2010 February

The Momentum Is Building!

Yesterday I had the privilege of spending the day with Viterbo University professors Thomas Thibodeau and Richard Kyte. Tom is the director of the Servant Leadership Masters program and Rick is the head of the Ethics Program. They shared with me the exciting and inspirational stories of companies that truly care about the individuals in their care. Together we dreamed of creating a Servant Leadership consciousness that permeates local government, education and business. Can you imagine? Every person out to serve the legitimate needs of those around them?

Thibodeau and Kyte shared with me a couple dozen stories of business leaders wanting to make a positive impact in the lives of their employees. It was truly an inspiring conversation. We are bombarded with the media telling us how bad education is, how bad health care is and how we should be angry with government. At the end of the day, most of us can only truly rely on one thing and that is how are WE doing in serving others? How are WE making a positive impact in the lives of those around us?

Recently I wrote about the power of Buckers. These are people who were given a poor parenting model by their fathers growing up. However, they made the decision to not accept this poor model and to create their own which leads to a better life. I am now asking all of you who read this to Buck the media programming that has been so draining on public morale. I know times are tough now for so many, but what can you do right now to make another’s life better? Do not accept how BAD things are—instead focus on the GOOD that is happening in the world. I want to thank Tom and Rick for recharging my batteries of hope. I was reminded that I am not alone on this journey. Others are riding the same bus!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Find the good in today!

Are you a Bucker?

The term “bucker” typically brings to mind someone who is not paying his or her taxes or who goes against the status quo in general. Bucking something, though, is different from being a bucker. The bucker I’m talking about is someone who can be defined as a true bucker. Let me explain.
 
True buckers are people who defy the programming given to them by their fathers while growing up. For example, a child had a father who was constantly belittling and negative in his behavior toward others in the family.  This bad dad disrespected his wife on a regular basis and always put his needs above his family’s needs.
 
At some point, usually around 13-15 years of age, this child identifies this poor disrespect program and says to him or herself, “I will never be like him!” These children say this silently to themselves or directly to the parent. Buckers are some of the most successful people in the world.
 
They are successful because at a young age they had to identify poor programming and rewrite the rules for themselves, usually by simply doing the opposite of what the bad dad would do. Dad disrespects mom, so “bucker son,” as an example, marries and respects and cherishes his wife.
 
Are you a bucker? Did you receive poor programming growing up, identify it and then rewrite the book of your life? Can you share with me your “bucker moment”—the time when you realized you would not accept the current information you were receiving about life? I’d like to hear from you. You’re rare and oh so cool! I have the upmost respect for you.
 
Joe Kiedinger
 
ACTION PLAN: If you wish to learn more about the importance of good parenting and the role a mom and dad play in a child’s life, read Emotional Intelligence.

Frank Sinatra was right on!

“That’s life, that’s what all the people say. You’re riding high in April shot down in May…” Ah yes, the immortal words of the legendary Frank Sinatra. I don’t know about you but sometimes I can feel defeated and sorry for myself. And then, like some imaginary friend, good news finds its way to me and I’m high on life! I’ve grown to truly appreciate my down times and high times. Many people like to live somewhere in the middle. I’m not one to celebrate extreme highs or extreme lows; however, how cool does it feel when things are really cranking!

How does it feel to you when things are really heading south? I find that the greatest joys and accomplishments come out of these low points when you challenge yourself to figure out a way to take a perceived negative situation and turn it into a positive outcome. I mean, what glory is there in muddling along through life in the middle? No real highs and no real lows? It’s numbing is what it is.

Celebrate your victories and your defeats for it’s out of the latter that the former are so much sweeter!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: If you’re on a low, figure it out. If you’re on a high, enjoy it while it lasts! It’s a fun ride… WEEEE!

Suzy Welch is the real deal

I recently had the opportunity to see Suzy Welch speak. Suzy’s husband is Jack Welch, the famous CEO of GE. Suzy is the real deal. Her newest book, 10-10-10, is a simple concept on how to make decisions and feel good about it. If you make decisions that you feel guilty about, especially decisions between work and home life, you need to read this book. Again, the concept is simple but makes an impact.

Every week we are challenged to make decisions. Benjamin Franklin said the only two things that are certain are death and paying taxes. Jim Hunter, servant leadership guru, reminds us that people avoid paying taxes every year. There are hermits living in remote areas who don’t pay taxes at all. Hunter reminds us that the only two things that are certain are death and choices. It’s been said that we make over 5,000 choices a day. Deciding not to choose in and of itself is a choice.

The choices we make define who we are. Suzy explained that her decision-making process relies heavily on one’s values. Our values are those things mom and dad instilled in us during our childhood and young adulthood. These values support us in our decision making and allow us to cement them in a framework that gives us peace once our decisions are made.

Are you living your life trying to please everyone? Do you try to satisfy both your work life and home life equally? It doesn’t work that way. You can’t be 50/50 all the time. You favor one or the other and that’s OK as long as it aligns with your values. Combined with values, Suzy looks at decisions this way. For example, if you make decision X today, what will be the impact of this decision in the next 10 minutes, the next 10 months and the next 10 years? It’s a simple framework for making challenging decisions. Make a decision to make better decisions. Suzy can help!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Buy her book, 10-10-10.