Respect yourself and others will respect you...

The first person you should support and be loyal to is you. Be the best you can be and respect your accomplishments. That takes self-awareness, self-discipline, and humility. 

·  Self-awareness: the ability to understand your own thoughts, feelings, and actions, as well as how they impact yourself and others. It involves recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, understanding your values and motivations, and being aware of how you are perceived by others.

·  Self-discipline: the ability to regulate your own behavior, actions, and decisions to achieve goals, even when faced with distractions or temptations. It's about making choices aligned with long-term objectives rather than succumbing to immediate desires. 

·    Humility: Being humble means having a modest view of your own importance, recognizing your limitations, and being willing to learn from others. It's not about having low self-esteem, but rather having an accurate self-perception and valuing the contributions of others.

I’ve found that employees with these qualities are often respectful, considerate, curious, and willing to learn. They have high potential. ReThey’re the reason to have a promotion from within policy. Keep your eye on employees like this today.

 

Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born 1930): American actor and film director.

Make. the most of your opportunities...

The old-timers say that last winter here in the mountains was like the ones of their youth. Where it was not uncommon to go to bed with stars so bright and awaken to snow up to the windows. Total snowfall last winter measured more than 20’. In print that doesn’t seem like much, but its impact can be seen in the collapsed roofs of buildings that my father used to tell me he remembered as a kid. Our past is made up of images and memories that have shaped our lives – so much so that I find myself staring at the barns, homes, buildings, and stores that collapsed under the weight of that snow. Structures that had outlasted multiple generations. We hope the same will be said of our work and reputations. Because when we’re gone, those are most of what remains. In that context, everything we do everyday matters, in the moment and in the aggregate. At my age, those remembered actions are what I see when I close my eyes. Overlayed now by those collapsed walls and roofs. We don’t want to get near the end only to remark about the could haves and should haves of missed opportunities.  The moral of this story: just do it … because there’s no telling which of our actions will outlast us. Make the most of the opportunities you have today.

 

William James (1842 – 1910): American philosopher and psychologist, one of the most influential philosophers who is often dubbed the "father of American psychology."

Hang around...

Whether a superstar or supervisor, people are always looking at what they’re doing. Their lives are always on and they’re never off the record. Unlike the fans and paparazzi that chase after famous people, employees quietly watch their supervisors and managers, listening to their words and watching their body language, looking for alignment and consistency between the two. And everything said is amplified and examined – more so when interactions are few. That’s why effective leaders spend a large part of each day walking around, listening more than talking, taking the individual and collective pulse of the staff and culture, and engaging with the business of the organization. They never look through a keyhole without finding someone looking back. Being a role model, town crier, and poster child. Resulting in improved two-way communications, an excellent understanding of what’s happening and what people are thinking, giving and getting feedback and suggestions, and boosting morale. And subtly reinforcing interests in promotion-from-within. All because they’re out of their offices and walking around. I made a habit of spending half of each day on the floor, in the kitchens, visiting other offices, and hanging out with employees. Promoting trust, respect, retention, and loyalty. Creating a culture of excellence. That’s what happens when you’re out and about with your peeps today.

 

Judy Garland (1922 – 1969): Award-winning American actress (The Wizard of Oz and 46 other movies and shorts) and singer (Over the Rainbow, on one of her 10 albums).[1]

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[1] For more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Garland

Slow down and focus...

I’ve been staring at my garage for the past 3 weeks, trying to get my head around getting things organized. I’d move one thing and then get overwhelmed by the countless things left to move. I’d spend an inordinate amount of time touching things that had a history and get lost in the reveries rather than focus on the objective. I just couldn’t get my head around this project. For Father’s Day, my daughter offered to help – nothing casual about the offer, she organizes spaces that people like me have let get out of control. As I watched, I learned that the keys to her methodology were focus on the objective and don’t quit. Like laying out the countless boxes, bags, and cups fills with screws … and then sorting them all into separate containers, until they were all accounted for. And along the way, discard, rusted, bent, and miscellaneous ones that had past stories but no current purpose. And just like that I realized that the gift she’d given me was understanding there is no other quality so essential to success as the quality of perseverance. It’s a real treasure when the people you love (or who work for you) help you see and learn something new. Like my Father’s Day gift: slow down, focus, and persevere – that’s the best way to organize and achieve your objectives today.

 

John Davison Rockefeller Sr. (1839 – 1937): American businessman and philanthropist.[1]

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[1] He became one of the wealthiest Americans of all time after founding the Standard Oil Company in 1870. In his retirement, he focused his energy and wealth on philanthropy, especially regarding education, medicine, higher education, and modernizing the Southern United States.

 

Stand on your own two feet...

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you believe in; what matters is that you believe in yourself. Meaning: educate yourself, know who and what you are, and have faith in yourself. You’ll get tested by others telling you what you should think and do, by the avalanche of news and information, and by the pull to conform – that’s when you must trust your instincts, stay true to your values, and live the Golden Rule. Whether in life or at work, others will rely on you to be a full partner – pulling your weight, listening, being thoughtful, following what you want, and being true to yourself. Especially at work – that’s where and when focusing on objectives and doing your part matters. Because having faith in tomorrow means having faith in ourselves today.

 

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917 – 1963): American politician who was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the first Roman Catholic and youngest person elected president.

Be honest...

When you’re good, there’s a desire to tell others; that’s understandable. And while we generally don’t appreciate people who brag and boast about the things they do, it’s natural to want to talk about the good things we do. But when it comes to integrity, ethical people don’t have to tell people they’re ethical. Their actions speak louder than words. That’s because integrity – doing what’s right, is readily apparent to everyone involved. Especially in business. They see it. They know it. They appreciate it. And it's unimportant to anyone not involved – so there’s no need to talk about it. This isn’t something that a publicist or branding expert can affect – neither slick advertising nor any amount of whitewashing can change what people see and hear. Especially, again, in business. If you’re a leader, at any level, make sure you say what you mean and mean what you say, that your actions match your words, and that you keep your promises. Do that and your peeps will tell others how righteous you are today.

 

Shaquille Rashaun “Shaq” O'Neal (born 1972): American former professional basketball player who is now a sports analyst on television. He played for 19 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is a four-time NBA champion.

Always exceed expectations...

It would be nice to live without expectations… but from experience, that’s easier said than done. Because we all have expectations – when we go out for a meal, shop online, walk into a retail store, or deal with each other at work. When paying for goods and services, we have every right to expect service employees to perform at or above our expectations. And the best way to make certain that happens is for those managing them to leave nothing to chance. Meaning hiring people that like what they do, being clear about how they are to perform, and showing them what success looks like. Doing this will help ensure that leaders and customers are never disappointed. But more importantly, employees can focus on providing their best, knowing that they’re prepared and won’t be second-guessed. This all takes a little extra effort, but it’s worth it – because nobody should be disappointed today.

 

Sylvia Plath (1932 – 1963): American poet and author.[1]

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[1] She is credited with advancing the genre of confessional poetry and is best known for The Colossus and Other Poems (1960), Ariel (1965), and The Bell Jar, a semi-autobiographical novel published shortly before her suicide in 1963.

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