Our Obligation to the next Generation...

Good Morning!

Life's twists and turns sure are entertaining!

They are...that is...with the proper attitude...

They can also be discomforting...because with every twist and turn comes changes and risk...

It is "the unknown" that creates stress...and that which detracts from our enjoyment...

It has often been said that ignorance is bliss..."  I believe that...but only in certain situations...

I am feeling a bit prosaic today...SORRY...but the messages are still there...

A twist and a turn can be a good thing...when the direction chosen takes one on a path that is smoother...or safer...or is based upon altruistic goals...

A twist and a turn can be good when it is based upon data and clarity and insight...otherwise...

It is just another gamble made by people who believe that they are gamblers...

Remember that no matter how good it seems...the odds are always in favor of the casino...

The same holds true in life as it does in business...

There are two sides to every wager...the side that bets...and the side that takes the bets (the casino)

Choose your side wisely!

This causes great leaders (like you) to take a daily account of the odds for success in every endeavor that you set out on...or are in...

Whether it is in a relationship...or with your children...or your job...or a hobby...

Stay on the side of the casino...

Mathematically...and these laws are immutable....it says that if you stay on the side of the bet...you'll lose in the long run...

This can be a depressing thought...but there is also light...you have a choice...

Choose to be on the casino's side...in every endeavor that you pursue...

More often than not...that path is actually very clear and apparent...

Most of the choices are of little value...if they go south on an individual basis...

...In the long run...however...the casino wins...

That is what entertains them (the casino)...when they see someone win...they do not get upset...they realize that this will only attract more losing people in...and that is what they want...

You'll probably remember an old saying that I have..."Remember that all of this is for entertainment purposes only...do not try this at home..."

Every event in one's life is a single bet...ask yourself...am I on the betting side or the casino?

Enough said!  (This will become a bit more clear later)

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Last Sunday...out of the blue...I received a call from a dear friend from Costa Rica...who will be here for a little over a month and wanted to reconnect...

We had not talked in nearly a year...and in the first 10 minutes brought each other up to present...

The next 90 minutes was an amazing discussion...that left me with more than enough energy and thoughts for the rest of the week...

The first part of our discussion focused on our obligation to the next generation...

One of the things said has been indelibly etched upon my heart...

"We should be focusing on educating our children today...so we will do not have to punish them as adults..."

The context of the discussion is of little importance...because this sentence is quite stand-alone...

One of our obligations to the next generation...is to protect our society from our children...by educating them properly...

When we are remiss in this obligation...they either become criminals or welfare cases...

Childhood is a place where the learners are safe to fail and learn lessons that keeps them out of prison or out of the welfare lines...

I know that sounds self-evident...DUH! 

However...We (as parents) take the paths of least resistance or less conflict...instead of the right route...and as a result are supplying the future with burdens rather than benefits...

This is simply caused by our focus on the short-term rather than what it means for the future...

That really got me thinking...

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Another interesting piece of the discussion focused on how interviews have changed...

My friend told me that she was in an interview and they asked one and only one question...

"What do you value?"

The answer given?

Honesty...

Integrity...

Passion...

Loyalty...

In that order...with one disclaimer...I think that they can not be stacked or prioritized...one over another...

I have always been a strict advocate of these four personal characteristics...

AND...LATER...

This part of the conversation got me thinking on a track that gave me a deeper appreciation for our "Founding Fathers" than I ever had before...

In case you haven't noticed...I am moving from prose to philosophy...

America's founding fathers really had it together and we may not realize how together they were!

When it comes to the personal characteristic of honesty...they first recognized that honesty was not a choice...but an obligation...a basic human right...

A person is obliged to be honest in order to be an American citizen.

In fact, a person gives up the right of citizenship by being dishonest...it is a felony!

I like that...because it creates a circular argument!  Is a person honest because they are a citizen or are they a citizen because they are honest?

Another thing that I realized is that a person is obligated to be honest and protected by the Constitution!  The right to remain silent...because of self incrimination...

If you are questioned you are obligated to answer honestly...

If what you are obligated to say...incriminates you...then you have the right to remain silent!

Even "white lies" are bad!

You either tell the truth...or remain silent...there is a right thing to do in either situation...

We hear it on every Law and Order...and every crime show...but have we realized what it truly means?

Miranda...

If you are falsely accused the facts will play out...

AND...You can stand in your defense...because you are honest...

What an amazing gift...to our basic human rights!

Honesty is not a choice...some demented people and those with major character flaws believe otherwise...

They have lied themselves into believing something other than the truth...their lies so pervasive that they have convinced themselves...

These are the people who ultimately end up imprisoned...felons!

They give up their rights of citizenship through their behavior and their belief that they have a right to be dishonest!

This has all been established in the founding documents of our nation...

What a wonderful gift!

BUT...you may say...liars can change...

What if they commit to making their lives different?

If a liar says..."I'll change"...how can you trust that they are telling the truth?

The reason that I bring this up is that I believe that there is a subtle hierarchy in the list that was mentioned by my friend!

Honesty is at the base of it all...

Our Founding Fathers recognized this...

One can not have anything if they do not have honesty...

From that a consistency of behavior...INTEGRITY

Persistence to the cause...LOYALTY

and finally a desire to pursue it to the bitter end...PASSION

All true and beautiful successes spring from honesty...anything gained by any other means is stealing...(another felony)

Lack of honesty...will punish an individual from many directions...and the fact of the matter is...a dishonest person deserves it!

Our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution and the laws that proceeded it to ensure that...

They abhorred dishonesty...and rightly so...it is a disease that can lead to the demise of an individual, a generation...a culture...and a country...

If you are ever asked that question...be ready to put honesty at the top of the list...and have numerous examples of your own behavior to show that you truly believe it!

When put in the context of leadership and any success...it is a foundational need...

Nothing of value can spring from anything else...

Enough Said!

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This takes to another conversation, with another person...who left a comment on my blog...

It again was related to honesty...

His comment was specifically related to his belief that everyone is basically honest...and should be given latitude...

I do not know if we can afford to do so!

I too believe that most people inherently possess the ability to be honest...but if they are not guided correctly and realize strict and serious punishment for dishonesty...they rationalize the personal benefit...

Here is an example...a CEO is dishonest and takes millions of dollars from the company and its shareholders...

He is caught and is given a swift and serious fine and imprisoned...

Yet the money he stole through lying...sits gathering interest while he is in prison...he gets out on good behavior and moves to an island to live in the lap of luxury...

He got what he wanted...had to pay the price of a bit of inconvenience...yet he had a greater reward...his dishonesty paid off!

The penalties for that kind of dishonesty need to be swift...serious...and lasting...

What the criminal used dishonesty to receive should be taken away and the public ensured that they have no right or access to it for as long as they live...

That really is the basis of a felony...it is treason and a person gives up the rights of citizenship when they commit a felony...(Isn't that brilliant?)

Lied to get money...find it and take it away...and so on...

"We should be focusing on educating our children today...so we will do not have to punish them as adults..."

If we as parents and leaders of the 21st century do what my friend said...the world will be a better place...

Our obligation is to make the next generation better for our having been here...not just materialistically...but morally and ethically...

That is what the founding fathers so desired...and what so impressed me...

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Now to some success basics...

From philosophy to pragmatism...

Attention to details...

Great leaders have an astute ability in regards to the attention to details...

Many in leadership positions believe that the details are for the underlings...

That is wrong...

Leaders are the individuals responsible for success...failure is not an option...

Success comes through identifying the critical details and working "hand in hand" to ensure success...

A couple of companies ago...as an exercise I created a FMEA (Failure Modes Effects Analysis) for projects in general...

For those of you who do not know what a FMEA is...it is a toll created by the military to list all of the potential failures of a component or a system and drive to reducing the risk of failure.

It has been adopted broadly by industry...and when used appropriately...it is a fantastic "value-added" tool.

What I found was that...in general...there are more than 33,000 things that can go wrong with a project...

When prioritized...many of those possibilities fall off...as simply improbable...

And when adapted to a specific project...the list of potential failures decreases to a dozen or so...

Another interesting things is that those dozen issues are not the same across projects...

A good leader thinks like a FMEA...

When challenged...they assess the potential failures...that list may be huge...but as they go across those that have the highest probability of occurring, the great impact and hidden precursors...they realize that list is small...

These are the details they focus upon...

Make this a habit...and you'll be a success...

Pay attention to details...

Control those which can affect your success...

That is what I meant by choosing the side of the casino...

A poor leader bets...but does not ensure that they bet on a "sure" thing...

FMEA thinking shifts the odds in your favor and you become the casino rather than the person duped into believing that you'll be a winner...

Another interesting thing that I found in the FMEA exercise was that those "dozen potential" issues did in fact raise their ugly head...I was however prepared...and they had no effect on the outcome of the project...I mitigated the impact...

Cause/Effect did come into play...but I was able to work in the arena that I had control...IMPACT!

Great leaders and successful people do not worry about effecting cause/effect...these laws are immutable...they become keenly aware when they are occurring...and then move to the place in the equation that is within control...impact...

That is what attention to details is all about...that is what playing the role of the casino is all about...

ENOUGH SAID!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I have so many things to do...as I know do you!

Prose...philosophy...and down to earth, pragmatic thoughts...for me it can't get much better!

Pura Vida!

Pick Something and be Great!

Good Morning...

I really bet you are excited!

I have learned so many lesson across my career...I hope that I have been able to share the essence of them with you...in a way that you can apply them to your situation...

The 1st Quarter is nearing its close and all of your 2010 plans should be absolutely firm and in actuality about 1/2 way done...if not...your 2010 impact will be degraded each day that things are not completed...

It is important to avoid getting into the illusion that is created by the calendar...a smart leader has everything set by the first month (or second month of the year), at the latest, in order to maximize the impact of their efforts...

The illusion of the calendar?

Most people spend the beginning of the year planning...the the next 2 quarters acting on those plans...only to wonder why their impact was so small at the end of the year...many of their big plans only made 25% of the initially projected impact...

It is simple math...you can't rationally expect 100% when 75% of it was squandered...

A smart leader shifts their work, and that of the team...to the extent that they maximize the impact in the current year...

2010 work should be nearing completion at the beginning of 2010...not at the end...2011 work should begin in the third or last quarter of 2010...which means planning should begin mid 2010...

PIPE DREAM? 

Yes and No!

Yes...for those who can not anticipate the needs of an organization or for those who wait to be told...but take note...this is a simple observational activity...it is not rocket science...

It is NOT for those who have foresight and the guts to make a decision and act on it...  

It is easy to do...you know what your organization needs...start working on it...and make something great...

It is indecisiveness that will be the death of any organization in the 21st century...do not allow yourself to be  accused of being an accomplice to organizational murder...

Enough Said!

Those who have been following these blogs...and those who have known me for a while...will recognize this concept...that I advocate at every possible opportunity...

It is focus...

We all need a mental break...and as a result we pursue amusements ("a" meaning "not" and "muse" meaning "to think")...

Many of us pursue recreation...("re" meaning "again" and create meaning...yes you have it "to make")...

These are both in the categories of hobbies...

In the beginning of my career I sought to learn as much about everything as I possibly could...there are good things from this and bad things...

I will focus on the bad today!

It made me a "jack of all trades" but I came to realize that I lacked mastery!

The saving grace was that I learned this lesson very early in my career...so I also decided that it was important to chase one thing and push it for all it had...

It is a good thing to expand one's horizons...and learn diverse things...

however...if you simply dabble in it...there is no value...

That begs the question..."When should I dabble?"

The answer is simple...only when there is no value to be derived from a "worthwhile" activity...

Value?

Income...or personal growth and development that supports your area of focus...

Legends and Greatness are bestowed upon people of focus...

The choice of one's amusements and recreational activities can either enhance one's chosen journey...meaning that they are aligned with them...or they do not!

If they do not...then they are wasted energy and effort and should be counted as a loss...because that time can not be regained...

Great leaders are efficient with their time...they realize that their tenure as a leader is not eternal...but a count-down...

Great leaders recognize that there will be an accounting for every minute...

I have seen many leaders fall because they used their organization's time frivolously...and in a sad way...stole success from the organization...

Do not be like them...

We need hobbies...

Choose what you do so that even when you are relaxing...the things that you do enhance your chosen path...

If you read to relax...put the fiction aside and read the latest books that support your path...

Define and redefine your work...

Make it meaningful...

Choose something and be great at it...that is...what will keep you "in the money" and ensure that you have a long and fruitful career...

Enough Said!

Speaking of long and fruitful careers...(OK I can not leave well enough alone!)

Longevity and prosperity comes less from your own performance (your product) and more from your customers' loyalty...

Building...Engaging...and Retaining clients/customers is crucial to your success...

Remember that you have many customers and that you can have the best product in the world...but if your customer service stinks...so too will your performance...   

Customer Service is a hidden process within you...and your department...and your organization...

It has to be at the forefront of your organization's...AND YOUR...efforts...it can not take a back seat...

You can have the greatest product in the world...but if you do not treat your customers right...it will not work!

I have a BIG day today...

You do too!

Re-create...

Enjoy what you are doing...

Pick something and turn it into a legend...that make significant and meaningful differences in the lives of others...

Is it Worth it?

Good Morning...

It was written thousands of years ago...

"...nothing is new under the sun..."

Our narrow existence often deceives us into believing that our situation is unique and specially created by and for us...

Nothing is further from the truth...although we would like to believe that!

Even though the world appears as a VERY complex and interrelated system, it is controlled by a simple set of rules.

Exceptions to those rules are also few...

Real genius is found in the identification of the specific law AND its limitations.

Then using that insight to be more successful...

Seek the essence of things and you'll find your path easier to tread...

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That was just a thought that I had the other day...

I was looking at the number of clicks and the payback for my weekly work on the numerous blogs that I maintain...

I am making less than 25 cents per week...and I had to ask myself..."Is it worth it?"

Why should I be spending my time motivating others...with no payback?

It was depressing...

I could take the time and focus it more on personal and career advancement...

I could focus more time on my family...

Heck I could take naps with a greater ROI!

BUT...

I can't do that!

My passion is about making meaningful and significant differences in the lives of individuals and subsequently in the performance of organizations.

Passion and Talent persists despite the cost and the return...

My message to you...and an acid test of true passion and talent...

Would you do what you are doing whether or not you got paid to do it?

Sure we need to eat and have a place to live...and a car to drive...and clothes...

Passion transcends that...and you'll find a way to manifest your passion in some form or another...

Check your passion...

and use this test to check to see if what you are doing is truly worth your effort...

If it isn't seek another course in life...

Life is too tenuous to waste time not pursuing your passion...

Enough Said!

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I wanted to see how far we have come...

Look at my first blog...to you!

Click This Link and then come back!

Man...it seems like yesterday!

The passion that I had then has only grown and focused...

I have taken my time to hone my thoughts and act on my dreams...

I looked at the vision board that I created a mere 9 months ago and guess what?

It is more that half complete!

I will not alter it until it is fully realized!

You are part of my vision...

Having you read my blogs and apply my rambling thoughts to your life...is part of what I am about...

Is it worth it?

YOU BET!

Enough Said!

What Would YOU Do If...?

Good Morning!

Today is a bit different...why?

Because...I asked myself...

What if this was the last blog that I wrote...?

What if this was the last chance that I had to tell you what I thought was important...?

So let me begin with one of my favorite songs...

Please listen to it...perhaps twice or three times...

Take in every "cliche"

This will help set the stage for my message today...

Humor me!




If today was your last day...or the other person's last day...

What would you say...what would you do?

Many people that I have asked lately...responded with, "I would be doing exactly what I am doing..."

If you knew for sure that today was your last day on earth...would you be at work?

Would you be sitting and reading this blog?

What would you tell the world?

What would you tell your loved ones?

What would tell your friends?

What would you tell those who hurt you?

How would your life be different?

Why am I focusing on such a depressing series of thoughts?

Emphasizing the "finality" of our words and actions should bring to the forefront an assessment of the value of each...

The trivial quickly falls off the "To Do" list when our future disappears...

Ask yourself..."If today was my last day...what?"

Enough Said!

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Another thing to consider...

Where are you going?

I have had an interesting discussion with the kids over the past couple of days...

It started when someone in the oncoming traffic lane...was sitting and beeping their horn...

The kids remembered a study that I did (sometime back) that showed an inverse relationship between the the frequency of horn blowing and the emotional and intellectual maturity of the horn blower!  That means that frequent horn blowers are less emotionally mature and intelligent than non-horn blowers...

Whether it is valid or not is not the point...it is just an interesting little thought...that makes me smile whenever I hear someone beep their horn!

As we discussed horn blowing...we decided that if you have to blow your horn...the value to society must be greater than the disruption that is causes...because horns are distracting and can themselves cause problems...

The discussion shifted a bit into..."What is worth fighting for?"

Our "founders" grasped that concept...and we have forgotten about it!  They said that there are three things worth fighting for..."Life...Liberty...and the Pursuit of Happiness..."  All else pales in comparison or is simply not worth it...

Think about that...the only time one should become angry is when their life is threatened...their freedom is unjustly infringed upon...or that their happiness or the pursuit thereof is minimized!

Anything else...is not worth getting angry over!

There is no value...

Then our discussion went to what we "talk" about...as with horn blowing...our speech must be tempered!

If what you say...does not promote Life, Liberty...or the Pursuit of your own or another's happiness...you have to question whether it is worth saying!

This cool stuff from the mouths and minds of babes...and from a horn blast in the opposite lane!

AS we talked...we decided that we do not rise (after a restful sleep) and decide to be angry...We love and pursue being happy!

So when we get angry...It takes away from the total happiness that we have left...

I do not want to die angry...

What if today was my last day?

What if today was your last day?

Die happy...or die angry?

Choose and use your words wisely!

That is the sign of a good leader!

Step up and promote...LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Those are worth shouting from the mountain tops and also worth fighting for!

They were true nearly 300 years ago...and still are!

So.....

Where are you going?

What will you be next year at this time?

What are you doing to ensure that you will arrive there unscathed?

Will that make you truly happy?

An interesting thing about what the founders noted as important...none of them had to do with today!  Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are all future oriented!  Did you realize that?

We have to live today as if it were our last...ensuring that those three concepts are NEVER compromised!

That is our promise for the future and for future generations...

Enough Said...AGAIN!

Speaking of future generations...

What is our obligation to our future generations...beyond life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

I have not answered my question on what I would tell you...if today was my last day...

Here is my answer...

 Desiderata  (Latin for "Desired things")

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

That is what I would tell you!

AND I am not just blowing my horn!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY by telling a friend how important they are to you...

Have a great weekend!

Pura Vida!