Think about trying something different....

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try.”Dr. Seuss

Business start-ups are launched with great fanfare: the designers and developers truly believe in everything they create. However, it takes lots of preparation, training, and practice, and no matter how much you do there are things that are not quite right. If the staff is ready, their enthusiasm and excitement will enable them to smile and impress the opening day customers. As soon as they get some experience with the new facility and team they will be able to assess what’s good or in need of improvement: that’s when smart managers ask them to look for ways to improve things and quickly act on their recommendations. Whether it’s the launch of a hotel or a simple task at an on-going enterprise, asking employees to think left and think right and think low and think high and you’ll be amazed at the things they’ll think up when you ask them to try. The best new ideas most often come from those doing the work: ask for suggestions and discover their creative ideas today.

Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991): Writer, Cartoonist, Animator

Take your shot....

This quote really resonates as Las Vegas is in the grip of hockey fever: our Golden Knights are 1 game up in the Stanley Cup championship series. There’s a Wayne Gretzky in every facet of life: someone who raises the bar, reinvigorates the level of enthusiasm, and finds ways to continually innovate. While people like this tend to be found in sports, they’re everywhere: musicians, filmmakers, authors, chefs, and so many more.  But it’s the regular men and women who take a shot at creating something new that most amaze me: the flair bartender, the doorman that spins and dances to an internal beat, the hostess who smiles out of genuine happiness, and the Uber driver who chats up a personal storm. There’s an opportunity to improve everything we do: if you don’t take that chance you’ll never know how creative you are. Don’t miss your shot to make things better today.

Wayne Gretzky CC (b. 1961): Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he has been called "the greatest hockey player ever”

Great stuff lasts forever....

I saw Paul Simon in concert the other night – it was part of his Homeward Bound Farewell Tour. He sang songs from throughout his more than 50-year career, all of which many in the audience knew and could sing. I remember his first record – The Sounds of Silence– I heard it in 7^thgrade and remember the impact it had on me: humming the tune and thinking about the lyrics. “People talking without speaking/people hearing without listening”, and “hear my words that I might teach you/take my arms that I might reach you”– the lyrics in the song seemed to speak directly to me – these and so many other of his songs were so different from anything we’d heard or experienced before.  They were so innovative and because they were done right, they’ve lasted forever. As the music played during the concert I was reminded that creative efforts can impact people and things far and wide and as people and things begin to fade away the impact of their creative efforts last forever. So, if the creative urge strikes, do it right today.

Massimo Vignelli (1931 –2014): Italian designer who worked in package, houseware, furniture, signage and showroom design 

Believe in yourself....

“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.” Michael Jordan

Last month when I flew into Boston’s Logan airport and drove north to Maine, I passed the NECCO Candy company – it claims to be the oldest continuously operating candy company in the country and is primarily known for their chalky sugar wafers and Valentine's Day candy conversation hearts. I used to love those as a kid, getting them at the candy store or when going door to door on Halloween. That company went bankrupt a few years ago and I saw in yesterday’s news that it was bought at auction for $18M by a The Spangler Company, a rival that makes Jelly Bellies: I’m not sure if that’s a good price, but somebody certainly saw the value and expects great things from that purchase. Companies, like people, go through good times and bad – throughout those cycles the best managers keep employees thinking positively, performing productively, believing in themselves, and doing great work. Inspire your employees to expect great things of themselves and watch as they do them today.

Michael Jordan (b. 1963): Legendary retired professional basketball player and principal owner and chairman of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets

Dare to dream....

Sometimes you never know when you’re going to meet someone special: that happened to me recently at a conference for HR leaders in Maine.  I was introduced to SSG Travis Mills, one of 5 quadruple amputees from the war in Afghanistan. His unflinching optimism was palpable and listening to him put all kinds of things in perspective. Most of us have issues, some of which affect us as we carry on our lives – Travis is able to put his aside and dream only of the possibilities.  It’s hard to imagine what went through his mind when he learned the extent of his injuries and began his recovery; to hear him tell it, there was no option to adapting to his changed circumstances and figuring out how to use them to help others.  Today he coaches individuals and companies on how best to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. Google him and read his story – it will stir your soul to want to achieve great things today.

Bill McCartney (b. 1940) is a former American football player and coach and the founder of the Promise Keepers men's ministry

It's the little things that count....

“We have one precious life: do something extraordinary today, even if it's tiny. A pebble starts the avalanche.”K.A. Laity

I’m a guitar player: acoustics, mostly, and they’re temperamental here in the Las Vegas heat. I take them to a luthier regularly: he’s a real craftsman and very much in demand. Whenever I drop off one of my instruments he has a shop full of many others, in all stages of maintenance and repair, yet he’s always happy to receive another and does so with a genuine interest and smile. I never ask how long it will be and he always completes the work in less time than I expect: it’s a fairly straightforward transaction that leaves me feeling satisfied and appreciated.  I compare this to similar kinds of things we all do, like taking a car in for service or having a prescription renewed – those routine needs never seem to come with a smile anymore.  And whenever I get the guitar back home and open the case, I always find a hand-written card from him thanking me for allowing him to be of service. It’s a tiny thing, but in today’s world that’s an extraordinary example of how things should be.  Life is short – do something great today.

K. A. Laity is an award-winning author, scholar & critic

Don't settle for ordinary when extraordinary is possible....

I’ve worked on many start-ups and the common element among all of them is their founder’s burning desire to create something great.  They usually begin with an idea that grows over time and stays true to their principles and ideals: these entrepreneurs really believe in what they’re doing.  Some started hotels, others developed technology, and one had a great retail idea: all of them were driven to achieve something beyond ordinary. The technologist who developed my extraordinary applicant tracking systems worked day and night, often sleeping at the office in order to maintain schedules, every day having more ideas and breakthroughs as we stayed on-task, on-budget, and on-time. He, like the other entrepreneurs I worked with, were as curious about the ‘what-ifs’ as they were passionate about each day’s progress; they rarely accepted results that were ordinary. You can adopt this same standard to everything you do, big or small. Bring your burning desire to the creation of great things today.

Joseph Bitner Wirthlin (1917 – 2008): American businessman, religious leader and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church