It’s not impossible…

I enjoy being amazed; don’t you?  My wife and I have been watching The Food That Built America on The History Channel (www.history.com ), showcasing the stories of people becoming entrepreneurs and overcoming “the impossible”.  Today, in modern science; medicine; technology; space travel; virtually every field there are breakthroughs occurring around us that were once considered unattainable.  

We might agree that not all innovations serve the common good of mankind and there are many elements in our lives, our neighborhoods, our country, and throughout the world waiting for someone to think differently in order to overcome the impossible:  

The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them. 

Albert Einstein 

Nonetheless, I am continuously encouraged by the daily brilliance we are witnessing.  I have always been awed and amazed by accomplishments once deemed impossible.  Of course, awesomeness and overcoming the impossible are nothing new.  Mankind has been achieving those heights throughout our history.  When you think about it, what amazes you?  Here’s another example from The History Channel:  

How did they do that so long ago without the benefit of today’s “modernness”?  I’m not sure, but perhaps they first started by deciding it was not impossible, and went from there. 

One of my favorite books, The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 © by David McCullough details the degree of steadfastness needed to build what others had previously failed at and what many submitted was impossible to build: 

For anyone to picture the volume of earth that had to be removed to build the Panama Canal was an all but hopeless proportion.  Statistics were broadcast - 15,700,000 cubic yards in 1907, an incredible 37,000,000 cubic yards in 1908 - but such figures were really beyond comprehension.  What was 1,000,000 cubic yards of dirt?  In weight?  In volume?  In effort?... A train of dirt cars carrying the total excavation at Panama would circle the world four times at the equator. 

Circle the world at the equator four times?  How do you comprehend that? 

Here’s another excerpt: 

Construction of the canal would consume more than 61,000,000 pounds of dynamite, a greater amount of explosive energy than had been expended in all the nation's wars until that time. 

Talk about reallocating the collective technology of the time for the benefit of building the Panama Canal.  Using dynamite for good instead of war and the destruction of mankind?  (Short-lived unfortunately, as WWI started soon after the canal opened).  

What do you suppose the country’s military defense budget was a century ago?  How much of that was diverted to building a canal?  Yes, the world was quite different back then.  And I agree that our modern military-industrial-complex overcomes the impossible all the time.  I cite one of their motto’s often:

The difficult we do immediately.  The impossible takes a little longer.                             

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Imagine the application of our determination: 

Its costs had been enormous.  No single construction effort in American history had exacted such a price in dollars or in human life. 

David McCullough 

He was referencing American history.  Ancient historians did not record the construction costs of building the pyramids.  Of course, there’s more to our world than construction projects and war. 

So here’s to us; all of us; everyone, every day who face seemingly insurmountable odds but refuse to turn back.  Here’s to all who decide - it’s not “impossible”. 

                                                            GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

April 20, 1999 never forgotten…

Twenty-three years ago today, my hometown experienced the terror that two teenagers, feeling a sense of desperation and isolation, can bring to their high school, their community and our nation.  It was considered a rare event back then – unfortunately, it has become all too common today:   

Life is hard and can often seem hopeless for many young people.   If you have a son or daughter; grandchildren; nieces or nephews; or neighborhood kids; reach out to them today. 

Tell them today that you love them and will support them as they try to make their way in the world.  And if they are struggling to make ends meet – give them a few bucks, reassure them.  Today, help them feel they belong.  Give them hope. 

Let’s reverse our society’s violence.  Let’s use our power of compassion to increase the sunlight for those heading towards darkness: 

It takes the sun to create a shadow – accept that the dark and the light live side by side in all of us. 

Chellie Campbell 

It’s not just my hometown of Littleton, Colorado - We are all Columbine: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Seqhcq23M 

May you feel peace - and share the power of peace with others - today - especially today - and then every day thereafter! 

GAP

Masters, truly…

I love golf.  Like many sports, golf offers great lessons that can contribute to one’s success in life; success in any field of endeavor.  One lesson is maintaining our sense of humor when facing adversity: 

A golfer, searching for a ball lost deep in the rough, asked the caddie, “Why do you keep looking at that pocket watch?”  “It isn’t a watch” the caddie said.  “It’s a compass”. 

Unknown Sage 

Of course, golf, humor, and our Unknown Sage go “way back”: 

     Jesus Christ and Moses were playing golf one day; standing on the first tee of a 450-yard par 4; Moses had honors.  He hit a beautiful draw; 300+ yards; it came to rest sitting up in the middle of the fairway; a pitch-and-a-putt away from a birdie. 

     Jesus “skied” his tee shot.  It landed a short 100 yards out.  It bounced a couple of times and just as it started to come to rest a ground squirrel ran out from the bushes that lined the fairway and grabbed the golf ball in his mouth.  As the squirrel was running, an eagle soaring high above the course spotted the movement and swooped down clutching the squirrel with the golf ball in its talons.  As the eagle banked in flight to head towards its nest, a bolt of lightning coming out of a clear blue sky, struck the eagle and the shock caused the eagle to fall to earth.  The eagle struck the ground just off the left edge of the 1^st green and on impact, it let go of the squirrel.  The squirrel also feeling the impact let go of Jesus’ golf ball and the ball rolled towards the pin; teetering on the rim of the cup; a gust of wind came up and pushed the ball into the hole for an “ace”. 

     Moses turned to Jesus and asked, “Are we going to play golf or are you going to screw around?” 

My Dad used to love watching the Masters golf tournament.  I did too.  I’m not sure when or why I stopped.  Last week I was "grounded" by my doctor so I had time to watch all four rounds.  My wife even joined some of the time.  There was a lot more to it than just golf.

There was Rory McIlroy with a “never-say-die” attitude, tying the final round low of 64 on Sunday.  He became just the 8th golfer in the 88 year history of the tournament to achieve that feat.  Rory “roared” from 10 strokes back to finish in second place. 

There was Tiger Woods returning to the PGA tour less than 14 months following a catastrophic car accident that almost took his life and almost took his right leg.  It wasn’t his play that inspired; it was him showcasing the epitome of what will and determination look like.  

There was Scottie Scheffler, a 25-year old, rocketing to the #1 ranking in the world, seemingly unshakable under the pressure, golfer who won the tournament going away. 

And then there was Meredith Scheffler, Scottie’s wife.  Reassuring him Sunday morning before his final round when self-doubt crept into his mind.  Meredith’s advice was to put his faith in God’s will.  Just like my wife who has been reassuring me throughout my life to trust God’s will. 

Yes, here’s to golf; lessons for success; and God’s will.  All while maintaining our sense of humor (plus carrying a compass on the course just in case!). 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

Now I’m no “consultant”…

When I retired recently to focus on writing, I received several requests to do a little consulting.  Many of my Partners asked me to help them increase their firm’s sales.  Evidently, they consider me some sort of expert.  What a wonderful compliment! 

It’s true that throughout my career I had the privilege to work for; and learn from; some of the finest sales organizations around.  I coached many terrific sales professionals, too.  I suppose that makes me qualified. I was even an independent contractor once - but I’m no “consultant”, HaHa! 

I like to poke fun at consultants.  I’m not the only one.  Here’s what Norman R. Augustine, the former head of Martin Marietta said: 

A consultant is an individual handsomely paid for telling senior management of problems, about which senior management’s own employees have told the consultant.

Asking your employees what can be done to improve things?  Hmmm…  In Corporate America bringing in an outside consultant is still the way things are often done, yes?  I’ve heard a consultant described as some guy from out of town, with a briefcase.  There’s a standard I could meet. 

Bringing former employees back after their retirement to help solve problems is nothing new either.  Here’s an example from our favorite Unknown Sage:  

Charles Steinmetz (1865-1923) was a pioneering genius in harvesting electricity.  After he retired, Steinmetz's former employers at General Electric occasionally relied on his brilliance.

     Such was the case when an intricate set of machines broke down.  In-house experts could not find the cause of this malfunction so GE leaders called Steinmetz.

     After testing various parts, Steinmetz finally pinpointed the problem and marked the defective part with a piece of chalk.  Steinmetz then submitted a bill for $10,000.

     Surprised at this unexpected high price, GE honchos asked Steinmetz to resubmit an itemized statement.  He complied with a new invoice that listed only two items: 

                         Invoice 

Making one chalk mark:        $     1.00

Knowing where to place it:    $ 9,999.00

That’s one way to come up with a consulting fee. 

I suppose there are worse things than bringing in outside consultants or bringing back former employees; especially at large companies.  There is that notorious group called “Corporate”!  Back to Norman: 

Corporate Staff: 

Known in some quarters as Sea Gulls for reasons relating to their propensity to fly round the country leaving their mark wherever they have alighted.

Many of us have been exposed to these Corporate Staff types, true?  Yep - another opportunity to poke fun.  You remember; this is one of the “great lies”.  Back to our Unknown Sage: 

     Hi, I’m from Corporate, and I’m here to help. 

I suppose it’s always easier to tell someone else what they have to do to improve.  It’s a bit harder for us to look in the mirror and ask what we should do better.  If employees tried a little harder at self-improvement, maybe their companies would spend less money on outside consultants.  Maybe the employees would benefit from this cost savings - have a few more team-building events; more training to improve their skills; maybe even a few more company outings. 

Here’s an idea from Rick Levine who wrote The Cluetrain Manifesto ©: 

If you're given a choice between bringing in a consultant or beer, choose the beer. 

So if I ever return from retirement to help some of my clients, please don’t call me a “consultant”.  (And please don’t mention the beer idea either, OK?) 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

The gender lens…

March was Women’s History Month.  You might remember March 8^th commemorated International Women’s Day.  I appreciated the reminders on our many social media sites.  According to Wikipedia: 

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. 

A celebration well deserved, however… 

I acknowledge the historical view that men have dominated leadership roles in many walks of life.  It is all too common for political parties, partisanship, corporations, and other institutions to be instituted by men.  But - we should be posing the question, “Is that good?” 

I wish we were less caught up; less judgmental; less myopic in matters of gender and other human characteristics.  Is it just me?  It feels like every day requires going to battle with someone over something. 

Women have made the most significant impacts on my life.  Starting with my Mom, who I watched firsthand throughout my early childhood and continuing into the initial months of my marriage. The physical, mental, emotional, and financial strength she demonstrated during her prolonged suffering from terminal cancer are indescribable.  And yet, she remained gentle throughout her ordeal: 

There is nothing so strong as gentleness.  Nothing so gentle as real strength. 

                   Saint Francis de Sales 

I think she died with a degree of comfort, “passing the torch” to my young bride.  My wife (whom I write about often) is the strongest and most capable person I have ever known.  Yet, I didn’t think of my Mom and I don’t think of my wife simply through a lens of gender.  There have been many great women who are great people and great leaders that I gladly followed – still do: 

Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence. 

                        Dean Nohria 

If our modern societies need to stop and set aside one day or one month to celebrate the great women of the world, what does that say about the rest of the year?  I worry about some women in the spotlight today acting less like my Mom and my wife and more like men.  The U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 3^rd congressional district as an embarrassing example.  

But I’m not making a political statement.  I worry about all the testosterone-laced, win-at-any-cost messaging so pervasive today.  I would welcome women of the world stepping forward and changing our course; leading as women.  Women being coarse is not the way my Mom or my wife would do it; Laurie Beth Jones either: 

In this country, negative information is free. Positive information you have to search for… 

I hunger for change – and I don’t care what the gender is of those leaders we seek.  I’d like to believe women like my Mom and my wife, joined by men with shared values, can come up with a better way: 

We have it in our power to begin the world over again… 

                   Thomas Paine 

What if every day throughout every month was International Women’s Day?  What if we measured advancement not by gender but by improvements in our physical and mental health; increased longevity of our family relationships; a return of civility in our country; and attaining a degree of world peace? 

Gentle strength shouldn’t entail just one special day or merely one month.  As a man, I’m ready to follow great and gentle leaders everyday - regardless of gender - needed now perhaps more than ever. 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.