Remember....

“September 11 is a reminder that life is fleeting, impermanent, and uncertain. Therefore, we must make use of every moment and nurture it with affection, tenderness, beauty, creativity, and laughter.”Deepak Chopra

The Rabbi’s sermon during yesterday’s Rosh Hashanah service reminded us to reflect on how we react to what happens in our lives. On this day of remembrance for the worst act of terrorism on US soil, please take a moment to reflect on what’s really important. Don’t caught up in the small things and overlook the big: take time to passionately nurture all that’s good in your life today.

Deepak Chopra (b. 1946): Indian-born American author, public speaker, alternative medicine advocate, and a prominent figure in the New Age movement

Happy New Year

“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors, that you renew for us a good and sweet year.”Hebrew Prayer

Today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and the beginning of what are traditionally known as the ‘High Holidays’. On Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people ask God for forgiveness for the things we’ve done wrong during the past year and remind ourselves not to repeat these mistakes in the coming year. In this way, Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and how to be better. Let’s all find time to reflect on our actions and discover meaningful ways to become better people in the year ahead.  

Be a 'possibilitarian'....

When duty calls, effective leaders are do what’s needed. Friend of mine back East is a lawyer: mid-sized town and an outsized practice. He says he gets it, meaning he works at learning what the client wants and how they want to be treated: some want advice, others solutions; some want a business relationship, others make it more personal. In any case, he gets involved to fully understand what’s needed to be effective: that’s the level of engagement that creates success. He says not many people want to be that involved anymore. Fact is, everybody does, but the sad truth may be that not everyone is prepared or encouraged: that’s when a leader who personally demonstrates what’s possible is so critically important. They set the tone for how their employees see themselves and recognize the value of the work they do, stay on top of what they’re responsible for to keep others on-time and on-point, and stay focused and positive during the action. You know someone who’s struggling: figure out what’s needed to help them get going. Demonstrate what’s possible today.

Mark Yarnell (1950-2015): Author, orator, network marketer, and international business leader

Get involved to make good things happen....

Every summer we pack up the pets and relocate to our home in the Adirondacks: three or four wonderful months on a lake in the middle of nowhere. While being there is great, the trip there and back is often not.  After setting out for the airport for our return yesterday, we got an automated text message from Southwest Airlines saying our flight had been cancelled: pictures of long lines at ticket counters and sleeping on the floor flashed through our heads. We called and that picture began to change: the agent on the phone was appropriately apologetic, empathetic, and seemed truly interested in getting this story back on track. From so many other service debacles we know that people don’t often get involved to make something like this better than it could be: cancelled flights often lead to interminable delays while people wait for the backlog to clear. But, this employee didn’t give up until she had me, my wife, and our cat on another flight: sure, it was late, but we got home. Remember: one person can make a difference. Get involved and make sure that bad stories have good endings today.

Spryte Loriano: Author, Entrepreneur, and Humanitarian

Be nice, or beware....

There are so many other contemporary ways this can be said: ‘what’s good for the goose is good for the gander’; ‘if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen’; ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’; and so many more. The point being that you shouldn’t get involved in things like gossip, rumors, snarky comments, or jokes about others: once you start down than dangerous and slippery slope there’s little you can say or do when others do the same about you.  The moral of this tale: participate only in things that are righteous, appropriate, kind, well-intended, positive, supportive, proper, and nice. Whether at the water cooler, in-person, on the phone, or spoken in supposed confidence: say and do only the kinds of things you’d want others to say and do to and about you.  Simple to say (I know), but much harder to consistently do. Take part in the right kinds of things today.

James Boswell (1740 –1795): Scottish biographer and diarist, best known for the biography he wrote of Samuel Johnson

Be yourself....

Employee engagement is a big buzz term these days. If you want it, start by being on the lookout for how engaged an applicant is: are they on time for their scheduled appointment(s), and do they (1) sit up straight, look you in the eye, and act enthusiastic about the questions you ask, (2) have good questions for you,  (3) appear interested and attentive when being introduced to others or shown around, and (4) follow up with you to let you know they’re grateful and interested. If ‘yes’ to those, chances are they have potential. But, real engagement occurs when new employees are encouraged and supported to be who they are: meaning you have to continually engage with them, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts, and recognize and reward them for acting that way. We’re all consumers and know when service is attentive and enjoyable: remind your employees about that and be an unabashed cheerleader when you see that in your team. That’s how to get real engagement today.

Brené Brown (born 1965): American Scholar, Author, and Public Speaker

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day traditionally marks the end of Summer: it’s a day set aside for honoring those who work. Much has been written about the things people do: but the real story should focus on the things we do to get them to work smarter and more effectively. Things like understanding what makes employees tick, listening to their concerns and ideas, acting when those make sense, and celebrating their efforts every minute of every day. It you’re not attentive, why should they be? If you don’t care, don’t expect them to either. Why should they work hard and care a lot if they don’t think you care? And if you don’t make a big deal of the stuff they do they won’t think their efforts matter. Don’t just pay people for having heads and hands, do everything to make them feel good about using them. That’s your #1 job and the best way to honor and celebrate labor today.

Elbert Hubbard (1856 – 1915): American writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher