Circus…

I was thinking about childhood enrichment and employee engagement.  Yep… daydreaming on the job again! 

I think childhood should be a collection of in-person experiences that enrich a child’s life while igniting one’s imagination.  I’m worried that kids today live online and endure serious, adult-level expectations our society thrusts on them.  When a child clowns around at school, is that good or bad? 

Kids used to play in the neighborhood where adventure, exploration and fun were as simple as catching fireflies at dusk; limited only by the requirement of being home when the streetlights came on.  Today - we have killed off the fireflies.  I rarely see gatherings of children playing outside; capitulation symbolized by the American Heart Association’s “Play 60” appeal. 

Children used to learn about the magic of entertainment and the wonder of wild animals at a circus: 

When the circus comes to town, go see it.  It’s the circus – does everything need explaining?                           

Robert Fulghum 

We have killed off the circus.  I know, animal rights… animal cruelty… I understand.  But was there no room for compromise?  With all our advancement and all our resources couldn’t we find a way to protect the animals while still preserving the awe and excitement of the circus for our children? 

I’m not sure… maybe the circus lives on in my mind; others have deemed me a clown.  Maybe I’m the cause of a little dissent, occasional disruption, and hopefully a little clowning around at work.  I’d like to believe it’s not my fault: 

     If you hire clowns; expect a circus. 

                         Unknown Sage 

Do passionate employees appreciate proclamations about employee engagement and career advancement on company Zoom meetings?  Or do we feel we’ve become circus animals in the eyes of the ultra-rich CEOs? 

As one IT Professional put it; “We've been reorganized, restructured, re-engineered, right-sized, down-sized, up-sized, TQM'ed, and MBO'ed, and if I hear the word empowered once more, I swear I'm gonna scream!" 

Geoffrey James 

Well, if we have a job in 2021 we are blessed.  It’s just that in 1979 I remember my company gave every single employee a turkey for Thanksgiving; 

every     

single     

employee  

That gesture cost less than $15 per employee.  Yet, the timing of the treat came during the peak of our production; toughest sales quotas; greatest strain on customer service; increased stress on our families.  Our executives thought a little token would be appreciated.  It was. 

I remember Ray Marlinga (General Manager of the company where I started my sales career) added a hand-written note to every sales rep’s monthly commission statement.  Jim Yesko (VP of Sales and a huge influence on my career) would occasionally say, “Let’s grab a beer” when he saw I was struggling. 

Have we allowed Covid to kill off the personal touch?  Will the circus ever come back to town? 

I know it’s hard to lead passionate employees today.  Tokens of appreciation are hard to expense.  I suppose the clown comparison is a stretch.  And I really do appreciate the periodic “Wellness Days” my company has instituted. 

If you’re a CEO, a manager, a colleague, a parent, or even a neighbor, let’s all try to add a little fun back into our daily routine.  Let’s do it for the children; let’s do it for the kid and the clown that (hopefully) still resides somewhere in all of us. 

And the next time you go to shake my hand beware – I may be wearing a buzzer LOL! 

GAP 

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

To our cowboys …

I blogged once about being yourself, costumes, and self-improvement.  I said for Halloween that year I wore an American Cowboy costume to my wife’s Halloween party.  I also confessed that I’m no cowboy.  

I’m fascinated by cowboys and the traditions of the American West.  Businesses executives and leaders in this country could make things better for all of us if more of them heeded the advice found in one of my favorite books (and a source for more than a few quotes when writing these little ditties) Cowboy Ethics © by James P. Owen: 

I have come to realize that anybody can make money; it is much harder to make a difference. 

The book was a gift from a client of mine from several years ago, Steve Major.  Working for Steve made a difference in my life.  His leadership ethics made a positive impact on the lives of many other people that worked for him, too. 

My son Kevin continues to make a difference in my life.  We are celebrating his birthday this coming Sunday – I thought you might like this present I gave him a few years ago.  This is the opening to chapter seven in my book, The Peace & Power of a Positive Perspective©.  Enjoy! 

              Chapter VII: Cowboy Up – You’ll Get Through It! 

Dedicated to the American Cowboy – may we all learn to be more like them.  

Now, I’m no cowboy; but I know one. 

Cowboys are quiet, polite - men of few words; comfortable just listening while others around them bark at the moon nonstop. 

No, I’m no cowboy; but I’ve heard one. 

Cowboys have a reserve of strength far and above the average person – physical strength to be sure; but also great emotional strength.  

I’m definitely no cowboy; but I’ve seen one. 

Cowboys have the ability to remain in control even while every living thing around them, man and beast, spooks in mortal fear.  

True, I’m no cowboy; but I’ve been protected by one. 

Cowboys remain focused even with adrenaline rushing through their veins when they’re bull riding, or racing flat out, one-handed on horseback, to rope an escaping calf. 

Yes, I’m no cowboy; but I’ve lived with one. 

Cowboys are fearless especially at the age of 15 when they look down in the shoot and prepare to mount a bare back bucking bronco at their very first high school rodeo competition. 

Absolutely, I’m no cowboy; but I’ve filmed one looking down that very shoot. 

Cowboys always believe they can.  The cowboy feels that sigh of relief when he’s all twisted up in the dirt, having fallen off a stumbling horse and the rodeo announcer comes on the PA system and says, “Well folks, he’ll have an option for a re-ride.” 

So, I’m no cowboy, but I’ve sat next to his Mother in the stands when we heard that rodeo announcer come over the P.A. System to say, “Well folks, he’ll have an option for a re-ride.” And as the announcer glanced down to the stands to see her reaction he quickly added, “But his Mother says NO!” 

You see, I know a lot about cowboys.  That’s why I’m so sure I’m not one.  No, I’m no cowboy, but my son Kevin is.  And every day I try to be a little bit more like him. 

Yes, American cowboys are still among us.  My son Kevin is one of them.  Happy birthday Kevin!  I love you, Dad. 

GAP 

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

Good ‘nough…

I was thinking about the skill master craftsmen have.  About the personal commitment these professionals have to their profession.  How they care more about doing the job right than about how much they get paid.  How they care more than their boss does; or their co-workers do; or even their customers do.  Master craftsmen do the job right because that’s the only way they know how to do it. 

My Father-in-Law was a master craftsman.  He was the trim-carpenter for a builder in the 1960s and 1970s who built million dollar homes in the western suburbs of Chicago.  As you might imagine, a million dollar house in 1970 was some house!  My Father-In-Law specialized in the final trim work; everything visible – woodwork, doors, windows, recesses, cabinets.  For a million dollars back then?  Perfection was expected.  

But he didn’t mind those expectations.  You see, as a master craftsman perfection was his expectation and that’s all that really mattered to him.  The satisfaction of doing the job right was why he did what he did.   His peace of mind when he went home everyday came from knowing this.  Pride in his work.  No worries; no pretending; no cover-ups; no excuses; no office politics.  Peace-of mind from a job well done - that was his personal reward (that, and a martini before dinner). 

Decades later, I wonder if these master craftsmen still exist in our fast-paced, automated, outsourced, technology-laden society.  Gerald M. Weinberg thinks not 

Weinberg's Law 

If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization. 

Do you feel the same way?  Are we losing our pride and skill of true craftsmanship in our white-collar professions?  Certainly, if we think about the eye doctor we are about to turn our two, and only two, eyes over to for Lasix surgery – we definitely hope he or she is like my Father-In-Law, true?  Are other positions with our companies any less important?  Shouldn’t our clients count on us all to be master craftsmen?  Shouldn’t we? 

I like to compare white-collar and blue-collar pursuits.  It has always seemed to me that one key component to success in a white-collar job is maintaining a blue-collar mentality.  Doing the job right the first time should be more important than our title, don’t you think?  (That, and a martini before dinner.)  But can we avoid the good ‘nough syndrome? 

            Good enough never is. 

James C. Collins 

Take a plumber, for instance.  Ever notice that plumbers don’t use a hammer in their job?  Many don’t even carry a hammer in their grip.  In just about every other trade, an amateur hack can “get it close” and then pull out a hammer and “knock it into place”.  This is called “Good ‘nough – let’s go home.”  Plumbers?  Not a chance!  Good ‘nough equals a leak – which is why we called a plumber in the first place.  No martini at home for them yet. 

Ever notice the details of the job that’s done at work?  Lots and lots of leaks, yes?  Are they just leaks, or is it starting to rain.  Anyone spot Noah?  But I digress… 

Seems to me it’s becoming too convenient to adopt the “good ‘nough” approach these days.  We can rationalize this because we are sometimes surrounded by leaks – who will notice one more?  Well, if we were master craftsmen like my Father-In-Law was, the answer to that question is - we would. 

GAP 

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

Managing Up …

This phrase has caught my attention.  I’m not quite sure what to make of “managing up”.  

Having been a manager in my career I’m certainly familiar with the phrase “managing down” LOL!  Hopefully, I was reasonable in my approach but I know I was focused on getting my direct reports to get the job done.  

You know what makes leadership?  It is the ability to get men to do what they don’t want to do, and like it. 

Harry S. Truman 

Managing people is challenging and we’ve all worked for “one of those bosses”, true?  I’m sure some of my direct reports would say that of me.  But when I hear the phrase “managing up” and the context it is often used in I wonder if it implies ways of avoiding the work our manager has assigned us to do.  

That said, John G. Miller reminds us there are examples of managing up that are actually a very good thing: 

            It was a beautiful day when I stopped into a Rock Bottom Restaurant for a quick lunch. The place was jammed.  I was happy to grab the one stool they had available at the bar. A few minutes after I sat down, a young man carrying a tray full of dirty dishes hurried by on how ay to the kitchen.  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed me, stopped, came back, and said, "Sir, have you been helped?" 

     "No, I haven't," I said. "And I'm in a bit of a hurry.  But all I really want is a salad and maybe a couple of rolls." 

     "I can get you that, sir. What would you like to drink?" 

     "I'll have a Diet Coke, please." 

     "Oh, I'm sorry, sir, we have Pepsi products.  Would that be all right?" 

     "Ah, no thanks", I said with a smile. "I'll just have water with lemon, please." 

     "Great, I'll be back."  He disappeared. 

     Moments later he returned with the salad, the rolls, and the water. I thanked him, and he was quickly gone again, leaving me to enjoy my meal, a satisfied customer. 

     Suddenly, there was a blur of activity off to my left, the "wind of enthusiasm" blew behind me, and the, over my right shoulder stretched the "long arm of service" delivering a twenty-ounce, bottle, frosty on the outside, cold on the inside, of - you guessed it - Diet Coke! 

     "Wow!" I said. "Thank you!" 

     "You're welcome", he said with a smile, and hurried off again. 

     My first thought was Hire this man! Talk about going the extra mile!  And the more I thought about the outstanding thing he'd just done, the more I wanted to talk to him.  So, as soon as I could get his attention, I waived him over. 

     "Excuse me, I thought you didn't sell Coke", I said. 

     "That's right, sir, we don't." 

     "Well where did this come from?" 

     "The grocery store around the corner."  I was taken aback. 

     "Who paid for it?"  I asked. 

     "I did, sir; just a dollar." 

     By then I was thinking profound and professional thoughts like cool! But what I said was, "Come on, you've been awfully busy.  How did you have time to get it?" 

  Smiling and seemingly growing taller before my eyes, he said, "I didn't, sir. I sent my manager!" 

Well there you go – from the customer’s perspective they don’t care who is managing who as long as the job gets done. 

GAP 

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

High School Sweethearts…

Fall; October; football; high school; Homecoming – do you remember your first high school sweetheart?  High school is a very special and memorable time for teenagers; it certainly was for me.  And I always enjoyed the autumn season when I was in high school – Homecoming; Halloween; dating; parties (most chaperoned, some not). 

Fifty-one years ago, this very time of the year, I asked the prettiest girl in my high school out on a first date.  I guess it went well enough because here we are fifty-one years later, and I’m still awe-struck by the glow of her beauty. 

I hope you enjoy this opening to Chapter XII True North, of my book, The Peace & Power of a Positive Perspective © as much I enjoyed writing it: 

Dedicated to… a crisp night in October; with a slight breeze blowing through bare trees – waiting for the coming winter.   Close your eyes.  Can you smell remnants of autumn leaves burning?  

To winning the homecoming football game.  To being carefree. To a Saturday night party at the teenager’s house whose parents are away.  Can you hear the kids having fun in the kitchen; the basement; and the backyard, all to the beat of the Rolling Stones?  

To couches, blue jeans and sweaters.  To the floor lamp reflecting on her blond hair making it shimmer with silvery streaks of light.  To the nervous small talk of a teenage boy in the presence of a varsity cheerleader.  To the patience of the teenage girl sitting on the couch with the captain of the varsity basketball team.  Can you remember when you could actually hear your heart throbbing? 

To throw pillows, which come in handy when the small talk runs out – what else can a young boy do?  And to playful pillow fights; which lead to gentle wrestling and ultimately to that first kiss. Remember how delicate she felt in your arms – the hint of her perfume – the taste of her lips? 

To first dates – dinner and a movie.  To the movie Catch 22 and the Oriental Theatre in downtown Chicago.  To dating the prettiest girl in your high school; to falling in love; to asking her father’s permission for her hand in marriage.  Were you ever so nervous? 

To the tears welling up in my eyes even as I write this short memoire.  To all those emotions; all the happiness; all those hopes and all those dreams; some fulfilled, some yet to be; and all that I can remember today as if it just happened yesterday – that I will remember everyday, as long as I live.  How can someone be so lucky? 

To 1970 - and that Saturday night in October in Elmhurst where I kissed Debbie for the very first time.  And to the friend’s house whose parents were out – to their couch, their floor lamp, to their throw pillows; and to the Rolling Stones music.  Can you imagine being so young, so infatuated, and so in love?  

I still am.  

GAP 

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

Columbus Day…

It’s been 10 years since I ventured out into the social media world for the very first time.  I know I wasn’t the original “explorer”, but it was still a big move for me.  In recognition of Columbus Day, permit me to share a re-post of one of my original posts from back then - beginning with:  

People told Columbus the world was flat.  He didn’t insist it was round.  He got in a boat. 

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How cool was that!  No debate; no argument; no headlines; no hype.  They said, “Impossible!” he said, “Get me to a boat!”  Then Columbus got in that boat (funded by the original venture capitalist); and proved his point.  

I know many say today that Columbus spread violence, slavery, and disease as a by-product of his bravery and exploration.  I wonder 500 years from now what they will be saying we spread?  But that’s a different debate for some other time. 

I prefer to celebrate this example of Columbus’ commitment to success!  “Hey Chris, the world is flat you know.  If you go out there, you’ll sail right off the table into oblivion.”  “That’s OK”, he might have said, “I think we’ll be all right.” 

What about you?  What are “they” saying you cannot do?  Do you agree with them?  Are you staying close to shore keeping land in sight to feel secure?  Or are you looking out across the vast ocean and on to your future?  Are you debating – or are you doing?  Where are you turning for the fuel to maintain your positive, can-do attitude?  

It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up. 

Babe Ruth 

If you’re reading this, then you’re in my boat.  Welcome to The Peace & Power of a Positive Perspective©.  The next time you’re having one of “those days”, filled with too much negativity from “them”, come back aboard for a little positive reinforcement. 

I’m using social media as my vessel – it is the 21^st century after all.  Some people today might say, “Gary; Linked In, Face Book, Snapchat, Twitter are fun and all; but a vehicle for ongoing business-to-business, business?  Impossible!”  Well, what do I know?  

I’ve spent decades in my career practicing professional selling skills.  You know – permission-based prospecting; discovering the customer’s goals; presenting solutions; closing the deal?  Remember?  Are any of those skills relevant today?

Best-selling business author Jim Collins wrote: 

The Tyranny of the OR vs the Genius of the AND. 

To me, it’s not social media – OR – the old way.  I think social media is important.

But, I also believe that building trust still plays a key role in the customers’ success; and in turn, our success.  I believe that knowing what you’re doing is still critical to a salesperson’s achievement.  Being a product expert + a technology expert + a competitive expert + a businessperson are the key characteristics our customers value.  But, what do I know? 

Similar to Christopher Columbus, no one can predict ahead of time what changes the online world will bring to the future of the sales profession.  I’m certainly not going to argue about it.  I’m just getting in my social media boat and setting sail – I believe I won’t fall off the face of the earth. 

I hope you join me for the voyage.  Bring a friend!  After all: 

No sense in being pessimistic.  It wouldn’t work anyway. 

Unknown Sage 

Here’s to the New World.  Thanks again Chris! 

GAP 

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

Giving our best…

Football is my favorite sport.  A bit ironic I suppose, because football is the epitome of a time in my life that I did not give my best.  Actually, it was worse than that.  It was the one time in all my competitive pursuits (in athletics or in business) that I quit.  I’ve lost many times; won my share too; quit once.

I quit my high school football team two weeks into the start of my junior year season.  It was the only time in my life that my Mom told me I disappointed her.  I can remember going into the head coach’s office to quit as if it was yesterday.  A bit ironic I suppose, because after being a starter and co-captain my freshman and sophomore years, I was not even planning to play my junior year.  I planned to focus on basketball. 

The coach called and asked me to reconsider.  I agreed, but when I showed up I wasn’t prepared to give my best.  He and his coaches weren’t prepared to coach me up either.  At the age of sixteen, I decided that quitting was the only escape.  I’ve regretted it to this day.  It’s not the not-playing that I regret; it’s the not giving my best.

I bet there have been special coaches and mentors who have had a positive impact on your life.  Coaches come in all shapes and sizes and use a wide variety of styles and techniques.  Some coaches resonate with us; some don’t. 

Here’s a 6 minute video about a high school, an underdog team, and their coach’s expectation about giving our best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3wnK-Cphgs

Probably not a technique that transfers into the business world today - but the message does, true?  Yes, the sporting world is different than the business world.  Nonetheless, we don’t have to go it alone.  Even the best-of-the-best have coaches.

In business, our favorite, Unknown Sage offers this:

Common misconceptions about coaching in the marketplace: 

• “Coaching is primarily for correcting behavior” - If we only coach people when they do something wrong, we have missed the point.  It’s about building not fixing.
• “Coaching requires giving up power and control” – The manager relies more on influence. The person is still accountable.
• “Coaching takes too much time” – Coaching takes too much time if you don’t do enough of it and you don’t do it correctly.
• “Coaching is soft stuff” – The manager who avoids soft stuff usually does so because it is so hard.  The work is easy; people are difficult.
• “Coaching is laissez-faire management” – Freedom in the workplace, actually just about anywhere, is rooted in strict discipline.
• “Coaching is simply being a good cheerleader” – A good manager has the courage and inner strength when needed to tell people the truth.
• “Coaching is like therapy” – To be a good manager and coach one does need a basic understanding of human behavior and motivation, but therapy has no place in your relationship with the people you are leading.

Coaches enjoy occasional accolades, too.  The best I ever heard was a tribute to Bum Phillips, head coach of the then, Houston Oilers.  It was once said of Bum:

He could take his and beat yours - and then he could take yours and beat his. 

As a coach, he was able to get his players to give their best; they had no quit.  Imagine – what could we accomplish today if we just committed to giving our best? 

GAP

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