#StayAtHomeChallenge!

In the middle of so many challenges, I am choosing to find the opportunity. Using the #StayAtHomeChallenge to put goals in place for the time no longer spent commuting or having in person meetings.

Goal #1: Write down and share more of my thoughts (as I have previously failed to follow through on), beginning with this post. I will follow-up with further goals throughout this week.

What are some of the #StayAtHomeChallenge ideas you have that will help make every day great!?

Goals and Accountability for 2019

Once again I am starting the year with a commitment to writing more. This time I am making the commitment public.

And, to add a layer of accountability, my first insight of 2019 is publicly sharing further goals for the year:

·        Increased presence

o   Hour of no technology

o   No technology after 9 o’clock

o   No technology during meetings

·        Physical

o   190 lbs & Under 10% body fat by May 15th

·        Challenge

o   20+ mile bike race

·        Spiritual

o   Bible Every morning

·        Family

o   Planned monthly (minimum) date nights with Emily

o   Hour of family time each day

o   Planned complete vacations at least 3 months in advance

·        Career Advancement

o   Support team in total goal achievement for FY19

o   Lead team in FY20

·        Continuous Learning

o   Reading

§  Consume at least 26 books

·        To date

o   Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek

o   Power Moves (audible) – Adam Grant

·        In process

o   Warmth of Other Suns – Isabel Wilkerson

o   Writing

§  1 post/month

§  My goal for writing will be to identify topics that will help others think & grow

As I prepare to “publish” all of this, I find myself nervous and excited; because putting it out there means I have to follow through. I’ve already started down the path on many of these, but as of now, they are officially out there and will all be accomplished!

Make today and your own goals great!

Happy Welcome Back

Happy New Year!

The welcome back in the title is really more meant for me. I lost site of making this a priority and am welcoming it back in 2018. Throughout the course of 2017 I was given the great opportunity of a promotion. Which, while very time-consuming, also includes providing information to my team. So, why would I not share it with others.

To begin making this happen, I simply want to share a couple insights I have recently read and listened to

Insights

Listen

The Learning Leader: Episode 238: Neil Pasricha – Why Action Creates Motivation: 1,000 Awesome Things

I recommend listening to the entire hour long podcast even if only in 10 minute increments. My takeaways (similar to those you’ll see in the show notes) are:

  • ·        How Neil was able to land his first job out of Harvard via cold-calling

    o   The method should sound very familiar… think market insights and what matters to them

    ·        The confidence to make the calls even as someone with little to no real experience; and how so many calls were flat out rejected… Sound familiar

    o   “If you go through life trying to find confirmation you don’t belong, you’ll find it.”

  • ·        Neil’s Acronym for sustained leadership excellence

 

Read (or listen)

Quench Your Own Thirst: Business Lessons Learned over a Beer or Two

Audio book link

This is the story of how Sam Adam’s was founded and all the business lessons that came out of it. Yes, the entire book! It’s actually an easy read. Each few page chapter has business lesson in it, including the below quote on value I’ve shared previously and used previously with clients.

I will continue to share information, including on the next book I am reading and am always open to suggestions on how can improve and provide further value to those of you reading here.

Make it a great start to 2018!

 

 

"We've always done it that way."

“We’ve always done it that way”

How many times have you heard this phrase in the business world? How many times have you said it?

Working with Business Leaders every day, you may be surprised (or not) by the amount of times I hear this phrase. What’s scarier than hearing this phrase from leaders, is that it refers to how they do business today. Are their businesses the same today as they were 5, 10, 20 years ago? Are their employees or even customers? Is the world the same?

There is a danger that comes with stating and living this phrase.

An example outside the business world is former college basketball Coach Bobby Knight. Known as “The General,” he was famous for his explosive temper; most notably “the chair throw” (for those unfamiliar, type it into Google and you will not be disappointed). Coach Knight ran his programs exactly the same way year after year and was one of the most successful coaches of all-time; until he wasn’t.

Later in Coach Knight’s career, college basketball players were becoming superstars (entitled) earlier and frequently leaving college before graduation to pursue professional careers in the NBA. Coach Knight was not a fan of this new breed of player; and he refused to change how he did things. His temper, the way he ran his programs and treated his players did not change; even though the players and the college basketball landscape had. This led to his downfall and the end of his career. If you look him up now, much of the information at the top of the page are focused on the negative.

For all his success, Coach Knight fell out of favor because he was unable to adapt; aka “I’ve always done it that way.” Ironically, one of his assistants, Coach Mike Krzyzewski has learned to adapt and has surpassed Coach Knight for most wins all-time.

Unfortunately, many businesses and business leaders closely resemble the Coach Knight example. “We’ve always done it that way,” is a justification for status quo. This is especially true for those businesses who have maintained any level of success. Leaders of successful industry either do not want to change, or truly believe that previous success correlates to future success.

In a vacuum, that may be true. However, the fact is if you’ve been in business for any length of time, the world is not the same as it was when you started. Business leaders have so much more to consider as they are future planning.

One of the changes is in technology. As recently as a year ago, I would hear from clients how their employees were not “tech savvy.” Now, I hear from my clients that they are having to change internal policies because even the employees without bank accounts have cell phones; and they are using them during work hours.

Technology has also changed the way business leader’s focus on their go to market strategies. They need to understand that, thanks to advances in technology, their potential clients can and do learn almost all they need to know before even taking a meeting.

CEO’s and CFO’s now also have to deal with constant changes in the law. Compliance issues like the ACA, FLSA and others have leaders exposed to fines that can cripple or even bankrupt their businesses.

Finally (at least for this post) is the new generation in the workforce. As many have already noted, by 2020, Millennials will make up 50% of the workforce. Further, according to a recent Deloitte Study, HR Technology Disruptions for 2017: Nine Trends Reinventing the HR Software Market, 40% of workers in the United States today are contingent in some fashion. What this means is, like it or not, the people businesses are going to have working for them are different from those that they’re used to and those that will soon be retiring. Not focusing on the changes and the people specifically can have dire consequences as it already has for some.

The first real life example company had not monitored or changed job descriptions to adapt to current regulations and employee culture. This led to a lawsuit from a current employee. The organization quickly realized that the employee had a case, as would many other employees if they too decided to sue. So, they went to court. After over a year in court and hours away from day to day operations with the CEO, CFO, Controller, HR and others; they “won.” Which only cost them $150,000.

The second example sadly is ongoing. This organization has been operating in the same fashion since inception. They treat and view their employees not as assets, but as a necessary evil that must be monitored at all times. This company believes that based on their industry, they’ll never get good people. They continue to wonder why their entire workforce turns over every year. They also do not see the cost associated with this turnover.

All of these examples both inside and outside the business world show the dangers of “we’ve always done it that way.” As the workforce changes, technology advances, rules & regulations change; leaders must all learn to embrace change or at least adaptation. Those who don’t will find themselves captaining a sinking ship while being passed by others in rockets.

Let the Learning Begin to Continue

I am both starting and continuing my education by writing here.

I pride myself on maintaining a positive attitude while constantly trying to grow as a person so that I may be better for my family, friends, and business partners. I firmly believe that to grow, we all must challenge ourselves and continue learning.

Writing is not something I have done much of since graduate school and I am more than a little apprehensive. But again, growth comes from challenge.

My goal for this sight and my writing attempts, is to provide: insights from a business and personal perspective, share recommended resources and start conversations. Doing so will help us all continue to learn and push ourselves to be better each day.

So, keep an eye out for future posts, look to me for any insight I can provide and do not hesitate to reach out.

Until next time, make it a great day!

MDKI