2008 May

Popcorn and Peanut Butter Taste Yummy!

Popcorn and Peanut Butter Taste Yummy!
- Who’s Judging? -

It’s amazing how two different people can taste the same thing, see the same thing, experience the same event, and come away with two totally different accounts. It’s remarkable, don’t you think? Yes, there are people who like the combination of two un-related foods like popcorn and peanut butter. I am not one of those people. However, I appreciate a variety of opinions and feelings towards things.

What I recommend, is that instead of disputing the taste of popcorn and peanut butter, give them a try. Instead of getting angry of the difference of opinion, try next time to understand. People are fascinating and because we all come from different backgrounds there are so many things we can learn.

Ask questions like: “What did you mean by that, help me understand.” or “That’s interesting, how did you arrive at that?” As a culture we don’t ask enough questions. Five year-olds are great; they ask questions all the time. What happens when we shut down the ‘why’ questions? We de-stimulate curiosity.

The best ideas and solutions in business come from the individuals who spend over half their waking hours within the four walls of the organization. They’re the secretaries, sales staff, support staff, and billing people. Business leaders sometimes forget about them. Get your people involved by asking them questions. Questions ranging from, “How could we increase our efficiency?” to “How should we market this product?” Answers are all around us, we simply need to learn how to think like that 5 year-old and ask those questions. Who knows, you may discover that the right popcorn (caramel) dipped into peanut butter tastes delicious!

- Joe Kiedinger -

ACTION PLAN: Practice asking questions. But you already know that.

Significance Isn’t Always Revealed!

Significance Isn’t Always Revealed!
- You make an impact -

There once was a boss and an employee. The employee was a wonderful technician at what he did. He worked in a grocery store and was in charge of the produce department. He knew how to order in order to reduce the amount of produce that had to be tossed if not sold. He knew how to make beautiful displays, but he lacked one skill and wasn’t interested in learning it. That skill was engaging customers as they would pass by.

Now the boss reminded the efficient employee that all grocery stores have wonderful displays and all grocery stores have great managers, but not all grocery stores work hard to reach out to customers. Week after week the boss reminded the employee to engage customers and week after week the employee decided not to participate. Until one day the boss called the employee to the office.

“Ya know, Sam,” the boss said, “you are a great manager. You have created efficiencies that other departments have implemented and I appreciate that. However, you disregard that fact that we engage customers here. It’s what sets us apart from the competition. Every grocery store has bananas but not every grocery store greets customers and treats them like guests. Your entire department has taken on your behavior and the produce department as a whole has the poorest ‘meet and greet’ ratio in the entire store.”

Sam was defensive and said he should be the exception because of his management skills. That didn’t work and after much time of the boss reminding Sam over and over the boss had enough: “Sam, I love ya and I’m going to miss ya. You are no longer an employee here and it breaks my heart.” Sam was irate and after working for the boss 12 years he let him have it, then got up from his seat and stormed out of the office.

Eight years had passed and the boss hadn’t heard from Sam. One day Sam showed up and asked to see the boss. He was invited to the boss’ office where he looked his old boss in the eyes and thanked him with sincere intentions. “I just came back to thank you for changing my life,” Sam said. “You see, my real passion wasn’t grocery, it’s bicycling. I’ve had a passion for bicycles all my life. When you let me go I began reflecting on my life. I decided to follow my dreams of owning a bike store. We moved to my wife’s hometown, which she had always wanted to return to, and we now have three stores in the metro area. I’ve never been happier and I want to thank you for setting me free.”

This is a true story and reminds me of a couple of things. For one, events that seem negative can actually have a very positive outcome. Second, even a termination can be done with respect.

Overall, the moral of this story is this: even though the news you may need to share may be perceived as negative, when you do the right thing the only eventual outcome can be positive. And most of the time you will never realize the positive impact you made. Now go out and do the right thing!

- Joe Kiedinger -

ACTION PLAN: What you allow you condone. Become a coach and help your associates get rid of bad habits in the work place. If you need help, call me!

Past, Present, and Future

Past, Present, and Future
- Look at the whole picture -

My folks just got back from their winter destination last week. Yes, they’re snow birds! This weekend I brought the whole family to Mom and Dad’s for dinner, and we had a little post celebration of my birthday. My aunt and uncle were also there. Everyone sang happy birthday in the traditional sense and when it came to singing my name they all sang out, “Happy Birthday dear, JOEY…”

Joey. It’s a name I don’t hear very often anymore. It felt good to hear Joey (and now after this Wisdom, I’m guessing I’ll hear it a lot more). It’s people I connected with at a very different time of my life. When someone addresses me as “Joey” I know it’s someone I knew before high school. For some reason, my name became “Joe” in the 9th grade.

Have you taken the time to appreciate where you’ve been? We often simply focus on the future. Have you noticed that? “As soon as I close that deal. As soon as the kids are on their own. As soon, as soon, blah, blah.” What about now? What about where you’ve been?

It’s very important to look to the future, but it’s equally important to remember where you’ve been and where you are right now in the present. What kind of home did you live in 10 years ago and where are you now? What was your family like 10 years ago, where are you now? What kind of money were you making 10 years ago and where are you now?

I think you’ll find that you are green and growing! Celebrate that fact. How about the people in your life? Friends, family, sons and daughters, subordinates, aren’t they growing and becoming better? Do you pat them on the back and give encouragement? The more we acknowledge and reward success the more success will come. It’s just how it works. Please join me as we celebrate the past, present, and future!

- Joe Kiedinger -

ACTION PLAN: Enjoy!

Norman Rockwell, You Got Nothing On Me!

Norman Rockwell, You Got Nothing On Me!
- The perfect afternoon -

Norman Rockwell, the famous artist who depicted American life, once said: “I draw life not as it is, but how it should be.” He is an icon in American history and American art. Norman Rockwell saw the world similar to Walt Disney. The innocence of youth, the idealism of economy, and the celebration of the nuclear family have all been depicted in some fashion or another.

This past Sunday, after all the yard work was complete, my family decided to walk down to the park, about six blocks away, and enjoy the day. It was a breezy day and I immediately thought of a kite I found a couple of days back while cleaning out my shed. My kids never experienced kite flying before.

Shortly before leaving, my 12-year old son received a call from some buddies asking if he wanted to play football down at this same park. We departed the house with our four children ages 1, 3, 5 and 12 and arrived at the park with five additional children we picked up along the way.

The wind was perfect: not too strong, not too weak. The boys engaged in their football game. The girls and I flew the kite while Mom and the one year-old sat peacefully on the hillside taking it all in. Every child was happy, not a single tantrum or negative emotion was expressed. And for two short hours that Sunday afternoon the world was perfect… life was perfect.

Don’t you wish every day could be that way? What if I told you I could help you get closer to perfect every day? I learned a trick that I’m still practicing, but I feel the positive effects already. Here it is: Don’t get (negatively) emotional over events!

What do you mean, Joe?! I used to find myself getting emotional over events that happened at work or at home that didn’t go my way. If my son didn’t take out the garbage, I would get mad. “I told you how many times!” Situations at work would upset me. I realized that EVENTS HAVE NO MEANING, only the meaning I give them.

I know this because since I’ve taken emotions out of my reaction to situations (as best I can, I’m still working on it), I’ve eliminated the stress that negative emotions have on me. What does this have to do with business? I see so many managers and business owners stressed out (like I was)! They wish things could be different. They lament over things they can’t control.

Negative emotion leads to poorly thought-out decisions. More mistakes are made because of emotion getting in the way. As leaders, we must stay level-headed. I heard something the other day that made a real impact on me: The trait of a good leader is that during good times and bad, their reaction is the same. What can we learn by this? How can we get better? So, I ask you, is it worth getting emotional over this?

- Joe Kiedinger -

ACTION PLAN: When you feel negative emotions coming on, stop yourself, take a big breath and train yourself to calmly say, “Let me think about this.”