teams of employees to discuss these ideas may spur their competitiveness, collaboration, and thinking. And during regular performance reviews, whenever they’re held, make this a part of your discussions – and be sure to recognize and reward successful improvement recommendations. It’s all about making sure that employees are effective, and always thinking of ways to improve their effectiveness. It’s not about doing the same things over and over despite the need to change and improve them. Help them start to see the value of the things they can envision today.
Henri-Louis Bergson (1859 – 1941): French philosopher who was influential in the traditions of analytic philosophy and continental philosophy, especially during the first half of the 20th century until the Second World War, but also after 1966 when Gilles Deleuze published Le Bergsonisme.
My daughter and two granddaughters vacationed with us for two months this summer. These kids, mine and hers gave me a lot of hope for the future. Not so much the one we’re leaving them as the one they’ll create. And I was again reminded that when I started at the Golden Nugget, the boss suggested my title be “Daddy” – because he believed that managers and supervisors should work with employees like parents deal with their kids. Meaning you may have to say no from time to time, but you’ll always love and support them. Meaning your job is to help them be all they can be, even when that takes you more than you expected. Meaning at the end of the day you get them back around the dinner table to review what’s happened and what’s planned. Meaning, employees, like children, are apt to live up to what you believe of them. That belief and support will help them get through the best and worst of times and, no matter what, you’ll always be there for them. Knowing that someone cares is an important component of learning to care for yourself. Be there for your employees today.
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson (1912 – 2007): First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 as the wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
I n his prime, Jack Welch was one of the most admired CEOs in the US – tough and successful businessman and inspiring leader. And it’s quote...
